Bought an old Champion 80 Gal compressor today

[Crank1]

Been keeping my eyes peeled for the past month or so for a good 60 or 80 gallon compressor to suit my needs. I don't really require a ton of air, but in the future I may want to sandblast something or so some other heavy work with a compressor so I wanted an older industrial unit.

I finally came upon a 80 gallon champion compressor yesterday with a 3 phase motor. Guy wanted $450 for it, and it wasn't sold by the time I called. So I went to look at it today, hoping to jew him a little on the fact that it had a 3 phase motor on it. Well luckily to my surprise when I showed up it had a single phase Dayton 5 HP motor on it that looked pretty fresh. The compressor looked like hell, with oil and grease every where, but everything looked there and unmolested. I didn't get a great deal on it, but made out with it for $425. Got it home tonight(after wrinkling the sheet metal on the sides of my brand new garage door opening with my tires that stick out of the fender well) and get to looking at it. Looks great, we mashed down the cooling fins on the compressed air lines and it needs re wired I think. Other than that I'm happy.

So I am going to need some help from you fine folks if possible. Firstly I'd like to clean and tune this thing up. I'm thinking new V-belts and an oil change and an air filter. Is there anything else that needs done really? It needs a couple lines replaced to make me feel better.

It looks like it came with a Mag starter too, as you can see in the pictures, one wire looks like it shorted and has some corrosion on it, so I want to fix it. Does this stuff appear to be wired for single or 3 phase???

Happy to have found myself a compressor, now I can hit the ground running on my Clausing drill press rebuild.

 

[Crank1]

Some pics of the compressor

Compressor

Motor

Mashed down cooling fins

Power comes into this box

Then routes to this box, says mag starter on the lid.

 

[mitusa]

I would find 'champions' schematic for wiring a single phase motor on this compressor. It doesn't look like an electrician wired it up. It kinda looks like the red wire shorted out from wearing on the other side. I would hate to burn the new motor up. A good clean up and check under the tank for a drain should be a good start.

 

[sonnyboy]

I don't know much about these compressors, but my Dad has a Champion very similar to that. He has used it in his farm/hobby shop since the early 80's. It is getting a little slow to build up and maintain pressure - probably ready for a rebuild. Dad got it from my Grandpa who used it in his sevice station back in the '60's, so it is understandable that after 50 years, it might be ready for a rebuild.

 

[Davefr]

Is there anything else that needs done really? It needs a couple lines replaced to make me feel better.

Get it hydrotested for tank integrity.

I suspect at 23.5 amps it might really need a working mag starter. (Unlike newer units where the manufacturers lie about the HP.) NEMA should tell you for sure.

 

[Crank1]

The tank wears a 1980 date tag from buckeye boiler. Who does tank hydrotesting? I've read about doing it yourself with water and a tape measure?

 

[bsaint]

My favorite pump. Just don't let the valves fail! They will smash the seats and since the head and cylinder are one piece, you'll have to replace the whole head.

 

[Crank1]

I think I want to get it all wired up and at least working, then do a rebuild on the pump. It looks like the output shaft seal was leaking, slinging nasty oil all over the pump. Then again, it may have just been grime from where it sat for so many years. If it doesn't leak from the seal, then it may just get valves, who knows, I don't know anything about compressors, but I'm glad to finally have one.

 

[bsaint]

Dude I worked for a champion distributor so anything you need to know, you can ask me. Its been almost 4 years but I worked a lot on these. First thing I would do is ditch the inlet filter for a dry Solberg one. To mount it, take the intake manifold off and rotate it 180 degrees.

http://www.solbergmfg.com/ViewSeriesDetail.aspx?SeriesId=2&src=drill

 

[Crank1]

Do those thread in? I was actually headed to home depot so I could buy a length of pipe to mount inside it, then I could then slip a K&N over it and run it tight with a worm clamp.

 

[bsaint]

Yes they thread in. If it doesn't loosen, remove the manifold and remove in a vice.

 

[Crank1]

The filter that was installed on it was a green split type that slips in with a locking ring so you can lock it down with a set screw, or so it appears.

As you stated earlier to turn the manifold over, but the line appears to run and connect into that side. Does the compressor move too much air for a K&N? I am thinking getting a straight section of 1.5" metal tubing, sliding it in and locking it down with a set screw as well as sealing it up, then adding a round K&N air filter to the end, like this one http://store.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=RU-0160

Does anyone sell a bit of paint so I can roll the tank to clean it up a little? I don't want to spray the whole thing, just the tank and maybe belt guard.

 

[Crank1]

Does anyone not see all the pictures? It is only showing the top two for me, but there are about 10

 

[Altec]

That danger sticker should read "This machine starts when you are starting to lean down to drain water"

 

[930dreamer]

I have a similar one in three phase, it has a threaded inlet. I have a duplex also with the split style filter.

 

[Zrexxer]

That mag starter is a single phase unit. It has Line 1 and Line 2 connections, if it were three phase there'd be an L3 also.

I have basically the same compressor except mine was made in 2010. They haven't changed much.

 

[BMB]

First thing I would do is ditch the inlet filter for a dry Solberg one

I concur, my filter material was so brittle it would "disolve" in your hands.

I got one of these http://www.compressorpartsstore.com/product-p/adapter_filter_champion.htm and a 90 street elbow and added a Solberg type filter.

 

[930dreamer]

I concur, my filter material was so brittle it would "disolve" in your hands.

I got one of these http://www.compressorpartsstore.com/product-p/adapter_filter_champion.htm and a 90 street elbow and added a Solberg type filter.

I'm ordering two of those.

 

[Greatbear]

Looks like you got a solid piece to start with. Inspect the tank visually by removing the two large plugs on the side. You'll find rust for sure, but there should be very little pitting. With the plugs out you can wash the tank out and drain the crud. Spend some time with some needlenose pliers and straighten out the cooling fins. If the pump checks out per suggestions given in previous comments, get yourself a replacement mag starter sized for the motor load, and replace the on-compressor wiring. Some of it looks sketchy, especially the burnt wire on the contactor. The terminal on the contactor looks pretty bad, hence my suggestion of getting a whole new one. Clean the thing up, change the oil, air filter and belts and enjoy your new compressor.

 

[Crank1]

I got one of these http://www.compressorpartsstore.com/product-p/adapter_filter_champion.htm and a 90 street elbow and added a Solberg type filter.

Did you just get a 90 degree adapter from the hardware store? Like a black pipe adapter?

The Solberg filter, is it just a dry style filter you bang out and put it back in or replace the paper filter? How big of a filter is everyone running?

 

[Your Father]

So I went to look at it today, hoping to jew him a little on the fact that it had a 3 phase motor on it.

 

[BMB]

Did you just get a 90 degree adapter from the hardware store? Like a black pipe adapter?

Yep, just a black pipe street 90.

I think I got my filter from the same place. It was rated for something like 30cfm. It did come with a plastic "hat" instead of metal, but it still works fine and the base is metal.

 

[Crank1]

I bought some power cord for my compressor. Some 10-2 in metal flexible conduit and a 6' piece of 10-2 in 3/4 plastic conduit. I wanna use the metal stuff, but some of the wires arent right, wish I could just get bare conduit and stuff it with my own wiring. May do that anyway, even tho i just payed 2 bucks a foot for 11' of wiring.

 

[volpster31]

ive got the same one and i appreciate the info in this post. and you got a good deal too

 

[Crank1]

I think I've decided that, even though the wiring is very sketch, and looks as if it's already arced out once before, I want to put the motor back on, and belts and wire it up and flip the breaker. I'd really like to know what I've got before I begin to spend money on a new pressure switch, mag starter, and whatever else. I wanna hear it fire up, or not, then pick a direction to go in.

I did clean it up, and while it was oily and nasty, for the most part, things look pretty good. The pump and wiring and everything on top was all complete, so I'm hoping it may come back to life once it's wired up.

Does anyone know what this box is for? It's wired with a red and black wire, I'm assuming this is only 120v, and it hooks to some sort of line. Decompressor for easier starting?

And my motivation to getting this thing up and running. My drill press resto that will come after this.

 

[930dreamer]

The smaller box with no lid is the pressure switch, the other one next to the pump is the low oil cut off switch (red plunger)

 

[Crank1]

Low oil cutoff switch. Gotcha. Guessing that knocks off power to keep from killing the pump. Simple machines with quite a handful of safeties really

 

[Slick111]

Just picked up the same compressor with a new leeson 5 hp single phase motor in the box but no motor pulley wondering what size do I need to get any info you can give me would be a big help thanks

 

[Crank1]

What is the rpm on the motor you have? I think mine is 1750 and that will determine the pulley size I'm sure. Yours may be the 34xx rpm one.

 

[Slick111]

Just checked 1750 RPM she is.

 

[Crank1]

Just measured the pulley, it was 16.5" in diameter. I looked on ebay and couldn't find one. Good luck in your search!

 

[Slick111]

I think you measured the pump pully that I have just dont have a pully on the motor.

 

[kams1973]

Just measured the pulley, it was 16.5" in diameter. I looked on ebay and couldn't find one. Good luck in your search!

Are you sure the MOTOR pulley is 16.5"?

 

[Crank1]

Ah, sorry, i'll have to go measure the right one.

 

[Crank1]

I measured the motor pulley and it is 4.75" in diameter.

 

[Crank1]

http://www.e-compressor.com/product-p/p07783a.htm

Hope you can find a better deal than this.

 

[Crank1]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/TB-WOODS-VBelt-Pulley-5YKF0

Here's one that looks a lot like mine, same size, You'd really have to determine the offset and everything to ensure it'd fit. Like $70 bucks.

 

[Slick111]

OK that makes more sense now and thanks every one for all the help.Now I want to repaint it and replace all the decals wonder if Champion will still supply the paint or a paint code and such.Thanks again guys

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Does anyone know what this box is for? It's wired with a red and black wire, I'm assuming this is only 120v, and it hooks to some sort of line. Decompressor for easier starting?

As noted, the small box with the spring is the pressure switch that makes it cycle on and off. The entire compressor is 230v as noted on the motor data plate (will operated fine on your 240v house current).

Charles

 

[Crank1]

Slick, i was wondering the same thing, about the paint and decals, I'm not worried too much about painting the motor, but the tank could use some love. If you find it out, let me know please. Also, you should put some pics on here of yours.