Need help identifying an older compressor

[weekend-diyer]

Hi. I am new to the site, but I think I'm posting to the correct forum. I picked up a older compressor today and I am trying to determine the brand and specs. The tank is made by the Buckeye Boiler Co. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Umm...that doesn't really help much. Lots of companies used Buckeye tanks. Emglo (Youngstown) and LeRoi (Sidney) were both based in Ohio, and there were others. I'll be glad to help if you can elaborate further.

 

[Rinspeed]

Need some pictures my friend, welcome to the forum.

 

[weekend-diyer]

Thanks all. I will try again on the pictures. I tried to attach two pictures initially but I guess they didn't get posted

 

[weekend-diyer]

Here's a different view.

 

[weekend-diyer]

The tank date is 1973. I think it's 220 volt because the wire lead has red, black, and green wires. I assume single phase, but I'm not knowledgeable about phases. Thanks again!

 

[micromind]

It looks like there are 2 blacks, a red and a green coming in to the motor. If so, it would very likely be 3 phase.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

From the color, the general appearance and the age I would say this is some sort of Wayne or Dresser-Wayne. It looks like it was a duplex setup at some point. The motor looks single phase to me. No 3 phase motor will need capacitors.

 

[micromind]

From the color, the general appearance and the age I would say this is some sort of Wayne or Dresser-Wayne. It looks like it was a duplex setup at some point. The motor looks single phase to me. No 3 phase motor will need capacitors.

I must have missed something here.....where do you see capacitors on that motor?

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Unless that motor gas been blessed with a very generous junction box, i'd say the OP has a few missing capacitors on that motor. Every 3 phase motor I have worked on had the same colored leads on all three phases.

 

[micromind]

The majority of 3Ø motors I've installed will have black leads with numbers. Some will have yellow lead with numbers. A lot of smaller Baldor models will have different color leads.

It's possible that it is single phase and the caps are in that box with then on-off switch. It seems pretty small though.

If it's 3Ø, it's very likely 9 lead, if so, it looks like it's connected for 460 volts.

Too bad we can't see the box better......

 

[weekend-diyer]

Here is a better picture of the wiring. There is a 3 wire (red/black/green) pigtail coming out of the junction box that they had hardwired in the shop. It came out of a family member's workshop many years ago and had been stored. Thanks

 

[micromind]

Given the new pic, it is single phase with remotely mounted capacitors.

 

[weekend-diyer]

Thank you

 

[weekend-diyer]

Given the new pic, it is single phase with remotely mounted capacitors.

Not sure what you mean by remotely mounted capacitors. Are you saying the capacitors were in the junction box back in the old shop, and that I need to add a 220v junction box with capacitors in my shop, or am I able to put a 220v plug on the end of the red/black/green pigtail and connect it to my 220 outlet? Thanks again.

 

[micromind]

Applying 240 to the red and black won't hurt anything. If the caps are mounted in the box with the on-off switch, it'll run like usual. If the caps are not there, it'll just hum and not turn. If it doesn't turn, don't keep it energized for more than about 5 seconds.

 

[weekend-diyer]

Applying 240 to the red and black won't hurt anything. If the caps are mounted in the box with the on-off switch, it'll run like usual. If the caps are not there, it'll just hum and not turn. If it doesn't turn, don't keep it energized for more than about 5 seconds.

I'm sorry. I misread the prior post. Here is a picture of inside the switch box.

 

[micromind]

I'm sorry. I misread the prior post. Here is a picture of inside the switch box.

That black round thing is the start capacitor. The square black thing is the start relay.

It'll almost certainly run if you connect power to the black and red coming out of the flex 90 connector.

Also, it'd be a good idea to re-do the burnt splice in the motor box.

 

[weekend-diyer]

That black round thing is the start capacitor. The square black thing is the start relay.

It'll almost certainly run if you connect power to the black and red coming out of the flex 90 connector.

Also, it'd be a good idea to re-do the burnt splice in the motor box.

Ok. I'll redo that splice. I'm looking forward to getting it running. The compressor has been sitting for 16 years. With engines I have heard that sometimes people spray WD-40 in the cylinder before turning them over after they've been sitting for a long period of time. Other than changing the oil is there anything that I need to do to prepare the compressor before trying to start it? Thanks so much for all the help.

 

[The Cobbler]

spin it by hand before you power it up to make sure everything spins as it should, no binds or anything like that.
let it run for a few minutes before you let it build pressure. It's probably not worth removing the head to lubricate the cylinder .

prepare the compressor before trying to start it?

 

[weekend-diyer]

spin it by hand before you power it up to make sure everything spins as it should, no binds or anything like that.
let it run for a few minutes before you let it build pressure. It's probably not worth removing the head to lubricate the cylinder .

Will do. Thank you.