New 80 Gallon Compressor Install

[onewheat]

I posted this last week but it got moved to Electrical and I got the wiring questions answered there, but this is the non-electrical part of the same post.

I just picked up a new IR 5 hp, 2-stage 80-gallon compressor at Tractor Supply on Friday. We brought it home and carried it to the second floor of my shop. That was actually easier than I thought it would be. Anyway... I haven’t installed it yet, but I find IR’s documents a bit thin in detail, so...

I remember reading something somewhere sometime about running a new compressor “unloaded” for a time to “break it in” but IR says put oil in it and that’s pretty much it. Thoughts?

I plan on mounting it to two 2x4s that span 4 joists (to distribute load and vibration) - I have engineered I-beams 12” on center - I’m not worried about load. I put it on the second floor mainly for space and so I didn’t have to listen to it. I plan on bolting through the 2x4 with isolation pads sandwiched in and then screwing the 2x4 down to the floor. Does this seem reasonable?

 

[Mick56]

I bought a new Campbell Hausfeld 5 hp single stage about 40 years ago, and still have it. The directions said to run it unloaded for one hour for break in, and then change the oil.

 

[Farmall450]

Nominally I would change the oil after an hour or two of light running.

 

[ford33]

Choice of lubricant impacts your warranty with IR. I couldn't find anything on their site specific to a break-in procedure.

From IR's website:
Ingersoll Rand warrants the equipment for a period of twelve (12) months from
the date of placing the equipment in operation or eighteen (18) months from the date of shipment, whichever occurs first.

Compressors operated solely on All Season Select synthetic compressor lubricant will have their bare compressor pump (ONLY THE PUMP) warranted for the earlier of twenty-four (24) months

 

[like2wheel]

I feel that bolting thru the isolation pads defeats the purpose. The vibration will just transfer thru the solid connection of the bolts.
Better to surround the bolts with rubber tubing (fuel hose works well), with a rubber pad on top & a large fender washer.

 

[bob15]

I would not bother bolting it down. Leave it bolted to the wood skid plate it came shipped on or just leave the legs free on the floor. It will be fine. I've had multiple compressors over the years, none ever bolted down and none ever moved.

 

[redmondjp]

I would not bother bolting it down. Leave it bolted to the wood skid plate it came shipped on or just leave the legs free on the floor. It will be fine. I've had multiple compressors over the years, none ever bolted down and none ever moved.

Same here; but if in an earthquake zone, it wouldn't hurt to put a strap or cable around the top of the tank, leave some slack for vibration isolation, and bolt it to a wall stud so it won't tip over.

 

[johnnyradiant]

I used a motor mount like this under each leg. They are motor mounts from late 70's early 80's 240 series Volvo. I was working as a Volvo mech when I got my compressor. They were about $6 each when I got them and they are still under $10 now. I think I may have just drilled a holes in the floor and let the studs just act as pins. I may have gone all out and anchored, or even anchored just the front two. It's too long ago now to remember, other than they were readily available to me, cheap and simple.

 

[Kevin54]

Put it on three pieces of rubber or even set it on a piece of old thick carpet. If you bolt it the vibration will carry down through the bolts to the joist. I've had mine on isolation pads for 15 years now on concrete without bolting it, and it has never moved except the few times I've move it to paint.

 

[LXCam]

I just bought a 80gl 7.5hp IR and it was obvious the pump had already been run, just shipped without oil. So I filled it up with their recommended lube and it's been running fine with no issues. As for the noise attenuation and because I built a cart to roll this thing around a job site I went with rubber isolation pads. In all honesty, I have no idea if it helped because I never ran it without them, but figured it sure couldn't hurt.