Kellogg American 0331: sight glass

[JGK]

Hello,

I recently purchased a model 331 compressor from a fellow who completely rebuilt it and painted it up nice but in the process of sandblasting it for painting, he hit the sight glass making it very hard to see the oil level.

This appears to be a pressed in sight glass. The diameter of the glass itself measures just under an inch, but the metal (brass?) "frame" is about 1-1/4 inch, so I assume this is a 1-1/4 inch sight glass.

I'd like to replace it. Can the current one be somehow removed without access to the inside of the case - I'd really rather not break the whole thing apart for this - and the new one tapped into place all from the outside?

If anyone is aware of a thread in this forum on this, please let me know.

Thank you,
Jay

 

[bareass172]

I replace these for motorcycles once in awhile when parts have to go out for chrome. If it is anything like the motorcycle versions, it is typically a thick piece of plastic/acrylic that is placed inside a metal ring and then pressed into place. Typically a small socket placed on the inside works with some sort of prybar/screwdriver to press it out. Obviously you may have to put something in place to pry against, and you'll want the biggest socket you can fit so you're pressing as close to the edges as possible. If you go slowly and carefully (give it a shot on the outside with penetrating lube also) you can get it out in one piece and it's still usable. Since yours is etched it may not be, but if it is plastic/acrylic and you cannot find a source for a new one then it's possible you could polish the scratches out.

Just so I'm totally clear, I know nothing about your Kellogg, but this is what I do for MC sight glasses. If I'm wrong, well at least I bumped your thread.

 

[Hemlock]

I'd try to polish it in place. Maybe use a dowel chucked in a drill. If it doesn't work you can still take it out, so what have you got to loose?

 

[kams1973]

Go to aircomparts.com

If you can't find your replacement sight glass, give them a call. They've always been very helpful.

here's a link
http://www.aircomparts-air-compressors.com/oil-sight-glass-pressin/

 

[Fixnair]

Just go ahead & punch it in and leave it there. It won't go anywhere or cause any damage. I've done it many times successfuly. You can get new ones from Graingers.

You don't say where you live but if you're by chance in the LA Ca.area or The Bakersfield Ca. area I could help you.

 

[JGK]

Thank you all for your replies.

It appears the glass is actually acrylic. I thought about trying to polish it out but it’s as rough as an orange peel. I may have to just live with it.

But if there’s a way I can perhaps drill it and use something to pull it out from the front that would be the only way I’d attempt it. I really don’t want to break open the case to drive it out from the inside. But perhaps that’s not possible. That’s what I’m really asking about. Can that be done? Fixnair suggests punching it in. That’s unexpected! It would make me nervous having it floating around inside, but maybe it’d be OK.

I’ve included a couple of pictures of the compressor. It was rebuilt by a guy that is a retired Ingersol compressor tech and he waxed on for some time about its condition and what he all did to it. It’s a beast! But runs really quiet. It'll fill the 80 gallon tank to about 140 psi in about 6 minutes.

-Jay

 

[gayler]

Maybe one of those kits to polish out plastic headlights?

 

[TK LP]

Could you drill and tap it and use a bolt to pull it out?

 

[JGK]

TK LP, that's sort of what I was thinking. But I wonder if anyone had actually done that sort of thing with success.

I suppose if I drilled it and tapped it and the bolt didn't have enough "purchase" to pull it out, I could hopefully use some sort of prying tool, like a bent screwdriver, to just pry it out by the hole I'd drilled. Once out, the new one is simply tapped in using a right sized socket, correct?

 

[Bandit]

Hi JGK
If You are not able to clean it and Do NOT want to pull the back cover ( very easy to do and a good idea to make sure the " Oil Slinger " is in place ) , after ordering a new oil gauge / ( sight glass ) around $ 20. + S/H p/n 38318 .
Drain the oil , punch it out , I use a small pointed pry bar
( Ex. http://www.harborfreight.com/3-Piece-Pry-Bar-Set-68339.html mine is Not from Hazard Fraught Tools )
Right through the center , reverse bar and just pop it out .
Refill with 30 wt. Non-Detergent Oil and You are done .
Bob

 

[stage20]

mine looks like that but its from the inside. im not sure what the exact capacity is in relation to the sight glass. bottom, middle, top. i had been told by a compressor guy to run around 3qts. i pull the plug every now and then and stick a scredriver in there to make sure its got some oil in it.

 

[JGK]

Bandit, so removing that cover won't cause an issue with any crank bearings, etc? That would make it easier. But if can be handled from the outside, I'm in favor of that. I'm going to trust that the guy who rebuilt it has the oil slinger properly installed. And quite frankly, since I'm not at all familiar with the internals of this thing, I wouldn't know for sure if it was wrong!

So what's the source for the sight glass you provided the part number for, please?

I found them on http://www.aircomparts-air-compressors.com, but they have a $25 minimum order.

Thanks again,
-Jay

 

[stage20]

how much is the glass?
you can always tack on an air filter and oil if they carry it.

 

[Bandit]

Hi JGK
You just pull the cover STRAIGHT OUT and don't tear any of the gaskets , ( they shim the crank bearings ) .
I would still try to punch out the sight glass , as you can peek in and see the oil slinger , it looks like a round piece of coat hanger and it rides in a V-Grove on the crank , and between two little humps on the bottom of the sump with a cotter pin to hold it in place .
( I have given my card to bidders at auctions who out bid me , then brought there compressor home laying down , then called a week or two later when it was knocking $$$$ , I always pulled and peaked when I set up a K-A , even a new one , thats why they make gasket cement LOL )
Here is the Retail Internut Site of one of my " aftermarket " wholesale suppliers that I have been dealing with for over 28 yrs. , that will sell to the public , the others are wholesale only .
http://www.ecompressedair.com/compr...mpressor-parts/kellogg-0038318-oil-gauge.aspx
Sorry my manuals are stored in my storage locker as I had to give up my shop when I had " Ticker Problems " or I would check the manual for you.
I hope these help also .
http://www.mastertoolrepair.com/images/331.pdf
http://www.aircompressorpartsonline.com/images/331.pdf
Bob

 

[JGK]

Bob (Bandit),

Thanks for the reply! I've ordered the sight glass ("gauge") from the first site you listed. When the time comes, I'll drill the current one and pry it out or thread it for a bolt to pull it out with. Your description of the case cover and the attached PDFs gives me confidence that if I do have to get inside, I can do so fairly easily. I've printed off the PDF for reference.

Could be a few weeks before I get to this.

-Jay

 

[Bandit]

Hi Jay
No need to drill it out , and leave chips inside , just use a pointed pry bar like I posted above , Drain the Oil , drive the punch through the middle of the site glass , reverse the Bar ( Foot on inside ) , clamp on a pair of vise-grips , and a couple of tap's with a hammer while turning the Bar should pop it right out .
Bob
Ps
Don't forget to peek inside with a mini mag light/pin light at the oil slinger ring .
Pps
If You have anymore questions , and I haven't answered you , just e-mail me , as I don't drop in that often , been 5 years since I registered till I posted . LOL
Ppps
Or if You are not in a real hurry and can wait till the end of summer , We are driving out in our Dodge One Ton Maxi-Van to visit a Gold Claim in Nm. , see our Daughter in Aurora Co. and my Son in Logan Ut ,
After a 36 Hour Run to Nm. , plus an 8 Hour trip to Co. , and another 8 Hours to Utah what's 4 Hrs. more ?

 

[JGK]

Bob,

You're too funny! Thanks for the offer. But if I'm going to do this I want to do it before I put the system back together. The pump and motor are off the tank because I'm getting ready to set it on a small concrete pad behind the shop under a roofed storage area and the only way I can get the compressor rig on the slab is to do it in pieces.

And I'll user your instructions to pop that glass out. Should be easy enough.

-Jay

 

[Bandit]

Jay
I try hard to keep my sense of humor up , but with a wife that had a heart attack , a quad bypass , had two strokes while spending a month in a coma . Plus being the oldest of four and having a 93 yr. old father that fell at x-mas and just came home from a rehab center in a wheelchair and a 95 yr. old mom at home alone with dementia , since I am Retired and the wife isn't working now and we just sit around all day doing nothing , why can't one of us stay with Mom and check in on Dad during the week ? As they all have careers .
Bob

 

[Todd.Brock]

Thank you for all the great info on sight glass replacement. My Champion r-15 pump sight glass is weeping, no leaking oil. The bottom of the pressed in ring is wet after about 12 hours.

Are your instructions fairly universal for replacement? I don't really want to remove the pump, and pull the head so I can replace the site glass. It's maddening enough I have to toss 3day old 30 wt. I suppose I could capture it Oma clean vessel.

 

[Bandit]

Hi Todd
Just pick one and pop it in .
Bob
http://www.compressorpartsstore.com/product-p/r15_sight_glass.htm
http://allaircompressorparts.com/re714championoillevelsightgauge.aspx
http://www.factoryaircompressorparts.com/re714-champion-oil-level-gauge-r-rv-series-pumps/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RE714-CHAMPION-OIL-LEVEL-GAUGE-R-RV-SERIES-PUMPS-/271225798998

 

[Todd.Brock]

Thanks for all the links! I was spending more time looking For procedures on removal. I will take some pics and update this thread.

 

[Burgerkong]

Just thought I'd post in here as well, had my oil sight glass on my 331 fail due to user error (ahem...). Primed the crankcase and baked it at 250F - sight glass didn't like that since it was acrylic and fogged (melted really).

Took a socket sized for the 1-1/4" hole and punched the entire glass from the outside into the crankcase (it's inserted from inside).