Scored a free Champion pump!

[KF5LCH]

Today was a good day! I picked up this 1975 vintage Champion R15 compressor today, for free! My friend that does the Gov. Surplus got it with a lot of old equipment. It had a blown Yanmar diesel engine attached to it. He used the tank for another project & since he has compressors out the rear, he told me to come get it.

It'll be on the back burner for a while, but It'll eventually make me a nice compressor. The red tag on the unit said the last time it ran was 2011, so at least it hasn't been sitting idle for too long.

I'll be needing help from the compressor experts on this one. I'm currently looking online for information on this particular pump, but I'm really having to dig for it.

I guess the first order of business is finding a flywheel for it. Where do you guys that have built these old pumps find parts?

 

[mmouse]

Sweet deal. Don't know where to find a flywheel, but it is 16 1/2". There are a few manuals available to download for free on the net, you just have to search for them. Pacific Aircompressor has the parts through ebay for a great price.

The early R15 has an access panel through the bottom of the case. The bolts on mine leaked like crazy. I had to reseal them.

I would clean the valves and run it as is before tearing it apart. If it doesnt leak oil or knock, I would just leave it alone.

 

[KF5LCH]

Thanks mmouse, I'm looking like mad for the free downloads, but so far they're all pay per view. I noticed flywheels are a little on the expensive side!

 

[zkling]

Congrats on the free pump... I guess. Some of my most expensive projects came to me via $0.00. That is a real common pump, so finding a flywheel/pulley shouldn't be too hard, but I have a feeling it may cost you. I'd thoroughly check the pump over before investing any time or $ into it. Unless you have a tank, correct motor, applicable pressure control circuit, starter, etc. stuffed away. You will probably be money ahead to sell that and purchase a working unit.

Maybe you can luck into worn out R15 setup cheap and use your pump to rebuild it.

 

[mayday0017]

I have a flywheel for it, kept it with my spare pump I have for parts but might would part with it.... Send me a PM if interested

 

[jaker10]

I had this compressor with an R15 pump on it that I sold for $200.00. I wish now I wouldn't have sold it. It ran and worked fine but the engine used oil and smoked like a *****.

 

[bsaint]

wow, GREAT score

 

[KF5LCH]

Thanks for the support guys! It's gonna be a long project for sure. I'll work on it a little at a time, gathering parts here & there. I can find good tanks locally with either bad pumps or motors for cheap on C/L.

What size tank will the pump support? 80 gallon or so? Or will it handle anything you put it on?

 

[mmouse]

I would stick to what ever size tank you can find for a good price. Be patient, and keep watching CL for old junk industrial compressors. Try to buy near scrap value if they don't work. They will supply the nickel and dime parts, and/or a decent tank. These pumps went on 60 or 80 gallon tanks. The manual I sent you has a chart for HP / PSI / Pulley size to get the CFM you want to make. The chart has the numbers in displaced CFM. Actual delivered CFM will be about 25% lower. Good luck, and keep us posted with the project!

 

[KF5LCH]

I picked up this Marathon 1 1/2 motor today for $20, it works great.



I'm wondering if I can run the Champion pump with this motor? It's continuous duty rated 110 or 220 volt.

The R15 calls for a 3 horse motor, but the R10 calls for a 1 1/2 horse motor. I'm wondering if I can pulley the 1 1/2 down to run the R 15 comfortably or would it be better to find a 3 horse motor?

 

[j.c.whitney]

Grainger is your friend. Probably more information there. They have every specification for my Champion B1 pump including different part numbers.
Just a quick look under Champion R15 Grainger yielded results like this...
http://www.compressorpartsstore.com/Champion-Pneumatic-Parts-s/3.htm

 

[mmouse]

I picked up this Marathon 1 1/2 motor today for $20, it works great.


The R15 calls for a 3 horse motor, but the R10 calls for a 1 1/2 horse motor. I'm wondering if I can pulley the 1 1/2 down to run the R 15 comfortably or would it be better to find a 3 horse motor?

The r10 has a shorter stroke crankshaft, thus pumping less air. Get a 3hp or bigger. My 3hp motor is not running very well, and it really starts bogging down by 75 psi.

 

[b-body-bob]

Here's a repair manual
http://compressors.tpub.com/TM-5-4310-350-14/index.htm

Here's a user manual
http://www.flamingoshopserv.com/portals/2/news/partsbreakdown/champion r15 breakdown.pdf

Have fun.

If you need parts, I recommend Ken at Airflo. He has a website but you'll probably have to call, I did. http://www.airfloinc.com/category/207 864.877.3515

Search here, there have been recent threads

FWIW, my R15b still has it's factory configuration, with a 5-hp motor on an 80 gallon tank.

 

[KF5LCH]

Excellent. Thanks for the info & the links guys. I appreciate it. I new better, but had to ask. I just couldn't pass it up for $20 bucks.

Looks like this motor will be my new buffer motor until I can find a better use for it.