Ch 26gal compressor - worth fixing?

[adrenalnjunky]

Ok - first post - I did search before posting, but couldn't find really what my issue is.

I bought a CH 26gal WL611106AJ about 7 years ago, it's run a lot of high SCFM tools that it probably shouldn't have, and a lot of duty cycles over those years.

Recently it quit building pressure past about 40-60 psi and I realize it was running until probably a thermal protection circuit kicked in. (I had forgotten to turn it off, and I never heard it running while I was home.)

Once I realized what it had been doing, I dug in, fearing a fried piston. turns out the motor mount had loosened and the vibration had eaten through the compression fitting coming out of the cylinder head.

$4 in fittings had me back in business.

Then a week later, I start smelling smoke while it was refilling after a small task I used it for.

Sure enough - now there's smoke coming out of the cover, and it's that good ole' electrical smell. It keeps chugging on along and gets back up to pressure (It was almost full) and I unplug it.

Looks like the electric motor assembly is about $82 online - and honestly a new compressor in this size range is still $299, but if I had to buy a new one, I'd probably go up one size to something in the mid 30-gal range.

so - for $82 would you guys fix it, or is there a possibility the motor itself might be found/repaired (new brushes possibly?) for even less?

 

[amolaver]

~$80 to put back in service a machine that's given you 7 years of service? hell yeah. IMO, not worth messing around even thinking about trying to repair the motor. an hours worth of labor will be as much as the replacement and odds are good it would take more than an hour to fix it, plus parts.

ahm

 

[Outlawmws]

Find a used motor and fix it. If it still pumps to pressure in a reasonable amount of time, it's worth it.

As to time being worth money. if you are detracting from time you earn money, that is true. Most of us Homeowners, are NOT doing this professionally and its FREE time and besides, that hour you spend is against the $200 more you would need to spend for new...

If this is against your business, of course the above may not apply.

 

[Danglerb]

I did a quick look, and only found the motor/pump assembly WL212000SJ for a fair bit more than $120, but didn't do a LOT of looking.

I'd say always dig in and have a look, it does kind of look like a generic part though, so might be more options once you get into it.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

Find a used motor and fix it. If it still pumps to pressure in a reasonable amount of time, it's worth it.

As to time being worth money. if you are detracting from time you earn money, that is true. Most of us Homeowners, are NOT doing this professionally and its FREE time and besides, that hour you spend is against the $200 more you would need to spend for new...

If this is against your business, of course the above may not apply.

Not 100% sure if you're directing the time vs. money thing toward me or amo, but as far as it goes for me - i guess I worded my original query wrong.

I was just looking for some input to see if anyone had any experience rebuilding the electric motors themselves - if I had to take it to someone, I'm sure I'd almost spend the same amount of money as the $82 new motor I can order. If I can rebuild it with a $10 set of brushes though and maybe a spin on a comm lathe for $45 then I'd be fine with doing that.

As far as need - this is just the compressor i use in my personal workshop for my own projects. I need it operational, but no I'm not suffering lost work due to it.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

I did a quick look, and only found the motor/pump assembly WL212000SJ for a fair bit more than $120, but didn't do a LOT of looking.

I'd say always dig in and have a look, it does kind of look like a generic part though, so might be more options once you get into it.

CH specs the part# WL019100SJ as the replacement drive motor for this pump - I've found it online for $82.75 - several other places are saying $120-138.

 

[Outlawmws]

Not 100% sure if you're directing the time vs. money thing toward me or amo, but as far as it goes for me - i guess I worded my original query wrong.

I was just looking for some input to see if anyone had any experience rebuilding the electric motors themselves - if I had to take it to someone, I'm sure I'd almost spend the same amount of money as the $82 new motor I can order. If I can rebuild it with a $10 set of brushes though and maybe a spin on a comm lathe for $45 then I'd be fine with doing that.

As far as need - this is just the compressor i use in my personal workshop for my own projects. I need it operational, but no I'm not suffering lost work due to it.

Mostly aimed at Amo. I often see the "What is your time worth?" comments, and in the working world, it's very applicable. In the home shop its a completely different equation.

 

[Outlawmws]

I was just looking for some input to see if anyone had any experience rebuilding the electric motors themselves - if I had to take it to someone, I'm sure I'd almost spend the same amount of money as the $82 new motor I can order. If I can rebuild it with a $10 set of brushes though and maybe a spin on a comm lathe for $45 then I'd be fine with doing that.

Depends on the type of motor. I doubt a compressor motor has brushes but it might be. most recent motors of that sort are some variant of an induction motor.

Post some pics, but if you let out the magic smoke, its probably a R&R job.

 

[adrenalnjunky]

Depends on the type of motor. I doubt a compressor motor has brushes but it might be. most recent motors of that sort are some variant of an induction motor.

Post some pics, but if you let out the magic smoke, its probably a R&R job.

Yeah - many years in the car audio world have taught me that lesson. Electronics need that smoke inside to work properly.

 

[amolaver]

Mostly aimed at Amo. I often see the "What is your time worth?" comments, and in the working world, it's very applicable. In the home shop its a completely different equation.

to each his own. i have limited time for the things i need and want to do in the shop/garage. i'm all for saving sheckels, but $50 plus two hours of going to and from a motor shop == way more than $82 to me. with diesel at $3.85/gal it doesn't take a long trip in my dually to equal $30 and i've got plenty of things that need to get done in the meantime.

not sure where i'd even begin looking for a used motor like this or that i'd bother. unless a used motor is less than $20 and local (no shipping), it doesn't make sense to me. but that's me.

ahm