Lifting an Air Compressor

[james_98188]

Yeah, I know, there's been lots of (GREAT) discussion here on this, but I could use some tips on some of the finer points.

I've a 60 gallon 5HP IR vertical compressor I'm installing in a storage shed behind my garage - it's about 450 pounds.

I'm going to bolt it down the the concrete slab with anchor wedges, and place vibration isolation pads under the compressor feet.

I'll probably be able to just mark and drill the holes in the concrete, walk the compressor back into into place, carefully tip it back enough to slip the pads under the feet one at a time while also installing the anchor wedges (loosely) one at time, and then snug them down a little after everything's in place. Sound okay?

HOWEVER, from from some of your helpful tips here, I expedited picking up a 2 ton engine hoist I was planning to get anyway for swapping engines in my mid-engined sports car, thinking it'd help with the compressor too. It'd be nice to be able to just pick the whole thing up, drop it on the pads, and bolt it into place. But, what does one grab on to? IR says to pick it up by the motor saddle, but there's lots of **** in the way. The open area is off center, so it wouldn't be just a straight left up. Is it worth the effort to pull the motor and everything off to do this...or better to just do it the first way I mentioned?

Thanks in advance for any compressor wisdom you might be able to bestow on me.

 

[mattmankow]

Can't you put something through the saddle, like a piece of steel channel or something? That would extend the lift point past the motor and plumbing and such?

 

[Higgins]

I've used a 5' Yellow tow strap that is used to wrap around a tree. Just run it under the saddle, you may need to use some small pieces of 2x4 to keep the strap where you want it. But it's a piece of cake using the strap to lift with!!!

 

[jayoldschool]

I move mine on a fridge dolly. So easy. You can tilt up to work on the feet, just jam a piece of wood under the other foot. I installed my mounts this way. I move my complete compressor across the garage to store it every winter. I park another car there.

 

[Fixnair]

Be very careful! Compressors are notoriously top heavy, especially verticals tank models. The best way to lift it is to attach a sling to the compressor and motor and lift it from above. Do not try to lift it from the bottom. It will topple very easy. Your plans on tipping and walking it will probably work if you are coordinated enough.

 

[71goldss]

Not trying to suggest that you get in over your head and drop and damage the compressor or injure yourself, but I did mine the first way that you mentioned. It was very easy to do by myself and I even removed mine from the original shipping pallet by myself by laying thinner wood pcs next to the pallet to make 3 or 4 steps and then walked it down to the floor. Just takes some balancing coordination. As mentioned already, they are top heavy, but they can be tilted quite a bit before they want to get away from you. If you have someone that can spot for you and help balance if needed, that would be advised. I was on my own.

 

[fordbroncodave]

my brother had taken our 60 gallon Caire compressor to get the bottom welded from rust and when he brought it back he carried the whole damn thing on his right shoulder and stepped under the garage door. placed it on the wooden platform in the corner.
I wish I was that strong

 

[bad_idea]

If it were me, I would look into using the hoist rather than tipping it around if by myself. If you have helping hands, then it will be much easier to just man handle it. A combination of straps and maybe a load leveler should let you pick the thing up with the hoist. Know anyone that does rigging for a living? Rigging is easy, but also easy to screw up quick!

 

[Jason280]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148101

Not sure if this thread will help you or not, but this what I did to mount my 80gal IR on a pad outside of my shop.

I lifted mine with the bucket on my tractor, which was as tremendous help. Not sure if your compressor is similar, but mine has a hole in the middle of the saddle that sits atop the tank, between where the motor and pump is mounted. I simply used a piece of 5/16" chain with a hook, and was able to pick the compressor up without issue. I didn't have to remove anything from the saddle, and was fairly easy.

One recommendation I can make, though, make sure you install an extended drain before you get the tank bolted down!!

 

[GarageEnvy]

I believe mine was somewhere near 700 pounds. I was only trying to lift it off the pallet and I didn't have a hoist. I put a digging bar and some square tubing through the saddle and lifted from the ends.

 

[DirtRoad]

Im suprised its 450 pounds. All the 60 gallon compressors ive seen barely touch 300 pounds.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Im suprised its 450 pounds. All the 60 gallon compressors ive seen barely touch 300 pounds.

WTF??? How can it be this heavy..

OP, you do drain out the water every so often, right?

 

[LEVE]

Sometimes it's good to take it apart, move it, and re-assemble it. It's more work, but often a lot safer that having and accident, letting it fall or replacing parts after it falls.

 

[DirtRoad]

WTF??? How can it be this heavy..

OP, you do drain out the water every so often, right?

I see threads like this on alot of different forums. It seems people over estimate the actual weight of their compressor. They are top heavy sure but they dont weigh as much as a car that alot of people believe.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I see threads like this on alot of different forums. It seems people over estimate the actual weight of their compressor. They are top heavy sure but they dont weigh as much as a car that alot of people believe.

When I move my IR 60 gal compressor, I usually just walk it along on it's 3 hockey pucks....If I really need to move it far, I just borrow the neighbors hand truck......I don't even think mine weighs in at 300 lbs...

 

[Davefr]

I have a 60 gallon IR and it's easy to move just by leaning it, walk and pivot.

I think trying to raise the whole thing is making work out of work.

When it's time to insert the vibration pads just lean it and have a helper slip them under the feet.

 

[MG44]

I moved a 1955 westinghouse from another shop into my shop, its a 80gal compressor, vertical. We just tipped it into the trailer, the oil leaked out, but no big deal. Got it to the compressor room, tilted it up, and walked it like a refrigerator. Its not anchored down, and doesn't vibrate. If you haven't done so, I'd run the compressor and make sure it needs to be bolted down.

 

[A_Pmech]

Im suprised its 450 pounds. All the 60 gallon compressors ive seen barely touch 300 pounds.

Depends on the compressor.

 

[54FordPanel]

Do you have 1 other guy to help you?

Mine is 400 lbs, I think. 60 gallon Champion.

I had another guy. I cut 4 rope lengths about 4', and cut 1" pvc into 4 6" lengths. I looped the rope around every leg, thru the PVC handles, and tied them. So I had 4 rope handles. Me and another guy picked it up and moved mine to a dolly, then wheeled it into place. Picked it up again, pulled the dolly, and set it.

And they are extremely top heavy....(obviously) .......do not let it get out of balance.

 

[71goldss]

Spec sheet on my 5hp 60gal verticle Quincy states 460 lbs.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Do you have 1 other guy to help you?

Mine is 400 lbs, I think. 60 gallon Champion.

I had another guy. I cut 4 rope lengths about 4', and cut 1" pvc into 4 6" lengths. I looped the rope around every leg, thru the PVC handles, and tied them. So I had 4 rope handles. Me and another guy picked it up and moved mine to a dolly, then wheeled it into place. Picked it up again, pulled the dolly, and set it.

And they are extremely top heavy....(obviously) .......do not let it get out of balance.

Pretty smart, for a sock puppet..How'd you come up with this, FP?

 

[james_98188]

Yeah, I was surprised too. I think the cheaper ones with aluminum cylinders weigh about 300 lbs, and the better ones are heavier. I ended up hiring a two man crew and a truck to transport it to my driveway, and there's NO WAY I could've moved it across 60 feet of lawn, up a step, and through a doorway shorter than the compressor alone. They were getting so frustrated that I ended up bribing...I mean tipping them $100 more each to not give up.

Im suprised its 450 pounds. All the 60 gallon compressors ive seen barely touch 300 pounds.

 

[james_98188]

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. The ceiling in the corner of the shed where I'm putting it isn't very high though, so there'd not be enough clearance to use a steel channel with something like an engine leveler. I'd have to jury-rig something to keep the profile low enough.

Can't you put something through the saddle, like a piece of steel channel or something? That would extend the lift point past the motor and plumbing and such?

 

[james_98188]

How heavy is your compressor???

I move mine on a fridge dolly. So easy. You can tilt up to work on the feet, just jam a piece of wood under the other foot. I installed my mounts this way. I move my complete compressor across the garage to store it every winter. I park another car there.

 

[james_98188]

I'm kind of coming back to this as everything else is starting to sound like it's making the job more complicated than it needs to be. It's been really easy to walk the compressor around on the shed's concrete floor - so maybe for getting the pads under the feet (or later, getting the compressor off the anchor wedge studs once they're installed if that's ever neccesary) I could just temporarily attach something to the shed's wall framing to prevent the compressor from tipping over too far for some insurance.

Not trying to suggest that you get in over your head and drop and damage the compressor or injure yourself, but I did mine the first way that you mentioned. It was very easy to do by myself and I even removed mine from the original shipping pallet by myself by laying thinner wood pcs next to the pallet to make 3 or 4 steps and then walked it down to the floor. Just takes some balancing coordination. As mentioned already, they are top heavy, but they can be tilted quite a bit before they want to get away from you. If you have someone that can spot for you and help balance if needed, that would be advised. I was on my own.

 

[John Timmins]

I would be surprised if my air compressor weighs less than 600#.

About 2 years ago I reconditioned my 1936 FERO Air Pump for it's 75th birthday. I put some temporary 2x4s up against the roof trusses and with a makeshift 4x4 and a strap, mounted a chain fall in the garage. I lifted off the motor and then removed the air compressor; it alone must have wieghed 250#. The receiver is rivited beast; I don't know the weight.

I would take the compressor apart if I were you and somehow get the receiver where you want it and add the add the motor and compressor.

FERO of Pittsburg, PA made air compressors for GULF service stations from the early 1900s until the late 1930s. The compressor is quiet and turns about 350 rpm. I am always happy to hear of any FEROs around. This came from a gas station in Palatka, Florida.

Google: Arnie's Atomic Engines and search for FERO - a site made by Arnie Fero.

 

[2oolhound]

I was able to slide mine up the ramp on my motorcycle lift, wheel it to the truck, jack up the lift and slide the compressor on the truck then load the bike lift. Did the reverse when I got it home.

 

[jayoldschool]

How heavy is your compressor???

I don't know, heavy. It's an upright 60gal. Fridge carts make moving heavy things very easy. I bought mine to move jukeboxes, pinballs, and coke machines. Moving the compressor is easy.

 

[71goldss]

I'm kind of coming back to this as everything else is starting to sound like it's making the job more complicated than it needs to be. It's been really easy to walk the compressor around on the shed's concrete floor - so maybe for getting the pads under the feet (or later, getting the compressor off the anchor wedge studs once they're installed if that's ever neccesary) I could just temporarily attach something to the shed's wall framing to prevent the compressor from tipping over too far for some insurance.

Not sure if you already have the vibration pads or if this will work for you, but I concidered anchoring to the floor with studs as you are, but decided to just mount the vibration pads (hocky pucks) directly to the footings of the compressor only. I'm still able to walk the compressor around if needed with the pucks on. It doesn't move on its own from vibration. If you are still concerned of tipping and falling during use, just tether it permanently to the wall. This way you can still easily move the compressor when needed. I put mine in a sound proof closet that I made and felt that the studs in the floor would be a problem when needing to move out of the closet for servicing.

Note: I recessed the mounting bolt head into the hocky puck and mounted upwards through the compressor foot. The washer and nut went on top of the foot.

 

[71goldss]

A photo of the hocky pucks mounted to my compressor. I tilted the compressor while talking the photo. The mark on the floor is from a sharpie so that I always get the compressor back in the same spot after moving.

 

[james_98188]

Yeah, that looks like the the 80 gallon version of my 60 gallon IR. I copied your photo and blew it up to try seeing exactly what you were living the compressor from - and it looks like on one side you hooked a hole on that side of the saddle. Same thing on the other side? It DOES look like your compressor is lifting almost perfectly vertical. My IR only has the hole on one side of the saddle with an air line going through it.

(I was tempted to blow up the photo of your wife, but thought that'd be disrespectful. No less valuable of course, just disrespectful.)

There's a guy down the street from me who's apparently making a decent living shipping old motorcycles and sports cars to Japan. Once a week he's got a shipping container in his front yard for loading up everything he's collected during the week. Apparently the current value of the yen is much better than the dollar so it's paying off for him. Every week he's also got a rented forklift for helping him load the container. I didn't know him at the time, but now he says I can borrow the forklift any time I want. Since the compressor was shipped on a pallet, it SURE would've saved a lot of effort!

And yes, from what I've learned from others on this site I already have the hardware for the extended drain, thanks. It wouldn't be very hard to install it once the compressor's bolted down....would it? At least not for someone used to working on a mid-engined sports car?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148101

I lifted mine with the bucket on my tractor, which was as tremendous help. Not sure if your compressor is similar, but mine has a hole in the middle of the saddle that sits atop the tank, between where the motor and pump is mounted. I simply used a piece of 5/16" chain with a hook, and was able to pick the compressor up without issue. I didn't have to remove anything from the saddle, and was fairly easy.

One recommendation I can make, though, make sure you install an extended drain before you get the tank bolted down!!

 

[james_98188]

So you just slip it under a couple of the feet and have at it? I DO have a hand truck rated for 700 lbs, so that might work almost as well. It hasn't gotten away from you by angling it a little too far?

I don't know, heavy. It's an upright 60gal. Fridge carts make moving heavy things very easy. I bought mine to move jukeboxes, pinballs, and coke machines. Moving the compressor is easy.

 

[james_98188]

Two questions:

1) Will your brother be visiting Seattle any time soon, and, if so,
2) What kind of beer does he like?

my brother had taken our 60 gallon Caire compressor to get the bottom welded from rust and when he brought it back he carried the whole damn thing on his right shoulder and stepped under the garage door. placed it on the wooden platform in the corner.
I wish I was that strong

 

[jayoldschool]

So you just slip it under a couple of the feet and have at it? I DO have a hand truck rated for 700 lbs, so that might work almost as well. It hasn't gotten away from you by angling it a little too far?

Yes, that's it. Grab the top with one hand, tilt it an inch, slip the cart underneath with the other hand, then attach the ratcheting strap around it. Grab the handles, and tilt it back. No, it hasn't gotten away from me. You get used to tilting loads the right amount so the weight is balanced. Especially lugging 1950s jukeboxes up and down stairs. Moving that compressor across flat garage floor is no problem.

 

[machine_punk]

If you are getting the 2-ton hoist anyway, then stop by HF and pick up a couple of their lift straps. WHATEVER you do, don't rely on ratcheting straps or other things not rated for lifting (versus towing). You can always use a length of chain too, with the chain hook you attach anywhere on the chain.

(YES, I KNOW...it looks like I am using ratcheting straps here...I needed 6 more inches on the lifting straps and I configured the ratcheting strap so it was essentially "zero" inches long...just the ratchet and the hooks was long enough to extend my lift strap. In the future, I won't do this...I will add chain with hooks or lift rings into the equation) Also, don't be afraid to cut the long chain, which came with the hoist, down to 3 links, if you need more height on whatever you are lifting (notice how short I made my chain in the pic below...
View media item 19702

 

[truckdriver]

WTF??? How can it be this heavy..

OP, you do drain out the water every so often, right?

My Quincy 325 is 295 lbs. Then you add a true 5hp and tank and 6-700 is very realistic.