LeRoi Dresser 440A Compressor Value?

[TruckJunkie]

I found this old compressor for sale today, the owner has not put a price on it and wants me to make him an offer. He bought it over 20 years ago from a tire company and has been storing it outside under a tarp since then. It was recently moved and they dropped it and bent up the shroud pretty good, possibly damaging the cooling lines inside the shroud. I grabbed the belt and tugged, nothing moved, even a little bit, so am guessing it may be seized up. According to the tags it is a Dresser 440A by the LeRoi Division of Dresser Industries in Sydney, OH and is mounted on an 80 gallon tank. Does this thing have any value in it's present condition, other than scrap value?

 

[mvptrukin]

I would do a search to see if parts are available--did you open tank drain valve to see if anything comes out? The tank could be rusted out if it wasn't drained before it was stored outside.

 

[chrisziem]

If it runs it is worth pump and motor. I WOULD NOT TRUST THE TANK UNDER PRESSURE!!!!

40 DOLLARS IF PUMP RUN

 

[TruckJunkie]

I would not consider the tank as being useable until it could be professionally tested, and it would probably be cheaper to replace it than test it. It is sitting outside and he does not have 3-phase power to run it anyway. If you look at the first pic, you can see the shroud is bent up pretty good, don't know if it is binding against the pulley, or if the cooling lines may be damaged, but could not budge the belt by hand.

 

[TruckJunkie]

I did a check online and there are several places that list parts for this model compressor, but they are not cheap. The rebuild parts for the head are listed at over $400.

 

[rodm1]

I would give him scrap value only and hope you get lucky.

 

[zkling]

If I was looking to purchase the unit I wouldn't pay more than scrap value for it; and that is only if I had a lot of time on my hands to waste. Personally based on the following criteria (could help for bargaining with the seller) I would run away from that unit and look for something else.

1.) It hasn't been run in years.
2.) Stored outside.
3.) Knocked over.
4.) Not a well supported brand unlike Quincy or the like. Translates into hard to find parts.
5.) Not sure if it runs/can't test.
6.) Seized motor/pump? Now some of the larger pumps are rather difficult to turn by hand due to displacement however I think that majority of compressors this size can be turned with some effort by the average healthy adult male.

Now if the owner can prove that it runs, and builds pressure this would be totally different. They sure don't make compressors like they use to, but some of the more non common brands can become un-economical to keep running.

Just my two cents.