Hours on Air Compressor

[Parabellum]

Is 600 hours too much on a Saylor Beall pump before needing a rebuild?

 

[md21722]

No way, leave it alone unless its pumping oil or pumping slowly. If pumping slowly then the valves may need to be cleaned. These things run for tens of thousands of hours, not hundreds. The only regular maintenance is oil changes every few hundred hours.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Does it need a rebuild is the question? Are you looking at purchasing, rebuilding for the hell of it, or losing pressure and wondering why you only got 600 hours out of it??

 

[sberry]

6000 might not be a lot.

 

[engineer2]

500 hours is when the oil should be changed.
I believe at around 50,000 hours you might be looking at a rebuild.

 

[sberry]

500 is the recommendation and often for older machines with older oils that are now obsolete. I know a couple compressor mechanics don't bother to change the oil on their own,,, ha Mine gets it 10 yrs or at some point it needs other work.

 

[skruft]

Many air compressors run for 30 years with only oil changes.

 

[Parabellum]

Just looking at one. But if someone knows of a used Saylor Beall 705 pump, please let me know.

 

[pcmeiners]

Consider 600 is just beyond break-in oil change. Quincys are considered due for a rebuild at 50k as most other high end compressors.

 

[slickstysix]

Not to get sidetracked but how do you guys track the hours on the compressor?

 

[md21722]

I just estimate mine. There isn't a huge need to know in detail. Recip manuals may say 3 months or 500 hours whichever comes first. In a factory where duty cycle may be known you can do it that way, or install an hour meter. If buying used just looking at it can tell you a bunch. Was it left outside without an air filter? If the discharge tube is copper and blackened it was likely run hot and hard. Oil level correct? Reasonably clean? Pull the discharge tube and see if its wet or severely carboned up? Does the tank drain work? The good industrial compressors that are not used all day every day can run for decades without needing any repairs or rebuilds. Plenty of old Champion & Saylor Bealls out there.... Give them a fresh air filter and change the oil once in a while... I think sberry once said you are more likely to die in a car crash going to buy oil for your compressor than having it die on you because you didn't change the oil. There is some truth to that in terms of over maintenance. Remember, they are just air pumps, not internal combustion engines.... When you get it, time it, and every few years or whatever or if you suspect a problem, you can time it again. If its slower the valves are probably worn....

 

[sberry]

As far as I understand there is legitimate evidence that the synth comp oil is better and some of them even have a change in duty cycle when using it. I guestimate and change it out if it I would have to work on it. I had a motor problem a while back and did it while it was down, first time in 10 yrs or so and it runs every day, is on 24/7, prolly in the 1000 hr range or so and went to Amsoil on it as they had it on the shelf.
I put a small one together from scrap a while back, didn't bother as it was clear. Got one expensive one has the same oil in it as when I got it new 15 yrs ago. I changed my pressure washer out 3 or 4 years ago in a maintenance sweep.
They are old now and have good oil, wont likely do anything until it needed repairs.

 

[sberry]

500 hrs in 3 months is basically running constant for a 40 hr work week. A home/hobby type really has to work to put an hour on, some weeks maybe none. I got as bud with gas welder, 25 yrs, 23 hours. Has electric in shop and only time is when its really needed.

 

[pcmeiners]

" how do you guys track the hours on the compressor? "

Cheap hour meter.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC200-240V-...m4d37e03d50:m:mEC-OJO0ItWQaq767v6s-jw&vxp=mtr

 

[md21722]

500 hrs in 3 months is basically running constant for a 40 hr work week. A home/hobby type really has to work to put an hour on, some weeks maybe none. I got as bud with gas welder, 25 yrs, 23 hours. Has electric in shop and only time is when its really needed.

I hear what you're saying but at some point you can start running into issues with condensate because the pumps never work enough to heat up and burn it out of the oil. Whether or not it matters in the life of the pump is hard to say, but there threads on here where people found sludge and junk in the bottom of their pumps when they took the covers off. So there is a balance. In your setup, small pump large tank it will run and heat up. In others, large pump, small tank, plus infrequent use can just degrade the oil because the moisture just stays there. If you want to keep the pump nice and clean in a hobby shop changing it yearly ought to be plenty. I know guys who run them professional in mechanic shops. The compressor is outside under a lean to, they never touch it unless something happens because of all the snakes and high grass. Honestly I think the last time they checked it was when one of the lines blew and it ran all weekend about 10 years ago. The point is compressors don't as much maintenance as some people suggest they do, almost gets into tool polisher territory here..