Old Ingersoll Rand compressor

[Mr onetwo]

Well, I have been lusting over the Saylor-Beall that has been rebuilt on here and finally found a big, old lump to play with myself. It is a 1977 IR 253T30 on a horizontal 80 gallon tank.$375 shipped to my door.Bought it from a compressor place in new York.Runs good...was a trade in and is too small for their usual clientele.He swapped the 3 phase motor for a new single phase Eaton starter.I have a good single phase motor.I will post pics as I tear it down.

 

[Zrexxer]

Congrats, sounds like a great price. But if it runs good, why tear it down? Repower it with that single phase motor and run it.

 

[Grounded Ken]

Nice score, the 253 is the 242's big brother, 7.5 hp, properly cared for will last a long, long time. All parts are still available, cylinders, pistons, heads, cranks. May not be a SB, but I'd put one up against it any day. I/R screwed up discontinuing these units.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Congrats, sounds like a great price. But if it runs good, why tear it down? Repower it with that single phase motor and run it.

It's just in my nature to want to make sure it's 100%.Gasket set is only $24...cheap insurance.Plus, you guys love pictures

 

[Grounded Ken]

Do yourself a favor with the gasket kit, make sure you get one with the graphoil head gaskets. They seal better and less chance of a blown head gasket!

 

[Mr onetwo]

I have a part # of 32198327 for the set.Do you know if that one has the graphoil gaskets?Thanks

 

[Grounded Ken]

I'll check first thing in the morning.

 

[c39er]

Nice compressor! I'm jealous!!!!

 

[Mr onetwo]

As luck would have it, this showed up on C/L this morning. http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/3865666261.html I still like what I got better...very excited to get it home and start playing with it. Does anyone else have this exact model IR?

 

[Mr onetwo]

Well, the "Thumper" arrived the other day.Here are some pics of it.I am in a bind as my other compressor already sold.$75 price difference....pretty good trade I would say!

 

[Mr onetwo]

I cleaned out the corner where I am going to install the compressor and roughed in the wiring to the starter.The feed is 240V thru a 60 amp breaker to a Square D motor rated switch and on to a 5HP Eaton single phase starter.Used #8 THHN for the hots and #10 ground.The motor I am going to use has an FLA rating of 20.6 amps hence the 60 Amp breaker.

 

[stonesfan68]

If the full load amps of the motor are 21 then you shouldn't need more than a 30 amp breaker (1.5 x FLA).

The 253 is a great pump and should last you for many years.

 

[Mr onetwo]

If the full load amps of the motor are 21 then you shouldn't need more than a 30 amp breaker (1.5 x FLA).

That is not correct....It is 3 X FLA.That is per the IR manual I have and also the instructions that come with the starter.Motor starting amps are quite high.

 

[stonesfan68]

You don't need a 60-amp breaker with a 5HP motor. Yes, the in-rush current is very high, but the breaker accounts for the small amount of time that the starting current is required.

I have a 5HP, 230V/1Ph motor on my compressor and it is wired with a 30-amp breaker. The breaker does not trip during start-up.

 

[Mr onetwo]

You don't need a 60-amp breaker with a 5HP motor. Yes, the in-rush current is very high, but the breaker accounts for the small amount of time that the starting current is required.

I have a 5HP, 230V/1Ph motor on my compressor and it is wired with a 30-amp breaker. The breaker does not trip during start-up.

That may be the case, but I am going to go per the IR installation manual and also the instructions for the Eaton/Cutler/Hammer starter."3 times FLA- 70 amp max breaker shall be installed." From my understanding, the breaker does not protect the motor...only short circuits and the like.The overloads in the starter protect the motor.

 

[Grounded Ken]

You're going to run this at 5 hp.? Should be no problem, was originally a 5 hp when they came out, they got bumped up a hp range sometime in the '60's to the 7.5 hp. You'll get more cfm out of it if you go with the higher hp, but it will last longer with the 5 hp.

 

[jonathan75]

Great start, the electrical looks great.

 

[Mr onetwo]

You're going to run this at 5 hp.? Should be no problem, was originally a 5 hp when they came out, they got bumped up a hp range sometime in the '60's to the 7.5 hp. You'll get more cfm out of it if you go with the higher hp, but it will last longer with the 5 hp.

I want to run it at 5HP...plenty for my needs.Ken, do you have any idea if the paint on my compressor is a factory color?Also, are the old style IR decals available anywhere?Can I buy the graphoil head and plate gaskets by themselves?Thanks, Mark

 

[Mr onetwo]

Great start, the electrical looks great.

Thanks man!It doesn't compare to the effort you are putting in!

 

[Grounded Ken]

The blue looks like the original paint. Stickers for an old machine like that you're going to have to find one of the guys on here that dups them. All parts can be had individually, as long as I'm not getting a $2 order.

 

[justsam]

That's a great looking compressor! I have a distant smaller family member, a 2340L5, T30, that I have never had an issue with. Is that the stock intake air filter or is that some form of noise reduction, which I could certainly use on mine!

You may want to rethink your breaker size, since I believe 60 Amp is too large to protect the 8 ga. At best, using 90 degree temp rise numbers it is good for 50 Amps, with your copper THHN. I would do nothing more than swap the 60 for a 40. I do not have the IR documents you are reviewing, they may be recommending a 60 Amp circuit but perhaps with a heavier gauge? Is this a continuous duty application? I should also clarify that at best I have spent too many nights at Holiday Inn, and I am not a professional commercial electrician.

Is the pulley shown for a 7.5 or a 5 HP motor. If that is for a 7.5 you may need to get a smaller pulley or that motor will not hack it.

 

[Mr onetwo]

The compressor was equipped with a 5HP 3 phase motor originally.The IR manual states #8 conductors up to 100ft. on the 60Amp breaker.

 

[jonathan75]

I want to paint those filter housings so bad. That white looks like it is asking for a good painting!

 

[Jim Johnstone]

The compressor was equipped with a 5HP 3 phase motor originally.The IR manual states #8 conductors up to 100ft. on the 60Amp breaker.

I wouldn't use a 60 amp breaker with #8 wire. #8 is rated for 40 amps I believe. The breaker is there to protect the wire from over heating and should be sized to match the conductors.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mr onetwo]

Well, I was finally able to start tearing down my compressor.Here are a few pictures...everything has come off easily so far.I will clean up the tank and get it ready to go in the air this week.

 

[Mr onetwo]

The blue looks like the original paint. Stickers for an old machine like that you're going to have to find one of the guys on here that dups them. All parts can be had individually, as long as I'm not getting a $2 order.

Hey Ken, Is that original paint available anywhere?It is a sort of steel blue color that matches nothing I can find.Thanks

 

[jonathan75]

Hey Ken, Is that original paint available anywhere?It is a sort of steel blue color that matches nothing I can find.Thanks

It looks close to Saylor Beall paint but a little less metal look to it.

 

[Fixnair]

Your circuit breaker is sized to protect the wire. You need to get a breaker which will allow a few seconds of overload to allow the compressor to start.

 

[cnc-me]

That's a great pump you got, they put out lots of air too.

 

[jonathan75]

Any luck with the paint yet? Did you try and call IR?

 

[Mr onetwo]

Any luck with the paint yet? Did you try and call IR?

I have decided to go with Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green.Several members here used it on their vise restorations and cabinets(I love this site!).It is not a perfect match, but is reasonably close. I got a 6 pack of it thru HD for $29.95.The auto paint shop locally can't match metallic paint very well and I can't afford $20 each for a 12oz can anyway.IR is absolutely the worst company to deal with...these old compressors do not exist as far as they are concerned....thank god for Ken @ Air-flo. I have been gathering up some interesting pieces to complete my project.I feel your pain about your troubles with the machine shop....our local one just closed permanently. The nearest one is 50 miles away now.

 

[jonathan75]

I have decided to go with Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green.Several members here used it on their vise restorations and cabinets(I love this site!).It is not a perfect match, but is reasonably close. I got a 6 pack of it thru HD for $29.95.The auto paint shop locally can't match metallic paint very well and I can't afford $20 each for a 12oz can anyway.IR is absolutely the worst company to deal with...these old compressors do not exist as far as they are concerned....thank god for Ken @ Air-flo. I have been gathering up some interesting pieces to complete my project.I feel your pain about your troubles with the machine shop....our local one just closed permanently. The nearest one is 50 miles away now.

Oh yes that looks very nice. It will look great when you are done.

I have read older posts from 2007 and such from people calling Saylor Beall and getting help and advice. It seems at one time the air compressor companies were better but I think they all went down hill. If it was not for Ken we would be screwed!

 

[Mr onetwo]

Back again guys.I finally got a really good used Baldor L3731m 5HP motor.The thing is truly an industrial sized beast!168 lbs of made in the USA copper & iron.I will have about $250 in it when I am done refreshing it.I found this place if anyone needs Baldor parts for a good price....https://www.shingle.com/default.asp...ist=42&parent=22&tree=22*Baldor+Electric*42@@ Here are some pics of the torn down motor.

 

[Mr onetwo]

more pics.I decided to replace the stationary start switch,bearings and start/run caps.Steve at Baldor tech support in Arkansas got me the build sheets and wiring diagrams.Very helpful! Anyone needing caps should find an HVAC wholesaler that deals with MARS (Motors & Armatures Inc.)I have access to one and paid around $7.50 ea for them! I am finishing the teardown of the compressor tomorrow and will post some more.

 

[Mr onetwo]

I am planning to paint the motor Baldor Super-E Gold

 

[EOC_Jason]

Just curious, what was your other compressor that you sold?

 

[Mr onetwo]

Just curious, what was your other compressor that you sold?

There were 2.....a Sanborn Black Max 5HP single stage vertical 60 which I sold first for $300.I also have a 2 stage ABAC B6000 pump on an IR 60 gal horizontal tank with an old Dayton 5HP motor that is spoken for.The goal is to sell these 2 compressors for enough profit to pay for this IR 253 setup.