Did I break my air compressor?

[Experimental Metals]

I have an Ingersoll-Rand 2340LV-5 2-stage two stage compressor. The original motor started making all kinds of awful noises so I bought a replacement motor on ebay recently. Got it installed over the weekend and ran the compressor with no issues for about an hour, but a while the motor would no longer turn the compressor pulley. It would just hum and get hot and eventually blow the breaker.

That's when I realized the motor was wired to run CW instead of CCW. Re-wired for CCW operation and tried to turn the compressor on again...no joy. I loosened up the belt a bit (to the point where I know it is too loose) and it spins the compressor but very slowly, eventually getting hot and popping the breaker.

If I take the belt off, the motor spins normally as far as I can tell. I can also spin the compressor with minimal effort, though I cannot recall how easily it would spin prior to me running it in the wrong direction for an hour+.

At this point I don't know where the issue is, whether it's a faulty motor or I honked up the compressor. I would suspect a failed motor would just simply not turn on rather than spin too slowly, but I also don't believe a modern day 2 stage compressor would be hurt by spinning in the wrong direction for a brief period.

I'm stumped...any thoughts?

 

[PWC Repair]

Sounds like you have a bad capacitor on the motor. It's under the little metal hump.

 

[MikeF2316]

Put the wiring back the way it was, see if it will start the compressor in reverse. Then double check that you've moved all the wires correctly.

 

[gungatim]

wild *** guess here, but I wonder if the compressor pump needs to be running the proper direction for the oil dipper/oil pump to properly lube? does the compressor turn normally by hand?

 

[American Locomotive]

That pump is splashed lubricated, and if you can still turn it easily by hand, I'd be looking at the motor.

 

[The Cobbler]

checking the motor wiring like said previously is good advice. and if it's right, try putting it back the way it was and see what happens.
how does the motor run without a belt on it?

 

[Dr Stan]

That pump is splashed lubricated, and if you can still turn it easily by hand, I'd be looking at the motor.

likewise. I would close your shut off valve to isolate it from your piping then drain the tank so you're not trying to create pressure. Double check your wiring just in case.

Is it a USA made unit? If so I'd give tech support a call. If its an Indian made pump there's a high likely hood the pump is BER.

 

[LXCam]

If you are using a mag starter pull the contacts and check the condition same for the pressure switch if that's what you're using to carry the motor load. If they are burned up either replace them or if there is enough meat left on them, redress them. You can also check the condition with a low resistance meter or a voltage drop across them while under load. But if you don't know how to do that, than don't.

 

[Experimental Metals]

The motor stopped turning the compressor in the wrong direction before I messed with the wiring, so my switching the wiring around was a separate issue. Had about an hour of run time before it went **** up before I re-wired for CCW operation. I only mentioned that in case turning in the wrong direction had hurt the motor, but as someone mentioned above I don't see that happening given the fact that it is splash lubricated.

The motor spins normally (best I can tell) with no belt.

The compressor spins with relatively little effort with no belt.

The motor is from Leeson, not 100% sure but I suspect it's not USA made.

I'll be taking the motor down to an electrical motor repair place this afternoon to see if somehow I got a bum unit.

 

[LXCam]

Don't do that until you check those contacts. A failing motor can destroy them in short order, specially after normal operation for years. Inversely bad contacts can destroy a motor as well. A quick easy test you can do is check the line side voltage while running the motor verses the load side voltage. If there is any variance at all, even one volt these need to be addressed.

 

[Bellaireroad]

I think you got a bad motor ... running the pump backwards would not affect the motor or pump
No telling what you got off ebay

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Did you check the motor rpm before installing it?

Your compressor should be fine.

 

[469 runner]

I have that same compressor. The original motor burned up. It was a Leeson. I bought a Baldor to replace it with. When I wired up the replacement motor I noticed the arrow on the flywheel. The whole time I had the compressor, I purchased it new, it had been rotating opposite of the direction of the arrow. So, I wired it up to run in the direction of the arrow. It doesn't seem to make any difference in the pump or the operation of the unit. I don't know why Ingersoll Rand would sell a compressor with the pump running opposite of the arrow, but I suppose it made no difference. The Baldor is an industrial grade motor, it should last a long time. A Leeson? Do a google search, there are a lot of complaints on those.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

I am guessing the capacitor. May have a start and run capacitor. It should say on the capacitor how many micro-farad. You can test the capacitor with a multi meter and see if the capacitor is in the spec range. This should all be printed on the side of the capacitor. If the capacitor is bulged out, it is likely toast. But treat the capacitor with due caution, as they can shock you. The other would be the contacts as stated above. Check your line voltage, and then your load voltage side.
Good luck. I doubt you harmed your compressor. Those things are made to work.

 

[Experimental Metals]

Those of you who guessed start capacitor were correct.

 

[PWC Repair]

Always the first thing to check on a psc motor. Just replaced one on my wifes band saw last week.

What did I win!!

 

[Experimental Metals]

My everlasting friendship.

 

[PWC Repair]

Nice!!!!