Home-built air compressor

[RiverRider]

After my tools were stolen almost a year ago, I stumbled upon this site in my search for replacement tools. A valuable resource it is.

Anyway, my air compressor was one of the many items lost. I don't care for the oil-less type and I wanted a small belt-driven unit. And I had little cash. So I found a guy selling one on craigslist and for a fifty-dollar bill he helped me load it up. Heavy little sucker!

So, it runs and it works well enough for my purposes, which is to inflate tires for the most part. The thing is painfully slow, though.

I found a casting number on it and it turns out to have been made from a big rig braking system.

I'd have to crunch some numbers and figure out just how fast it's running, and I can figure that out. What I do NOT know is how fast can I run the darned thing? I have not seen any specs on the limitations. Does anyone know how fast I can run it?

 

[RECox286]

Haven't the foggiest, but I do like yer picture.

Uncle Bob (AD1 retired from VP64, NAS WilGro)

 

[yhprum]

If you know what the rig it came from is, determine/estimate pulley diameters, and then what the engine RPM would be at about 65 MPH. Thats probabaly where it would spend most of its life.

 

[bad_idea]

Throwing out a guess here. Diesel trucks run around 3000 rpm? (Not a diesel guy myself) I would say you could get away with a one to one on a 3450 motor.

 

[kbs2244]

I made mine from 1963 Plymouth AC compressor.
But the York air brake units are popular with the 4x4 off road types.
Check out some of their sites.
There will be more than one how to convert story.

 

[RiverRider]

Haven't the foggiest, but I do like yer picture.

Uncle Bob (AD1 retired from VP64, NAS WilGro)

Patron 24 "Batmen"
NAS Jax
1977-1980

Still dream about my P-3Cs!

 

[jloehlein]

Throwing out a guess here. Diesel trucks run around 3000 rpm? (Not a diesel guy myself) I would say you could get away with a one to one on a 3450 motor.

I think you're on the right path, but a big diesel motor at cruise speeds will turn more like 1600-1800rpm. If you can find a motor that it would have been bolted to and determine the original crank pulley size, you can do the math to figure out how fast you can turn it.

 

[racingtadpole]

I think you're on the right path, but a big diesel motor at cruise speeds will turn more like 1600-1800rpm. If you can find a motor that it would have been bolted to and determine the original crank pulley size, you can do the math to figure out how fast you can turn it.

Keep in mind it may have been clutched in its original application, and running it continuously may shorten its lifespan somewhat.

 

[2mJps]

Keep in mind it may have been clutched in its original application, and running it continuously may shorten its lifespan somewhat.

If its from a truck air brakes they didnt have a clutch they had a govener that would unload the compresser when it got to a set presser also most were water cooled and used the engine to make oil presser.

 

[2mJps]

Most i have been around were run one to one with the engine or sometimes faster. Alot of gas engines in trucks turned them very fast like the GM 366 sometimes over 3000 rpms.

 

[fourjeepin]

I have a York in my CJ. Man can that thing out out some air. Even just at idle. Turn the revs up to 2k, and it will run the due grinder continuously. I don't remember the specs, but they are out there. One resource is onboardair.com.