Old Curtis Air Compressor Maintenance

[mrtonegto]

I'm in the process of getting a 1942 Curtis model 95 up and running. Not too much info is available on this model - I've asked all the large parts suppliers and Curtis.
Right now I looking for some direction on how to rebuild the top diaphragm assemblies. I've found some rubber diaphragm from another brand that I can make work but have a few questions:
- do the springs, rods, etc below these get lubricated?
- if so, with what? grease? anti-seize?
- the brass rods show some wear at the tips, should they be dressed down?

Any other info would be appreciated, this is my first go around with one of these.

Tone

 

[Fixnair]

Use a good high temp grease on these parts, sparingly. It's been years since I've worked on one of these. The only thing I can say about the brass pushrods is make sure they are long enough to push on the valve disc to hold it open when the control air pressure is applied.

 

[mrtonegto]

Thanks for the information. Yesterday I was surprised to find a company that actually had a parts breakdown on a model 95. It was for a model "F" but very similar. It wasn't anywhere to scale and not a great image so I can't decipher how long the brass pushrods were. He was nice enough to email me a copy so I at least have a reference.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[mrtonegto]

Can anyone at all help me with the correct routing of the copper tubing that runs up to the unloader valve on this model 95?

I'm about ready to get the unit wired up and I'm uncertain since the fittings were broken off when I purchased the unit.

 

[mrtonegto]

Maybe this pic will give some needed detail. It's the routing of the tubing that I'm unsure of.

 

[haymac]

I have one of these compressors and the Parts List and Maintenance Manual if there is any information you think may be in the manual let me know and I'll look to see if there is information that would help. The cover of the manual states it was built for the US Army, Model VG-959-QMC, Contract Number W-398-QM-11828 (3870), Serial Numbers 9569-4600 Thru 959-5511. It's modified to run off an electric motor now; was in my family's shop forever. Not sure what I'll ever do with it; just couldn't stand to see it go to the scrap yard.

 

[Leo van Berkel]

curtis compressor 1942
Good afternoon my name is Leo and I am new to this forum
trucker is my profession (road tanker) and come from the Netherlands (Europe)
Since about 15 years I have in my possession a
Curtis compressor in Europe there is almost nothing to find about Curtis compressors, my compressor is painted and I can not read the type plate on the compressor on the tank the year of production is 1942
She works fine for her age
I have heard from the previous owner that it was the compressor of a transport company in the Netherlands and it has long served
I wonder how she got in the Netherlands, given her age, I think she ended up with perhaps the Marchall help program after the WW2 in the Netherlands
two question what type it is, through your site I found is called a compressor twostage
I try to upload a photo and if anyone knows information is welcome

translated by Google translate pls vergive me my poor english

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Curtis is usually very responsive to customer questions about their products, you might try sending them a message. Is there anything wrong with your machine? They are all built pretty much the same. They are very good compressors, but they sometimes had an unusual unloading system made of flyweights in the pulley and control arms going up to the head which was troublesome, but easy to replace with a simpler system.

 

[Leo van Berkel]

Mr. MacMcMacmac
Thanks for the quick response, the compressor works fine I hope for myself that I still perform at 75 as my Curtis
given her age she is doing more than fine
Actually, she should have a coat of paint
I dare not take her apart to sand blasting and spraying because the parts most likely come from the U.S.of A. and if I order something wrong it costs a lot of money and time to buy the right pieces
My Curtis has a pressure switch, switches on and off she gives almost 12 bar pressure that I thought was 175 psi
I will try if I can to scrape off the paint off the identification plate than I know what type compressor it is a two stadge is all i know
the electric motor is the only thing that is not original, made in Germany
runs at 380 volts and draws 6.6 amps

again forgive me for my bad english
translated by google translate and updated by myself

Greetings from The Netherlands
Leo PD5LAH

 

[warner]

curtis compressor 1942
Good afternoon my name is Leo and I am new to this forum
trucker is my profession (road tanker) and come from the Netherlands (Europe)
Since about 15 years I have in my possession a
Curtis compressor in Europe there is almost nothing to find about Curtis compressors, my compressor is painted and I can not read the type plate on the compressor on the tank the year of production is 1942
She works fine for her age
I have heard from the previous owner that it was the compressor of a transport company in the Netherlands and it has long served
I wonder how she got in the Netherlands, given her age, I think she ended up with perhaps the Marchall help program after the WW2 in the Netherlands
two question what type it is, through your site I found is called a compressor twostage
I try to upload a photo and if anyone knows information is welcome

translated by Google translate pls vergive me my poor english

hallo Leo, ik heb geen idee of dit nog werkt, gelet op de datum van je bericht. ben bezig met het opknappen van de zelfde compressor en zou graag met je in contact komen.
Groet, Warner