New Kellogg compressor! Side tank drain?

[kyleaudio]

Hi Guys, I just picked up a new air compressor for the shop, it's an old Kellogg American with a model 321 pump and a peerless 1.5hp motor. A little bit of work and everything is working great! Total cost was only $125.00!

The tank drain has me a bit confused, it is on the side of the tank (see second image). I always thought that the drain had to be on the bottom of the tank to let the water settle down with gravity. This appears to be original as it has the original blue paint on it.There is a threaded hole on the bottom of the tank where I would have expected the drain to be, but it's plugged and has the original blue paint on it as well. Is there a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank inside or something?

 

[zkling]

You **** on the price. That is an inspection port. It sounds like there is not a working tank water drain on that setup? If so, that is a very worrisome setup.

EDIT, can you get a better picture of that? It looks like there is a petcock on it I guess in theory it could work as a pressurized drain if it had a dip tube, but that wouldn't instill much confidence in me.

 

[kyleaudio]

zkling, yes, there is a petcock on there, I've seen another picture of this model compressor and it looked the same as mine. I'll try to get a better picture tonight though.

 

[ZRX61]

There is a threaded hole on the bottom of the tank where I would have expected the drain to be, but it's plugged and has the original blue paint on it as well.

Remove that plug, install drain, sorted.

 

[kyleaudio]

I might end up doing that, I was hoping someone here knew something about the current setup. It is in a nice and easy to get to location though!

 

[zkling]

I might end up doing that, I was hoping someone here knew something about the current setup. It is in a nice and easy to get to location though!

You really won't know until you pull the plug, which is what I would do. Even if there is a dip tube, you would want to make sure it is connected. Me thinks someone just put it there for convince. Release pressure in the tank, go get a large wrench and let us know what you find. Exploratory surgery is so much fun.

 

[mmouse]

My K-A has the same set-up. It is a clear plastic dip tube that used to go to the bottom of the tank. The hose has fallen off inside the tank.

I had an opportunity to "make offer" on a 321 a few months ago. It had a 30 g tank, portable on wheels, and a Wisconsin gas engine. Asking price was $100, and he couldn't get anyone to take it at that price. I'm kicking myself for not getting it. I already have a 2 hp Baldor that could have gone on it.

 

[kyleaudio]

Well, I pulled the drain out and found a rubber hose attached. After that I decided to pull the plug on the bottom of the tank and even though I had just drained the tank, a good bit of water and black gunk came out! It looks like i'll plug up the original drain and plumb in a ball valve on the bottom of the tank. Seems like it'll work better.

mmouse, that would have been a great deal too. A 30 gallon tank seems small for this pump, probably brought it up to pressure pretty quick!

Kyle

 

[CARS]

Yes it's a side drain. Yes the tubes can fall off or rot off.

I had a tank condemned by the state and once they drilled the hole to officially "condemn" it for good about 20 gallons of water drained out of it. Obviously, the tube had rotted off decades ago.

 

[zkling]

"Ah gravity, thou are a heartless *****"

Another one of those good idea in theory, bad idea in practice.

 

[Monkey Milk]

I have a Quincy set up something like that and it never fully drains the tank. I don't have the hole on the bottom and if I did I would switch it out in a heartbeat. It's just a bad design.

 

[sberry]

Good thread, the only thing I got to add is,,,its not a new compressor.

 

[kyleaudio]

Yup, it's hard to beat the power of gravity! This setup was probably a good idea on paper, but not so much in practice.

Now onto the next items that need attention. It needs a new gauge, there is a crack in the bourdon tube that is leaking air, and the motor has a leaky capacitor. Should be good to go after that!

Thanks for the help guys,
Kyle

 

[twk4]

I can beat that price, I got mine from my Dad's old towing business for free. The plate on the side of the tank says it was built in 1964. I've been looking for any information I can find on it.

 

[sberry]

It is not super critical to drain every last drop and you cant. Yes, there is a good reason it was made that way. It was designed for all weather. If you put any sump fittings on the bottom in freezing weather they may split when frozen. In cold weather not so much moisture accumulates anyway, once it thaws it can be drained.

 

[bad_idea]

I can beat that price, I got mine from my Dad's old towing business for free. The plate on the side of the tank says it was built in 1964. I've been looking for any information I can find on it.

I would recommend you start a new thread in the tool section. Be cautious of a 50 year old air tank. When air tanks go bad, they *can* go boom. It may be a small risk, but it's one that could take someone's life.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I suspect one of the previous owners figured out how to operate a wrench and made some mods. They have been at work with a reg by the pressure switch too. What are the empty mounting points on the top plate? It looks like a "General" brand used to run sprinklers and environments controls.

I have never had one of those. LaPlante says those can run a 1 or 2 hp motor and turn 400 to 800 rpm. Nice compressors but a bit small. That's a healthy size tank for your machine.

 

[finn]

My old Champion vertical compressor has a dip tube and side mounted drain. I think they still come that way.

The theory is that a tank with a bottom mounted drain will likely never, or at best, rarely be drained since draining the tank requires one to get on their hands and knees, in what is likely a filthy, oily factory environment.

 

[sberry]

Continually heated garages were not as common back in the day. They had to make them all weather.