Quincy or champion?

[finn]

I picked up a 3 hp Champion R-15 from Craigslist for $260 last year. The pump was rebuilt a few years prior.

Runs great, and is relatively quiet, but I'm nervous about the tank because of age. It's a circa 1975.
I was surprised that the 3hp Champion seems to outperform my old IR 5hp in the other garage, both with 80 gallon tanks.

 

[Trey T]

Hey guys is the main difference between the pumps that one is disc valves and the other is reed valves? Is the main issues with the reed valves the difficulties to service it? I always have a compressor man do it for me. Do the reed valves have to be serviced sooner than disc valves?

I've serviced Chinook 5hp pump w/ reed valve and campbell hausfeld 1.5HP pump (the popular small pump) and they're easier than disc valves.

I owned a clone saylor beall 705 and Quincy 210 and disc valves are not difficult to service, it requires special tools. I believe most guys on here would be able to service them ... they're child's toy compare to a car engine.

 

[md21722]

I picked up a 3 hp Champion R-15 from Craigslist for $260 last year. The pump was rebuilt a few years prior.

Runs great, and is relatively quiet, but I'm nervous about the tank because of age. It's a circa 1975.
I was surprised that the 3hp Champion seems to outperform my old IR 5hp in the other garage, both with 80 gallon tanks.

You can hydro test it, or at least remove some fittings and peer around inside. Just because they're old doesn't mean they'll leak or explode. They start rusting the day they are made. Rusty water can come out when they're brand new. Once they develop a skin coat of rust, the water comes out pretty clear.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the QT 7.5, home use, bought new, 15+ yrs, no issues, no service other than a few oil changes. I consider it fairly loud, especially when compared to the higher end Quincy's which start smoother and run slower and quieter. I bought it for occasional pressure blasting. IMO, Its overkill for one person painting, but that's your call. I'd get a nice HVLP gun and half the compressor and save on paint and electricity

Mine has a 3450 RPM motor - verify if you expect 1725 as that would surprise me as its much more $. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't unload when it starts and most often sounds "fairly violent" for the first second running. When I first got it I called Quincy and they said its the nature of the beast.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Hello, I know this has been brought up a lot and believe me I have read all the threads about them! I'm looking to buy a compressor for our bodyshop. It's going to be for the paint booth. I have narrowed down my choice to either a Quincy or champion. They are both 7.5 hp with there max packages including after coolers, automatic drains, low oil protection. Any info on which one to buy will be greatly appreciated.

http://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200350477_200350477?hotline=false


http://www.tptools.com/Champion-75HP-2-Stage-80-Gal-Air-Compressor,805.html

Well, did you pull the trigger yet? I'm a bit of a 'compressor geek' and in our shop, I run a Quincy QR 325 (disc valve) driven by a 5HP Baldor, sitting on a 120 gal, Vertical tank with a 240 gal. reserve next to it. I added an inlet silencer on the pump and you can truthfully carry on a conversation standing next to it while it's running. Bottom line is that the Quincy QR series are built to run 7-24...but they are also the most costly pumps around. Quincy also has a line of QT (reed valve)pumps that are pressure lubricated, as does Champion and Saylor-Beall. As usual, you get what you pay for.
As far as quiet, of course the slower a pump turns, the less noise it will produce, so if noise is an issue, buy a larger displacement pump driven at it's slowest RPM. Personally, I'd go with the Quincy QR series first, followed by Champion PL (pressure lubricated) R-series, then Saylor-Beall's pressure lubricated line of pumps. All 3 use centrifugal unloaders in their higher end pumps. Any choice of the 3 will serve you well. Motor choice...Baldor.

Good luck, and keep us in the loop!
Tom