Need help with Binks compressor(Quincy 214)

[amh]

Hello.
Bought on old Binks 33-1179 Lo-Boy compressor for cheap money and need some advice from folks familiar with Quincy QR series compressors. It may have been modified over the years by previous owners. It was probably built in early seventies.

The Binks setup has a 240V 3HP motor and a Quincy model 214 ROC 2 head.
It is a continuous run configuration (pneumatic pilot valve rather than electric pressure switch). the roughly 15 Gallon tank has no check valve (uses the head to unload and stop tank back pressure).

The good news: it runs and builds pressure very quickly (has a motor sheave on it that makes it spin a bit above 1100 rpm). Based on what I could find with 2.5x2.5 bore/stroke at 1200rpm, it supposedly should push near 16cfm.

I did find the Quincy parts list and it shows reasonable mechanical detail but no explanation of oil vane pump or pilot valve operation as function of oil pressure.

The bad news, and where I need your help:

1. The oil pressure is about 5 PSI, that is the factory recommended minimum!
I did try adjusting the oil pressure screw all the way clockwise, but very little change - maybe half a PSI. Not sure if ball spring is weak or maybe oil pump itself is weak. I looked at the Quincy vane pump drawing and it is not intuitive.
Q: What can cause the low oil pressure, and how to remedy that.
Would prefer to fix root cause, but if not possible.
Q: Would heavier oil grade help? I used 30W ND to test, but can go to HDO 5W-40 if that helps build more pressure- as long as the flow is there.

2. There is some air leaking from top side of both unloader intake valve diaphragms.
I tightened the four screws on both unloaders, that reduced the leakage but did not stop it on either. Will open unloader assemblies and look at them in more detail later.
Q: Can the diaphragms be fabricated from good inner tube rubber?
Q: What are the symptoms when diaphragm is torn? (the head currently does unload ok once high side pressure is reached and starts no problem when low side pressure is reached)

3. There is air leaking from the "VD Pilot" body assembly, the big nut like end near the receiver 1/4 inch tube compression fitting (CAP air Inlet). Quincy pilot valve part number 5874x3. Maybe work gasket?
Q: What does VD stand for? No jokes please, I've already thought of that.
Q: Is this valve rebuildable, anybody have experience fabricating the gaskets and felt air filter?
Q: How does oil pressure impact pilot valve.

4. The intake air filter is rotten. The dimension appear to be ~3.5in OD, ~1.5in ID and ~3in deep. Looks lie a Solberg or IR filer, but ~3/4 in smaller OD and 1-1/2in smaller ID (has noticeably thicker filter/element wall). Says made in USA but no part number.
Q: is this original? Anyone have part number?
Q: If not original and unrecognizable, what is a good ~4in OD filter element & housing with 1/2-3/4mnpt & ~15-20CFM flow that is reasonably affordable. Solberg would cost about what I paid for the whole compressor

Thanks, hope it's not too long winded.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

amh, regarding oil pressure, first thing to check is the oil pump intake screen, which is the large thin nut to the right of the oil drain. Pull it and see if the screen is clogged.
Most parts are still available from Quincy to overhaul the valves.
'VD' stands for 'Variable Differential' as you can adjust the pilot valve to increase or decrease the cut-in / cut-out pressure.
Pilot valve operation is not affected by oil pressure. Leaking my just be that it needs cleaning.
I'll try to answer more questions later as I've got to run.

 

[walta]

Consider checking the oil pressure with a different gage the old one may no longer accurate.

Walta

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

amh, Here is a link for the Head Overhaul Kit (HOK)

https://www.factoryaircompressorpar...nd-up-head-overhaul-kit-air-compressor-parts/

As Walta suggested, double check your oil pressure reading with a different gauge.

Do I assume correctly that your pump does NOT also have an hydraulic unloader? Some models have both, allowing you to switch between modes. The hydraulic unloader DOES function using oil pressure.

I would not recommend using heavier weight oil. IF the oil pressure issue is due to a worn pump, it would be more difficult for it to pump the heavier viscosity oil.

Pilot valves are pretty foolproof, if it leaks it's most likely just a piece of debris between the ball and seat.

Lots of reasonably priced Solberg air filters available on ebay. You can always go with a larger diameter filter / housing just by using a street 90 elbow at the intake and run the filter above the head.

 

[amh]

An update:

First, thank you Tool Tyrant and Walta.
Here is where things stand with my small quincy 214 project.
1. Low oil pressure.
Turned out to be a bad gauge (lazy, read about 1/5 of true value). Replaced it and it reads ~28PSI. I tried adjust the oil pressure screw CCW, but it would only go 1 turn before starting to turn the lock nut, not sure if it is designed to be that way or it is binding - I tried a bit of force to free it but no luck and I did not want to break it.


2. Air leaking at intake diaphragm.
Too kit apart, the diaphragm was nearly disintegrated. I could actually see the mesh inside the diaphragm. I am surprised it worked at all. Ordered replacement diaphragms. Should arrive in a few days.

3. Leaking VD Pilot.
Took it apart, the leak was around what looked like a copper crush washer. Added an O-ring and it sealed. Later I May try to find an appropriately sized new copper washer and take out O-ring. The felt filter was disintegrated, cleaned that out. The screen filter was OK.

4. Rotten air filter element.
Had no luck finding the exact element size that fit the existing can, so I ordered and received a SF15 Solberg. Looks like many suppliers for filter element and also available at Tractor Supply under IR label.

The compressor does not have a hydraulic unloader, the port on the crankcase is covered.



I am pleasantly surprised how much air volume it pushes for a relatively small compressor. It is quite heavy, mostly motor weight.

Will change air filter and diaphragms and report later.

Thanks again.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Sounds like you got lucky on the the low oil pressure issue (great call Walta)

Oil pressure should run between 18-20 psi. I'd suggest trying some Kroil on the threads and work it in and out a little at a time.

Did you by chance pull and clean the oil screen? (you must drain the crankcase first)

Sounds like you're on the road.

 

[amh]

No I did not clean the screen. To do that I have to either take the pump off or get a thin wall socket (rather a plumbing type, long, thin wall socket) as that head is way too low on the pump. I also need to figure the size, next time ill take a micrometer and measure it (parts list does not state size of head).

Do the adjustment screw and cap nut come apart? If so, I can try placing it in an ultrasonic cleaner with a solvent/degreaser for a bit and hope it shakes out any jammed debris. I did try to turn the screw in the cap nut very hard and it only turned about 1 revolution. I can also put a thicker washer, that may accomplish the same thing as backing it out.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

The nut is 1-1/16" on a 210 and 1-3/8" on a 325, so I'd GUESS it's probably 1-1/16", but it could be somewhere between the two.

The adjustment screw and lock nut are separate pieces. There is also an O-ring on the adjustment screw that rides inside the bore of the locknut.

I would guess that there may be rust / crunge inside the bore or the O-ring has swollen.

Have you looked at the parts manual on the Quincy site?

 

[amh]

Thanks for the info. The parts manual I downloaded did not have breakdown of oil pressure screw nor did it list size of oil screen bolt head. When I eyeballed it with tape it was a week 1-1/8, so 1-1/16 sounds right. I believe 214 uses same crankcase as 210. I should have looked at 210 docs.

 

[walta]

I changed My Quincy 210s oil 3 times and it was still black in a few minutes before I broke down and opened the crankcase and scraped a half inch of sludge from the corners. If your oil is not spotless consider cleaning it out.

I have grown to like my pilot valves I say give it a chance.

Walta