harbor freight air compressor

[toddjg]

I just hooked up my 60 gallon 5 hp hf air compressor. It started up fine oil fine its running so let me see if it shuts off when it hits the 165 psi mark as it says in manual. watching gauge here comes 150 psi and there goes the safty valve compressor still running.

take a look at safety valve what does it say 150 psi mmmm? could be a problem. so i call the 866 number says he will send out the right safety valve. Let me see what happens next.

 

[TWX]

Sounds about right...

If the new valve doesn't work right, just go to Ace to see if they have one that is rated more appropriately. They're not hard to change.

 

[toddjg]

for a sec. i was thinking what the hell and then saw what the problem was. I can't expect much from hf.
I will just wait see how long it takes them to send it out.

 

[rlitman]

Just double check the markings on the tank before you put a higher rated safety valve in there. . . It is HF after all.

 

[toddjg]

oh yeah don't need the tank to blow up.

 

[rickairmedic]

Todd the good news is I have had my 5HP 60 gallon tank HF compressor for five years maybe longer and have never had a problem with it ( even when I found it running one morning for who knows how long a couple years ago with a ruptured hose ) . I dont run mine over 150 psi though as thats plenty high for me .

Rick

 

[Jack Olsen]

The 220V HF compressors are made in the US. (Or at least they used to be.)

Why are you running it so high? Most tools want ~90 psi.

 

[toddjg]

that is what the shut off valve shuts off at needed to test . but safety valve would not let me.

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, it will last longer if you tame it a bit. It takes exponentially longer to compress a cu in of air into a 165 psi than 120. Therefore, it takes several minutes longer to gain 20 more lbs above 150 than it does 100. And at higher stresses.

I have all my compressors turned down a notch. If you're gonna beat it up sandblasting and such, it will not perform any better once the initial high pressure ballast is used up. Recovery to tool operating pressure will always remain constant and consistent with the size of the compressor and the motor driving it.

You want more air for longer, you gots to get a bigger tank and a bigger unit. Still, even with a huge tank, once below operating pressure, your recovery supply is only what the unit can do. Moral of the story is that if you typically need 20 cu in per minute, you have to get a pump that will deliver that much at 90 lbs.

 

[Shadowdog500]

The 220V HF compressors are made in the US. (Or at least they used to be.)

Why are you running it so high? Most tools want ~90 psi.

Jack,

Do you know who makes them. Im actually in the market for a big compressor and never considered the HF one until I saw your post.

Chris

 

[Dark Horse]

When I bought mine last week, I scanned the bar code on it with my phone. The Bar code shows it as a Belaire 216V. The specs are Identical, as are the pics of the compressor. the Tank varies in the ports. Belaire shows on the side, HF are top.
The tank is made in the US, the Motor is Hecho en Mexico. The actual compressor is unmarked, head is AL, crank case is AL, cylinders are cast Iron

 

[Chris Adams]

On the HF two stage, (or any of the other lower priced units) watch out for tank rust.
I have a 2007 built, 2008 sold HF in the shop right now, going to use the 60 gallon tank for target practice.
The compressor is fast, quiet and light.
The motor is decent.
The tank rusted through in less than two years of actual use.
The owner didn't drain it every time he used it, and now it has pinholes around the bung welds.

We live in a dry climate and over the decades I've seen dozens of compressors that were virtually never drained, with still no more than surface rust. This puppy went right through in well under three years.

The compressor and motor are good enough I just mounted them to a 80 gallon Husky (CH) tank that outlived it's motor.
Oh, and the Husky has more rust that I would like. It's from 2006, and had an auto drain.

Entry level two stages seem to trend to thinner, more rust prone tanks.
At least that's the experience I've had lately.

High end tanks from the 80's look nicer by far, on the inside.
Been sticking the bore scope inside every tank I get near.