I have a 71 saylor beall 705 60 gal with a 5hp Baldor I use as my main air compressor and it holds up real well. I only had to do a valve job and clean out the crank case when I got it but it’s definitely a workhorse. I built a massive desiccant dryer and have a kaeser refrigerated dryer inline and several filters. After I picked up the SB (from my employers storage) I fell into several older compressors within a couple weeks and began overhauling them as a hobby. I’ve always loved older machinery. Hoping this one works out so I can keep the sb as a working backup
That’s what I guessed. Restoring old compressors is a hobby for you. That’s great.
Personally I am wondering if I should repower my 3hp Champion VR-15 from a 3hp to a 5hp motor. I think it’s only a motor and drive pulley upgrade, but I just don’t look forward to scrounging parts that “almost” fit. I have this “sub project” on the table for a couple of years now. I just am afraid that this will be a rathole, since I think the compressor dates to the mid fifties, although the actual compressor was supposedly professionally rebuilt. I think I paid $265 for it, maybe eight or ten years ago, so it’s fully earned it’s keep.
I can’t even keep up with the projects on the table already, the ones I am using the compressor for.
I may just opt to buy a new 5 or 7.5 hp Champion to support the shop and blast cabinet.
Edit: the tank is dated 1970, so that’s 55 years old.