Bought an old small compressor today.

[PowerDubs]

This thing is cool. I wanted something small I can roll out the driveway.

The video makes it seem louder than it is..it barely makes any noise at all.

Needs a good cleanup, some paint, an oil change.

I think it is pretty old. Couldn't find a date on it anywhere. Can't find any Google info on it at all either.

I forgot to take a picture, but it has a cool old metal GE badge on the end cap of the motor.









I guess this little flip up cap is to lube?







Any idea what this is?

 

[PowerDubs]

Oops, forgot the video-

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I guess this little flip up cap is to lube?





Any idea what this is?

Yep, cap is the oil cup, from back in the old days when they cared how long something lasted.

The other object is the check valve that keeps tank pressure in the tank, its an inline valve rather than the in tank type valve like most compressors use.

Quarter horse won't make much air, but depends on what you need if for.

Charles

 

[PowerDubs]

Just to put air in the tires out in the driveway.

I have 2 compressors feeding 2 air reels over the towers of my lift for in garage use.

 

[PowerDubs]

Having never had an old compressor before.. should I just leave well enough alone on the pump and just change the oil, or should I open it up?

Are there any passages or the valve that can get clogged?

As far as changing the oil, do I just pull that plug on the side, tip it over until drained and then refill the same hole until it flows out? Also, any concerns over the type of oil or will the same modern compressor pump oil work?

Does anyone have a link to an intake filter? This one looks pretty beat.

Thanks.

 

[PowerDubs]

Nobody?

 

[Old Steamer]

That is a neat find. It reminds me of the one my father-in-law had that I wish I could locate.

I am no expert but if it were me, I would leave it alone. If it is making air pressure that works for what you intend to use it for, it's good.

 

[suzuki 650L]

Dont know about the oil but would think oil is oil? The oil now is probly better. I would try to tell what kind of oil it has in there now. I can tell you I cant put certain oil in my old suzuki cause it has roller bearings.
If it isnt broke dont fix it. I would be more worried about the tank than the compressor. You may want to try to look inside for rusted places??? It is cool looking though. Good luck

 

[taumac]

Very cool old compressor..... good luck with it

 

[jwhcars]

Neat old compressor !

 

[Modifieddriver]

I like it. It'll last forever.

 

[dbonne]

Take the air cleaner apart and put some new filter material in it. It probably has a wool pad in it.

 

[CNGsaves]

Cool old compressor . . . . that's a keeper for small jobs.

If that oil plug is only opening to the crankcase, then take out plug and duct-tape a hose to the thing and yourself + couple buddies turn the beast slightly upside down so all the oil runs out that hole !! . .
. . . OR . . . .
You could just remove the pump and change oil yourself.

Along with replacing the air filter material, that's all I'd do besides cleaning it up. That old baby has character that shouldn't be covered up with new paint. Have fun and enjoy !

 

[G_P]

That pump was probably made to use 30wt non detergent oil.

Sent via carrier pigeon.

 

[PowerDubs]

It is definitely getting repainted. Unlike the Snap on toolbox that was built in the 1940's I purchased a few weeks ago, this compressor doesn't have any significant family heritage that I would be desecrating. I can't find a single mention of the company itself, much less the compressor.

 

[PowerDubs]

Update- still have this, use it all the time. Never painted it.

All I did was replace the inlet filter with one of these- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H43KPK6/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Now I really can't believe how quiet this is- absurdly quiet.

 

[lilredex]

Yes, neat old compressor. Use compressor oil when you change.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...&ved=0ahUKEwiNw8-R9qTpAhWwUt8KHdaGBnIQ4dUDCAw

 

[DFB]

Update- still have this, use it all the time. Never painted it.

All I did was replace the inlet filter with one of these- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H43KPK6/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Now I really can't believe how quiet this is- absurdly quiet.

Last summer I picked this little Sears one up someone had put it out on the side of the road with a works/free sign

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428621&highlight=sEARS+COMPRESSOR

It is soo quiet too, just putt putts...and it's a joy to hear it run.

Not like Craftsman Professional oilless pancake compressor I use for my jobs that one will make your ears ring after a while.

 

[nadogail]

May you enjoy the compressor for many years in good health.

 

[sberry]

If the oil is clear it's ok to test, to use a while. I bought an older one, lookedgreat, tested ok, then, hole in tank, regulator ****, cord, got it all fixxed, pump busted crank, every piece but the motor. Fix one, then another. At the time should have bought another. Made 2 out of 4 during a clean up and another portable air bottle from the remains, salvaged another regulator.

 

[PowerDubs]

Took the pump apart yesterday and have a question.

There is a metal ring inside. Probably about 3 inch diameter or so.

I can’t figure out what it’s purpose is.

There is a slot cut into the output side plate, with a screw that threads into the plate and goes across the top of the slot. Best I can tell, the ring hangs in the groove and the screw closes off the top to ‘secure’ it. But it is free to bounce about.

Also interesting is the con rod has a wire stuck out the bottom, like a stiff paper clip. My guess is it is there to dip/sling oil?

Need to figure out the metal circle ring so I can finish cleaning this up and put it back together.


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[PowerDubs]

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[Jswain]

Does it go between the plate and the crank for a wear surface? Or maybe even to keep a little pressure on the crank to minimize end play

The wire hanging off the bottom of the connecting rod will be your oil slinger so you're correct there.

Why did you take the pump apart?

 

[billspit]

I’ve been looking for an older slow running compressor since I saw the one my neighbor had. It was so quiet.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Regarding the brass piece with the slot, I would have to guess that is the removeable (for re-facing) valve seat. I would also assume that you would use a face spanner in the 2 holes to remove the complete valve assembly.

 

[PowerDubs]

I just put the cyl head pic up for fun- not taking that apart.

Headed back to the garage now and will take better pics of the insides.

Funny - no gaskets or sealer on any of this.


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[PowerDubs]

Here is the groove the ring sits in. You can see where the bolt comes through at the top of the groove on the left into what is now missing on the other side of the grooves but doesn’t appear to matter.


In these other pictures you can see the hole where the bolt comes from the outside, and inside the crank case you can see there is a tab at the bottom that keeps the ring from bouncing around down there. But the plate the ring is secured to doesn’t move so again I am still confused as to the purpose.

It definitely has nothing to do with any sort of and play, and is not a gasket or circle clip as it is just a solid ring. Given that I think this compressor is possibly very old, is it possible that it is some sort of crude audible oil level alert? That when the oil lowered past a certain point it would rattle or create a noise letting you know? No idea.
















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[Bert_]

I think the ring rides on the crankshaft. So it spins slowly and brings oil up to the bearing.

 

[PowerDubs]

The notch is cut all the way through the inner brass bushing in the housing to the crankshaft, so it may make contact there.

Just like the tiny little paper clip on the bottom of the crankshaft I’m amazed that something like that would make any difference whatsoever.


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[PowerDubs]

As for why I took it apart- it is just getting a little hunker up, and I feel it deserves a little love.

There is def a slime inside the crankcase that will get dissolved.

Any idea how to approach the electric
motor flap lube points?




I am going to remove the motor and pull the end caps and try to clean internally as I am sure something has had to have made it past the seals after all of these decades.


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[PowerDubs]

Degreased the pump inside and out.

Made the decision I am not going to paint any of this, whatever remaining paint will remain which is amazing because the pump itself was originally painted the same blue as the tank but very very little was remaining but was also just silver covered with large amounts of dirt and grime so God only knows how old this thing is and how long ago that paint came off.

Also discovered there is indeed a gasket, just due to the dirtiness before it literally blended in and is very very thin so could not tell until I started to spray it with solvent and brush at it.

20 bucks to anyone that can find any documentation for this compressor online, or anyone else that has one now or even in the past.


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[Jswain]

Never thought of that but that's likely exactly what the ring does and lubes up the bronze bushing.

Thing will probably be bulletproof for another half century! Thanks for sharing the pics

 

[PowerDubs]

I love this little thing. It is such a weird combination of simplicity, crudeness and quality all at the same time.

Here are a few more photos as I put the pump back together.

You can see the dip wire on the bottom of the connecting rod, and above it the hole in the connecting rod for lube.





Here you can see where the ring hangs in the Notch in the housing with the bronze bushing inside, the tab the bottom of the ring stays in its channel, and the drain hole in the housing.





And here is the outside of the house and where you can see the casting area for what is the oil return to the drain hole.





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