Compressor Flywheel Bent

[skelrad]

Long story short - 80 gallon compressor pump plus a momentary distraction, gravity, and a concrete floor equals a flywheel that is now no longer running true. It still runs round (still a circle and didn't get turned into an oval), but in the other plane it's out about 1/8". No visible bends, but it obviously is. Looks to be aluminum. The flywheel took the hit on the floor and the pump didn't even touch. Outside of the vibration from the flywheel, the pump seems to be fine.

Any ideas for options, or do I just **** it up and buy a new flywheel?

 

[Jswain]

Did you check with a dial indicator on the crankshaft to make sure it's not the part that bent?

If you can find a reasonably priced flywheel for it(and thats the part that's bent) then that is likely going to be the most reliable option

 

[skelrad]

Did you check with a dial indicator on the crankshaft to make sure it's not the part that bent?

Yep, the crankshaft appears to be completely fine.

 

[Jswain]

Well it's never going to hurt to try and straighten it. Just don't do it while it's mounted to the compressor and end up wrecking the crankshaft. Spin it with it mounted to the crankshaft and mark the low spot with a dial indicator then remove and giver.

Might be hard to find some way to hold it by the hub not using the compressor but if you could mount it laying horizontal in a vice being held by the center you might have some luck.

If you have a shop press you might be able to use the shop press to press down on the centre leaving the perimeter of the flywheel floating and use a block of wood/hammer to hit the low spot

Make sure you can purchase a new one first and depending on how much that costs will determine how much effort you'd like to put in it.

 

[seber]

I had a large compressor with a flywheel that was bent almost 1/2". It ran that way for years until I sold it. On the other hand, I ran it much slower than originally designed because I outfitted it with a five hp instead of the original 10.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, No, Maybe.

It bent without breaking. It may or may not bend back without breaking. Your skill and your luck will be the determining factors. I once watched a couple of guys spend an hour and at the end, they had made it worse. Trying to straighten a flywheel without the crank as a reference is akin to looking for that black cat in a dark room.

jack vines

 

[skelrad]

I pulled it off and did some "gentle massage" on it. I got the variance cut to a strong 1/16" and stopped before making anything worse on accident. The vibration is still there, but much better now. I don't think it'll cause any problems at this level.