help identifying vintage air compressor

[dl45homepage]

bought this air compressor at an auction recently BUT can't find any info on the unit except the motor which is a Teco (Eatons of Canada) and is a 3/4HP motor and from 1962 or just earlier. Also wondering if anyone thinks it's ok to upgrade to a 3HP motor or even a 5HP (that's maybe pushing it??). any help would be appreciated. It runs great!! in it's current condition it just needs a new electrical cord and plug.

 

[Alchymist]

Probably way off base, but the compressor pump looks like a repurposed refrigeration pump.

 

[dl45homepage]

possible. the gentleman who's auction it came from, was known for rebuilding airplane parts. looks strong enough to handle a larger engine than 3/4HP!!

 

[larry_g]

Also wondering if anyone thinks it's ok to upgrade to a 3HP motor or even a 5HP

I don't recognize the pump head but as a rule adding a big HP motor to a small pump is not going to gain you anything. Pump heads have a max RPM and that speed can be reached by a certain hp motor. Going above that hp will not give you any more air delivery unless you overspeed the pump head and that builds heat and the VE goes to hell. So you really need to identify the pump head and then its specs will tell you the max speed and recommended hp to drive it.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[benny42]

It looks like an air brake compressor from a bus. I don't know if you can speed it up any, good luck.

 

[dl45homepage]

Thanks Larry for the advise. It does have 2 pistons and I know it was running air tools. I was hoping for an air compressor that would help me paint motorcycles or run a sand blasting cabinet that would keep up and not be constantly running. Not even sure of the tank size as there's no designations on it. Thinking its about 20gal. still a great buy for $150 and quiet as anything!!! The pressure switch is only good for a 1HP motor. I believe all the parts are Canadian made.

 

[lilredex]

I have a similar Speedaire two cylinder, head and the specs say 6-700 RPM.

Think you are close to that now from those pictures. It may drive a small paint gun, but you won't do much in the way of blasting with it with that tank as small as it is. Adding an auxillary (larger) tank will add to the "off" time but will take longer to fill both.

 

[dl45homepage]

the electric motor runs at 1750 rpm. I see that there are 2hp motors with the same rpm rating. was hoping for a bit more without over heating the pump. is there a tester I can hook up to the compressor or a method of finding out what the cfm and psi rating on this unit? i wish it had the metal info tag. this would be easier!!

 

[lilredex]

You need to calculate the speed of the compressor head, and go from there, keeping it around 700 RPM max. If 3/4 HP does that, then there is nothing to be gained by going to a bigger motor (at the same speed).

Have a look at the sheets I posted in #7 here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59760

 

[dl45homepage]

Thanks for your help, info and comments, I found a local person who specializes in air compressors who came over to see it and he said it's a home made unit with a refrigeration compressor. Just doing updates to the unit now to bring it up to par.