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LeRoi Wayne Dresser Compressor Help

Kevs02Accord

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Feb 26, 2015
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Dayton, Ohio
Looking for some help getting my new to me LeRoi / Wayne / Dresser 5000 series air compressor up and running. There are pics in my original thread and when I get home I will combine them here as well. I was actually able to get the 4000/5000 series manual, thanks to Marcuse and Sons, pretty cool, even has notes about availability, etc...

See my original thread for more info. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282468

I have been researching online about reconditioning these older air compressors but I am worried about finding the parts. Honestly I was going to clean it up, get a new filter, and new oil and run it. Does that seem off base?

I know I am going to need help with the wiring, or at least double checking that its correct. From what I can tell it has a pressure switch and starter. I didn't find a pressure regulator so I would need one of those I suppose.

My two concerns with this unit are; the compressor and my ability / availability of parts for a rebuild, and the tank.

I drained the tank after I got it home, got 1-1.5 gallons out, some scale but pretty much clean water. I did notice some brown goo, came out of the tank drain after being open for a couple of days. I am guessing this is either some protective coating, or oil from when I had the compressor on its side for several days.

Right now I am looking for some thoughts / suggestions. I need this up and running relatively soon, I have several automotive projects, sand blasting, painting, etc... waiting.
 
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Kevs02Accord

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Thanks for the info, I had seen some of those sites, most only offer the tune up kit or the air filter. I am concerned about the valves and or the rings, heaven forbid the pistons need replaced.

I'd wire it up and see if it runs, note any bad noises and don't let the pressure build up to much while doing this.

Kind of what I was thinking. I was going to use Royal Purple synthetic but according to the book it takes 5 pints which is like 30-40 bucks. Probably get some SAE 20 run that through a couple of times then throw the RP in there.

Added some pics of the compressor.
 

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MacMcMacmac

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A tune up kit usually contains everything needed for a complete rebuild, minus the roller bearings for the crank. I just used 2 to overhaul a duplex DeVair 247.
 
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Kevs02Accord

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A tune up kit usually contains everything needed for a complete rebuild, minus the roller bearings for the crank. I just used 2 to overhaul a duplex DeVair 247.

Great idea, I can just order that, then see how it runs and if I need to I'll have the parts right there.

You guys gave me a couple of sites that sell some kits, is there vendor that you use that you could recommend?
 
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Kevs02Accord

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Update, I did some cleaning yesterday and it kind of made me sad that this compressor seems to have been neglected over the years. I have a couple more pics with some questions. I am looking to put a parts list together so I can order them all at the same time.

Just to double check, it looks like I am missing a mounting bolt from the compressor to the base plate, and it looks like I am missing a head bolt from the compressor.

How do I get the flywheels off? The compressor flywheel has a castle nut but the motor flywheel doesn't seem to have anything. I don't think the pullers I have used in the past would be big enough to take either of those flywheels off.

Do I need to worry about any unloaders? From what I can tell I have 3, a centrifugal on the compressor, another on compressor head, and another by the outlet pressure gauge. Do I need one where the air enters the tank?

Below is my parts list, please help me fill in the missing pieces.

Parts List:

Missing headbolt x1
Missing mounting bolt x1
Water trap drain plug
Tank drain plug
? Pressure regulator
 

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MacMcMacmac

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If you're feeling brave, and the shaft on the compressor is tapered, you can back off that castle nut a few threads until it overhangs the shaft end, put a pry bar behind the flywheel, lever it outwards, and give a sharp smack directly onto the end of the compressor input shaft. 99% it pops right off.

You must hit the nut dead on flat. There is a chance of damaging the nut if you do it wrong. Very little chance of damaging the threads if they are all behind the leading edge of the nut. You can flip the nut around so you are not smacking the castellations. It doesn't take as much force as you think it might. This works best with steeper tapers, but it worked well on Brunners, and they have relatively narrow shafts and shallow tapers.

If you are not comfortable doing it that way,a regular three jaw puller will get it off. The complications of this is that sometimes you have a number of fan blades which are not divisible by three (or two), or the root of the blades and width of the hub prevents you from putting it on. Alternately, if you have a low profile hydraulic ram and a porta-power, you can push it off by resting the ram against the crankcase and pushing on the flywheel hub from behind. Just be careful the case is heavy enough to take the strain where you rest it. This method is useful for big IR type 30's, which have a very large number of small blades and a very wide hub.

The motor pulley just looks like it pushes on and is held in place with a grub screw through the keyway. It should come straight off with a puller.
 
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Kevs02Accord

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Great details, thanks for the info, appreciate all the input thus far. I didn't even look on the motor pulley to see if there was a set screw or not, I was like what is this held on by??
 
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Kevs02Accord

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Ok, guys in need of more help. I am trying to remove the large tank plugs from the side of the tank. I am having no luck. I have tried a 14 and 18 inch pipe wrench, I tried 2,3,5 ft cheater bars. I tried heat around the plug and later, on the plug. I tried PB blaster. I tried heating the plug and prying on it. I hit the wrench with a mini sledge. The only success I had was breaking off two of the corners. I even had 3 guys standing on the base its mounted to and another use the 5ft cheater and nothing, it just moved all of us. I am lost at the moment.
 

JimmyJoeBob

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Sep 25, 2012
Messages
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Well, I have that exact one, from 1983 or 1985 . It has a knock since i bought it, was run by a three ph 5hp and replaced with a 7hp. Very good compressor and now looking into rebuilding it.

This pump puts out 18cfm at 175 psi, and is a 200psi unit

Mine is working, if you need to know where anything goes, just ask me Ill photograph it

tried to get the file linked in previous post. Id love to get the manual of my compressor if anyone has it.

Here's a few pics of mine:
IMG_0116.jpg
serial number for cool info:http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc319/veikra/Compressor/IMG_0119.jpg
IMG_4062.jpg
 
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