New guy! Need some help and advice on a Champion Compressor.

[ChadWelch]

I need some people smarter than I….. I picked up a Champion VR5-6 compressor with what I believe is a R15 pump. Tank year says 1996. I gave $250 for the compressor. Loading on the trailer I tripped and the compressor ended on top of me ….. beat me up pretty good. The compressor took a hit and I seem to have bent the crankshaft on the pump. Bad wobble in the flywheel, flywheel seems straight I see the bend in the shaft looking down on it. How screwed am I? I see replacement cranks….. read a members detailed thread about rebuilding these pumps. Is this worth me fixing or do I send this one down the road as a parts compressor? Also not exactly sure if it’s the 15-A or B version. I feel I got a smoking deal on it…… up until I took my digger.

 

[finn]

It’s not uncommon to straighten an auto engine crankshaft using a large press, so it might be worth a try.

 

[ChadWelch]

 

[ChadWelch]

Decided to tear it down and see how good the pump was inside before went crazy ordering parts. The cylinders, pistons and valves all seem to be in great condition. Definitely was low on oil but don’t see any major issues from it. New crank and bearings are on the way. All associated gaskets and valve gaskets. 350 in parts, 250 is what I gave before I took a tumble with it. Would have been a nicer win at 250 but still a hell of a compressor at 600. Is what it is.

 

[engineer2]

I bought a couple of the 80 gallon versions for work. Good machines that should last for decades. I like that there is no head gasket.
The only failure was an oil level switch, which the maintenance guy bypassed, but he keeps an eye on the oil level. It's hard to change the switch, so we haven't fixed it yet. I stuck signs on the compressors:

2 quarts

30 weight non-detergent ISO 100

reciprocating compressor oil

Every 500 hours​

 

[ChadWelch]

I doubt that my compressor will see more than 500 hours in my ownership. I doubt I will ever sell it. Truly did not need a compressor of this size but at 250 I figured why the heck not. Besides it looks cool and I have the room for it. Getting ready to restore an F100 and will come in handy when I get it back together.

 

[finn]

Looks like the same compressor I have, down to the original green paint on the motor.

Mine had a professionally (whatever that means) rebuilt pump. I paid, I think, $265 About ten years ago. I thought that was a pretty good deal for a compressor from the seventies, although the age of the tank does cause some concern.

After moving that top heavy beast by myself, I fully understand how yours toppled!

 

[engineer2]

I doubt that my compressor will see more than 500 hours in my ownership.

I know what you mean. I put an hour meter on my Sanborn compressor when I got it. It is 7 years old and has 38 hours on it.

At work they are left on 24/7. Eight hours of use and 16 hours of small leaks. Oil probably gets changed once or twice a year. I have hour meters on them and have to remind the guy to follow the schedule. The old compressor ran out of oil after 5 years and locked up because they were unaware that you have to do maintenance.

 

[Wiz02]

@ChadWelch I have a new 80 gallon compressor sitting on a pallet in my garage. Instructions say it takes 2 guys to walk it off the pallet, but I was thinking about doing it myself. Based on your experience, do you have any advice on moving a compressor?

I would prefer to do it myself, and while I generally ignore the instructions when they say to have a helper, however if it's really too sketchy to move it off the pallet by myself, I will ask a neighbor.

 

[GeoBruin]

@ChadWelch I have a new 80 gallon compressor sitting on a pallet in my garage. Instructions say it takes 2 guys to walk it off the pallet, but I was thinking about doing it myself. Based on your experience, do you have any advice on moving a compressor?

I would prefer to do it myself, and while I generally ignore the instructions when they say to have a helper, however if it's really too sketchy to move it off the pallet by myself, I will ask a neighbor.

Coming from a guy that dropped a 60 gallon compressor that probably has a lighter pump and motor than yours doing the exact same thing, get help. If not, at least call your friends Newton and Archimedes.

 

[Indexmill]

The difference between the R15A and the R15B pumps is the shape of the outside of the finned cylinders. The A are roundish; the B are much more squared. I think $350 for a new crank , bearings, gaskets, seals and valves was a hella good price. So sorry you bent it.

Call Mike at Pacific Air Compressor in WA or OR if you need or want anything else; he is the God of this machine and will send you documentation (user manual, IPLs, etc) for free.

I recently inherited a VR5-8 from my FIL and I could not be more freaking happy about it. What a fine machine. What a ******* to move it 200 miles. I had to replace the rubber hose in the bottom of the tank for the auto-condensate drain. Getting the big plug out of the bung in the side of the tank was a motherf*cker; had to drill it into swiss cheese and take it out in small pictures. and then buy a new one for $8.00. The damn thing is unbelievable. I love it.

 

[ChadWelch]

@ChadWelch I have a new 80 gallon compressor sitting on a pallet in my garage. Instructions say it takes 2 guys to walk it off the pallet, but I was thinking about doing it myself. Based on your experience, do you have any advice on moving a compressor?

I would prefer to do it myself, and while I generally ignore the instructions when they say to have a helper, however if it's really too sketchy to move it off the pallet by myself, I will ask a neighbor.

Ask a neighbor……… parts really add up quick if u break something and a week later I am still bruised and sore. Learn from me! I’m that guy that never likes to ask for help.

 

[ChadWelch]

Coming from a guy that dropped a 60 gallon compressor that probably has a lighter pump and motor than yours doing the exact same thing, get help. If not, at least call your friends Newton and Archimedes.

Absolutely

@ChadWelch I have a new 80 gallon compressor sitting on a pallet in my garage. Instructions say it takes 2 guys to walk it off the pallet, but I was thinking about doing it myself. Based on your experience, do you have any advice on moving a compressor?

I would prefer to do it myself, and while I generally ignore the instructions when they say to have a helper, however if it's really too sketchy to move it off the pallet by myself, I will ask a neighbor.

after thought don’t tip it back on a Dolly try to walk it upright in place.

 

[Wiz02]

Ask a neighbor……… parts really add up quick if u break something and a week later I am still bruised and sore. Learn from me! I’m that guy that never likes to ask for help.

Thanks, I hate asking for favors too but I'm old enough to listen to advice, especially since I am not sure that I trust my nonexistent rigging skills.

 

[PoorUB]

Too late for the OP, but when we moved my 5 HP 80 gallon compressor We stripped the motor and pump from the tank. The motor and pump went into the pickup box, the tank into the trailer, on it's side. Reversed when we got to my shop. It might have added a half hour to the move.

 

[ChadWelch]

Progress just showed up on my door step.

 

[ChadWelch]

Too late for the OP, but when we moved my 5 HP 80 gallon compressor We stripped the motor and pump from the tank. The motor and pump went into the pickup box, the tank into the trailer, on it's side. Reversed when we got to my shop. It might have added a half hour to the move.

Well worth the effort and use of grey matter…… wish I had thought it out more! Lesson learned!

 

[ChadWelch]

The compressor is all cleaned up, new crankshaft, cleaned up the valves, new gaskets, bearings. I’m glad I took the old girl apart, the inside of the crankcase had alot of sludge in it and the tube that feeds the the oil sensor canister was full of rust and ****. No way the float inside it was functioning correctly. I cleaned and polished the moving parts. Cylinders looked great, cross hatch still present. Pistons looked good. Earrings did also but I put a new set in anyway. The pump is as simple as it gets. I have no doubt this compressor has seen a lot of use since 1996 but short of the crud in the bottom things looked good over all. Considering the size it’s far less noisy than my 8 gallon harbor freight compressor. It does make me a bit nervous to keep the compressor is my shop. I am thinking of building a small shed for it to sit outside. My shop is the entire basement of my house. So a failure of the tank could be quite a disaster. Not sure if I really need to worry about it but the thought has crossed my mind. Where do you guys keep your compressors any thoughts on me being overly concerned?

 

[Citation]

So long as the tank shows no signs of being repaired I would not be concerned about having in the house. These tanks are designed to spring a leak vs catastrophically fail. That said, if it leaks or looks like it has been repaired, cut up the tank.

 

[GeoBruin]

I got tired of the noise and heat mine made in my little shop so I made it a new shed home outside. I had already built one shed but it was getting crowded so I made a twin and partitioned off a portion for the compressor. Some acoustic insulation helped the noise a bit more and a solar exhaust fan on top helps pull the heat out. I wired a cutoff switch on the outside as well as a pool timer set to turn it off every evening just in case I forget.

 

[ChadWelch]

So long as the tank shows no signs of being repaired I would not be concerned about having in the house. These tanks are designed to spring a leak vs catastrophically fail. That said, if it leaks or looks like it has been repaired, cut up the tank.

No it looks fine few scratches ect

 

[ChadWelch]

I got tired of the noise and heat mine made in my little shop so I made it a new shed home outside. I had already built one shed but it was getting crowded so I made a twin and partitioned off a portion for the compressor. Some acoustic insulation helped the noise a bit more and a solar exhaust fan on top helps pull the heat out. I wired a cutoff switch on the outside as well as a pool timer set to turn it off every evening just in case I forget.

Very nice! My compressor is not really all that loud compared to my other one. Space is not a concern my shop is 2500 sq feet and compressor is behind a partition I have. My harbor freight compressor is much louder and its an 8 gallon. My shop is split one side is set up for mechanical work the other side is set up for wood working. I don’t do a lot of woodworking any more. We ride side by sides in West Virginia and have been working on our property up there so takes most of my time. Currently working on restoring a 76 F100 another time ****…and $$$$$.

 

[GeoBruin]

Very nice! My compressor is not really all that loud compared to my other one. Space is not a concern my shop is 2500 sq feet and compressor is behind a partition I have. My harbor freight compressor is much louder and its an 8 gallon. My shop is split one side is set up for mechanical work the other side is set up for wood working. I don’t do a lot of woodworking any more. We ride side by sides in West Virginia and have been working on our property up there so takes most of my time. Currently working on restoring a 76 F100 another time ****…and $$$$$.

So your shop is just over 10 times the size of mine. It was definitely a little too much trying to sandblast standing 6 feet from the compressor!

 

[ChadWelch]

I can imagine!! My old space was 24x13…….. had it for 16 years definitely appreciate what I have now.