Direct drive oilless compressor lifespan

[petee_c]

What's the typical lifespan of a direct drive oilless compressor?

I am thinking of picking up a 11 gallon one used off kijiji....

Looks to be home use. Coleman 200-2280; might be circa 2001 according to my internet research. Doesn't look to have gotten much use. Owner is selling it with 100' of hose that looks to be in good shape for $75cdn / $57usd.

I may put it in my basement workshop, or sell it after I am done with it.

I want to tandem it with my current 20gallon belt driven v pump compressor to run a hvlp gun to respray my miata....

Most of my tools are cordless Lithium Ion now, so I don't use the compressor much.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I bought mine around 1990. Probably used it about once a week.
About 5 years ago I replaced the cylinder, ring and a few other parts. Wasn't difficult or expensive.
Most people don't like the noise.

 

[Sumboodie]

I bought mine around 1990. Probably used it about once a week.
About 5 years ago I replaced the cylinder, ring and a few other parts. Wasn't difficult or expensive.
Most people don't like the noise.

No idea how they are even OSHA legal. They need hearing protection to be within 50ft!

 

[DeeKay]

No idea how they are even OSHA legal. They need hearing protection to be within 50ft!

Because OSHA doesn't give two shits about what you do in your garage or how loud it is .
They also don't care how loud anything is at work as long as you have a hearing preservation program and conduct regular sound studies. One of my sites is 115dB 24/7, OSHA is totally cool with it.

 

[zendriver]

No idea how they are even OSHA legal. They need hearing protection to be within 50ft!

Because OSHA doesn't give two shits about what you do in your garage or how loud it is .
They also don't care how loud anything is at work as long as you have a hearing preservation program and conduct regular sound studies. One of my sites is 115dB 24/7, OSHA is totally cool with it.

OSHA has nothing to do with how loud something is, only if/when precautions and/or protection is required.

Regarding the compressor, the biggest hearing safety requirement is the ability to read.

RISK TO HEARING. Always wear hearing protection
when using an air compressor. Failure to do so may
result in hearing loss

 

[Bacon!]

I'd guesstimate about 1500 hours, if maintained (relubed and timely tank drain). You might want to hear it run and see if it leaks, to drive the price down if the seller hasn't already discounted due to factors like this.

At 20 y/o you probably want to lube everything, motor bearings included (if not ball bearing or repackable).

 

[Stedlin]

Depends on the design.
Some are highly stressed to achieve high CFM numbers and will wear fast and generate lots of noise.
Other more conservative designs will produce lower CFM numbers, less noise and last longer.

 

[Packard V8]

What's the typical lifespan of a direct drive oilless compressor?

Way too long. Every one of them I've been around was so noisy, I was wanting to beat it to death.

jack vines

 

[Stedlin]

The problem with oilless direct drive air compressors has to do with the speed of the motor.
Many of them run at 3450 RPM which is way too fast.
That speed causes very high peak pressures and temperatures in the head and cylinder.

 

[larry_g]

Check the expiration date on the tank. Some of these have a do not use after date.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Bacon!]

^ yeah but like LP tanks, that just assumes some arbitrary level of consumer neglect while proper upkeep makes that date fairly meaningless... even if nothing lasts forever.

Ask yourself this: If you already owned it and it worked fine and showed no signs of rust through, would you back away slowly and put it in a landfill or scrap for the metal value? I almost never adhere to use by dates except for food and it has only killed me a handful of times, not enough times to get upset about.