Opinion and help on old compresser

[hx214]

Hi guys, need some help.

For the last 10 years I've had an older dayton compressor that my father had given me. It was 20 gallon, single stage rated at 10.1 cfm @ 90lbs. It seemed to run an awful a lot when I would use my impact guns.

The other day I was under a car taking an exhaust off and the motor on the compressor slowed down and shut off. I tried the reset button, checked all breakers used multi meter on the switch and the motoris getting power but not turning. (pump spins free by hand and oil looks good)

I started looking for a new compressor. I liked the 60 gallon husky at home depot for 469 with 10 percent off coupon, but not sure if I really need to spend that much right now. Eventually I'd like to build a shop on my land and upgrade to a 2 stage 80 gallon.

I've been watching Craigslist and I came across a compresser that I think will get me by for a good amount of time.

It is a 1970's 30 gallon Kellogg. The guy says it has a two stage Dayton speedaire, 5hp ge motor and newer pressure switch, with a powder coated tank. It looks to be in good shape (real good shape). I can't tell from the pics if it is two stage (I don't know a lot about compressors) but it has three cylinders. He says the scfm is 8.6. (I'll try to post a pic here soon).

He is asking 250, figure if I can pick it up for 200-225 I'd be good for at least the next couple years and have an American made pump to get parts for if needed. Also figure I could tether my 20 gallon to it for more volume.

What do you guys think? Older compressor for less than half the cost or new compressor and be done with it?

Thanks for the help!

 

[hx214]

Linked to picture, sorry guys iPhone won't post picture correctly I'll have to wait till I get home to fix it

http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/hx214/?action=view&current=photo-1.jpg

 

[Outlawmws]

Make sure to check if that motor is single or three phase. (Look s big for single phase)

 

[pipsters]

8.6 cfm at 90 psi w/ a 5hp motor is waaaaaaaaaaay too low.

IF that is the case I would pass. If you can time how long it takes to fill up, and find out the tank size, you can come up with a good estimate.

Also I agree that looks like a 3 phase motor.

 

[Major Ramifications]

It also looks like a single stage pump, but hard to tell from the picture.

 

[hx214]

I thought it looked large also.

It says in the listing that it's dual voltage (can be either 110v or 220v)

How can I check? Number of wires? I have 220 in the shop.

Also, does that look like a two stage pump to you? Looks single to me.

I thought I could tell what two stage looked like but as I've been looking at different ones I have been wrong more than once...

 

[pipsters]

Hard to tell, are the cylinders connected with tubing? What is the PSI? If under 150 it's single stage, if in the 165-175 range it would be 2-stage.

 

[fflintstone]

A motors physical size has no determination on whether it is single or 3 phase I doubt if it is 3 phase but ask and check the data plate. Older motors tend to be larger than new motor but also are more realistically rated. Look at the data plate for both phase and amps.

8 cfm seems real low though. try to see if there is a data plate for the pump.

for $200 I would take a gamble.


look at the plumbing, if two cylinders feed the third and the third feeds the tank then yes it is a two stage pump
if they all feed into a common pipe and into the tank then it is a single stage.

 

[hx214]

In this pic I can see tubing connecting all the heads.

http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/hx214/?action=view&current=image.jpg

Which makes me think it's 2 stage, but the only pump I could find online that looked like this one was single stage. Then I looked at a new IR the other day with tubing connecting the v head and thought it was two stage, then looked at the tag and it said single.... I'm all confused with that!

 

[hx214]

Cool, thanks for the crash course guys. Going to look at it in about an hour so I'll let you know what happens

 

[fflintstone]

In this pic I can see tubing connecting all the heads.

http://s845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/hx214/?action=view&current=image.jpg

Which makes me think it's 2 stage, but the only pump I could find online that looked like this one was single stage. Then I looked at a new IR the other day with tubing connecting the v head and thought it was two stage, then looked at the tag and it said single.... I'm all confused with that!

I can tell squat from the picture, if it were the other side I could verify. But it looks like two larger cylinders, and a single feed into the small cylinder, and a single output from there to the tank. I am betting it is two stage. The cylinders look small thought and the low CFM quoted may be accurate. In general a two stage has moth more pressure and more CFM. More CFM is more important than pressure for the most part. Regardless it looks like a good stop gap compressor for $200.

BTW forget other compressors as comparison. Concentrate on the one you are looking at.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Odds are that the compressor originally had a gasoline engine on it. Unusual to find an electric motor on a tank that size and style, but very common to find gasoline engines on them, on service trucks and the like. Probably accounts for the reason for the elevated pump bracket, to match the taller gasoline engine. Electric motor does not appear to have capacitors (single phase) on it but cannot tell for sure with the junction box on the side of it.

Charles

 

[1steve]

Looks to be 2 stage, cylinder closet to motor is smaller than other two. Motor appears to be 3ph. but not 100% sure.

 

[RECox286]

If you have a motor shop in the area, why not take your motor in

for an estimate ? Might be something easy that can be fixed for

a reasonable cost. You might just find a suitable used motor if

you ask the shop for something used, or abandoned.

(BTW: The Kellog sounds like a fair deal)

Uncle Bob

 

[kams1973]

It looks like an older version of this pump.

 

[Bob C]

In general a two stage has moth more pressure and more CFM.

This is unaccurate on the more CFM part.

 

[Bob C]

It looks like an older version of this pump.

It is, however the OP's pic is of a two stage Champion. They were marketed under Dayton. Some Campbell Hausfeld units were too.

The cylinder on the right has 2 NUTS on the top of the head and no air breather. The 2 clinders on the top and left have breathers. They are the LP Cylinders. Parts for this unit are EXpensive.

 

[dandan111]

Why dont you get the motor rebuilt?

 

[LSU]

I'd risk the $200.00. Other than the comments above, I'd have a look at the overall condition of the tank. I've never figured out how one checks the inside of a tank but someone must know. I had an older 110V Daytona that I used until the pressure regulator switch cost more to replace than a new compressor cost. The tank on that compressor was also starting to show its age so I got rid of it.

Don't want to hijack thread but other than looking at the tank and tapping it, how do you check the intergerity of a tank?

 

[fflintstone]

This is unaccurate on the more CFM part.

No its not.

In GENERAL 2 stage pumps put out more CFM.
Nothing inaccurate about that statement, period.
If a single stage compressor could effectively deliver the CFM required to run high demand tools then there would be no market for 2 stage compressors.

 

[Bob C]

No its not.

In GENERAL 2 stage pumps put out more CFM.
Nothing inaccurate about that statement, period.
If a single stage compressor could effectively deliver the CFM required to run high demand tools then there would be no market for 2 stage compressors.

Well I'm not gonna start a ******* contest with you on this as I have many years experience in compressed air and I am not just a keyboard commando here. If people choose to follow your advice on this, they will just have to learn the hard way. The only reason you would ever need a two stage machine is for the pressure and here on planet Earth, they cannot both be high. I can show you a single stage compressor that can deliver 150 CFM at 125 PSI. It comes down to price. I stock single stage pumps that out perform, in CFM, 15 hp models that are two stage.

Your entire statement above is grossly innaccurate.

 

[bsaint]

I agree with Bob.

Two stage air compressors are able to do higher pressure so you're cramming in more into a 80 gallon tank. Thats where the market is. The duty cycle is less. 5 hp will generally make the same cfm @ 90 psi on a 175# pump and a 125# max pump. If not a little better due to less generated heat seeing that pump #2 isn't taking 60 pounds and trying to pump it up higher.

 

[bsaint]

His pump more resembles this one almost exactly

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIR-COMPRES...605?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfbd59745

But smaller

 

[hx214]

Thanks for the extra info guys.

I picked it up. It has a brand new 45 dollar craftsman regulator, he had just put a fresh powder coat on the tank after having it tested. His buddy sold him a 80 gallon for cheap so he just didn't have the room.

The pump is a two stage marked Dayton speedaire. The motor is a Single Stage GE. It looks so large because it has a large case or cooling fins that encase it. I dont think its a 5hp though. The plate on the side is worn off, but the numbers are stamped. It has a 3 up near the top, and it seems to be the only number that would be a horsepower rating. He turned it on and I couldn't believe how quiet it was. (now I can run my compressor at night without waking up the neighborhood!) It shut off a 145psi. And I plugged my big impact in and ran it for about 30 seconds straight before the pump came back on.

On top of all that the thing is just cool as hell! Its heavy duty and looks to be in great shape.

I did look for an electrical shop but the two that my grandfather and dad said to check weren't there any more. Its cool thought, if I can find one ill still check on my Dayton motor.

Thanks again guys.