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Cleaning valve plate from my compressor pump?

rocketman

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Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Chicagoland
Took apart my compressor pump to see what all the noise was about. Much simpler than I thought it would be. (never done a compressor pump) Ordered new gaskets for when I reassemble.

There was quite a bit of sludge/dirt on top of the pistons. Plus on one of the connecting rods the little screw in pin (looks like an inflation needle with no hole) which I assume has to do with picking up oil and splashing it around was underneath one of the pistons. Fixed that, cleaned the piston heads, the cyl walls look great.

The one piece, assembled valve assembly has me somewhat concerned. Can I use general purpose degreaser/cleaner on this thing or are there some magic membranes in there I can ruin?? Pump worked pretty well except for what I thought was excessive noise and pressure switch toast. Picking up a new one from Grainger anyway as I want a 4 port to replace the single port. I want the safety, a gauge, and a regulator coming off the single port.

Having it all off the tank allows me to clean that up as well, prime and paint it too as well as some well mounted isolator pads. Putting a nice little ball valve on the drain as well to make dumping moisture easier.

Damn.... refurbishing a compressor is a project in itself. But considering I got the tank, pump and motor for $99 and all the gaskets for $58. Not bad for about $1200 worth of compressor. (5HP, 2 stage, 80 gal)
 
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rocketman

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Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Chicagoland
What... no one has ever done this?? Some gear heads... If I were tearing apart some Snap On ratchet there'd be 300 responses by now. :headscrat
 

russlaferrera

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Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Central Virginia
What... no one has ever done this?? Some gear heads... If I were tearing apart some Snap On ratchet there'd be 300 responses by now. :headscrat

SORRY, My compressor is a Quincy, pressure feed unit. In 30+ years it has never let me down. I changed the oil once it was so clean it was a waste of time and $$.

I am glad everything is working out for you.
 

John Timmins

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Joined
Sep 1, 2008
Messages
861
Location
Flagler Beach, FL
I have cleaned intake and discharge reed valves on air compressors before. The "valves" are spring loaded reed plates that were held together by a main bolt and nut. I don't know what your parts look like.

When I've done them thay came apart as fast as I wanted the to, not parts flying out uncontrolled. The valve "reed" plate was cleaned by rubbing the part on crocus cloth with WD-40 on it.

DaytonaJohn
 
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rocketman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Chicagoland
Cleaned up the valve plate and intake/exhaust with some starter fluid. They are exactly as described above. Nut holding on a couple springs and a small circular plate.

Just finished repainting the tank a gloss black after a full primer coat. Plan on doing up a nice large Punisher logo on the tank. Wish I had a lathe so I could machine down the diameter of a couple hockey pucks to fit inside the 3 feet. They make great isolators and are pretty much free as I have a couple bags of pucks around the house. (X-player)

I'll get some pics up in a day or so. I'll do some pictures of the motor during reassembly so everyone can get a quick inside a 2 stage 7.5/5.0HP pump. The pump is a Coleman/Sanborn B6000. Based on the plates on the tank it's vintage 1990.
 
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rocketman

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Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Chicagoland
Here's pics of the before and the afters to now. Still awaiting the gaskets to put it back together. Need to clean the intake/exhaust head better too. Pics of the before are in the garage of the guy I got it from.

1.jpg

2.jpg


head.jpg

pump.jpg

tank.jpg

valve.jpg
 
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rocketman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2008
Messages
263
Location
Chicagoland
Well... after my cleaning of the valve plate... things were worse. SO, I shelled out for a new pump. The finished product works like a champ and goes from 0-175psi in about 10 minutes. Quiet too... Nice little (cheap) Northstar 2 stage 5HP pump off eBay and all is good in compressorville again.
pumpa.jpg


pumpb.jpg


If it doesn't last, I can spend the $131 for a new valve plate for this one (original)

pump1.jpg


pump2.jpg
 

Merkava_4

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Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
14,518
Location
Clovis, CA.
WD-40 and a wire cup wheel on a Dremel .... that's how I clean the under side of the heads on Briggs & Stratton small engines. Those brown stains and carbon deposits will give way to bright polished metal.
 

M.McCarren

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2024
Messages
7
You originally said:
//"Pump worked pretty well except for what I thought was excessive noise and pressure switch toast. "//

Yet somehow you ended up needing to buy a new pump.
Bummer.
Sometimes it's like that; it happens to the best of us.
 

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