Popular Mechanics Compressor project

[hefty lefty]

PM magazine put out plans for a DIY compressor built around a York or Tecumseh. I remember they also said you could use the compressor for a vacuum pump.

Does anyone have a set of those plans? And is it a good idea to use a compressor as a vacuum pump like this?

 

[G_P]

Was this how to build an air compressor out of the old piston style automotive AC compressors?

I recall some old style AC compressors had an oil lubed crankcase and could easily be used as home air compressors.

 

[hefty lefty]

Was this how to build an air compressor out of the old piston style automotive AC compressors?

I recall some old style AC compressors had an oil lubed crankcase and could easily be used as home air compressors.

Yes, the York or Tecumseh compressor is widely used as an air compressor by four wheelers and lowriders. Whether it offers good value as a house compressor vis a vis a Harbor Freight one or an old school bus air brake compressor is open to question. The old school bus units have gotten scarce for some reason.

I always wanted to build one of these as a kid and never did. So.....

 

[nine4gmc]

I have a York engine driven compressor I bought for an air suspension project but never used it. They claim to be able to run air tools with no problems and fill tanks fast, IDK if they would be more than a standard home/shop compressor though.

 

[lilredex]

Here's one...pg 140

http://books.google.ca/books?id=MdQ...lar mechanics air compressor project&f=false

 

[Super Mech]

I built one when I was about 15 years old. I used a compressor from and old AMC and a propane tank from a forklift. Only part I had to buy was the pressure control switch everything else I salvaged. That thing worked great had it for many years.

 

[2mJps]

We built one in school shop and i had one on my pickup. They work and i was glade to have one but their out put is very low.

 

[thammel]

I have those plans and actually did make the compressor about 30 years ago. It worked great until the tank spring a rust hole leak. And, yes, it works great as a vacuum pump which is why I have kept it. I used it once to evacuate a 1982 Olds AC system after I replaced a bad hose. Evacuated it, refilled and it worked great. I used the compressor many times to do all sorts of things including auto painting. I got the compressor off a buddy's car - maybe an old Volvo. It's a York compressor. And I bought a used 1hp motor and a new tank from Grainger. These days new compressors of this quality are not expensive so I really don't know if it's worth making one anymore. The vacuum pump part is easy - I attached a line to the inlet and use that for vacuum.

Tom

 

[Packard V8]

All the old piston compressors pretty much function the same and any compressor pulls vacuum to make pressure. I've been using a home-made compressor for forty years. It has a small tank, so fills quickly for tires and such. It uses the air brakes compressor off a class 8 truck, but that's just a heavy duty AC compressor.

jack vines

 

[2mJps]

All the old piston compressors pretty much function the same and any compressor pulls vacuum to make pressure. I've been using a home-made compressor for forty years. It has a small tank, so fills quickly for tires and such. It uses the air brakes compressor off a class 8 truck, but that's just a heavy duty AC compressor.

jack vines

I have a compress of off a truck that is belt driven but like all of the ones i have seen it is oiled by the engines oil presser. How do you use one because of this? I have been around alot of air brakes and have talked to old truck drivers and mechanics and no one ever remembers a compressor on a truck that had its own oil system.

 

[hefty lefty]

I have a compress of off a truck that is belt driven but like all of the ones i have seen it is oiled by the engines oil presser. How do you use one because of this? I have been around alot of air brakes and have talked to old truck drivers and mechanics and no one ever remembers a compressor on a truck that had its own oil system.

As I remember from reading old truck service manuals.....but never touched one myself...the school bus air brake compressors were made to work either way, either they had a supply and return line or they just had a little dipstick on the side. I've seen those on old schoolys repurposed for farm trucks when I was a kid. I think they were splash internally, the engine oil line just fed a crankcase and a standpipe that drained back went back.

Cummins engines all had the compressor between the drive gear and the fuel pump so if the compressor crapped out the engine stopped. Marketed as a safety feature. The schoolys had V belt drive from the old fuel **** gas V8s and if the belts broke and the idiot drove on either the DOT brakes came on, or...before they had to have DOT brakes...you had the classic busload of kids over the cliff scenario.