Splash lubricated vs. Pressure lubricated

[scottym]

Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new compressor and the local Champion dealer can get me the best price. A low oil shut down and pressure lube adds $460 to the price and I think this is overkill for a home garage. What do you think? The unit I priced out is a 5 hp, 80 gallon tank. The model # is VR5-8.

 

[4019pine]

I would say the pressure lube would be overkill for home use

 

[sberry]

I went thru this on a couple comps and what the comp man tolds me,,,, if you ever wear this out get another one,,,, so far it hasn't happened and on the unit in question the use went way down in short order and doesn't see much action, glad I didn't dump another grand in to it.
It takes more than a lifetime to wear out a proper sized comp. Very rare to see one actually worn out, the only ones were the little dinky 20 gal 2 cyl 240V jobs where people tried to use them on auto body and they plain wear the pump out,,, new replacements don't cost but 200 or less.
I am sure I can be contradicted if one looks long and hard enough but its pretty rare.

 

[FMC1959]

To say it is overkill for a home user is a mouthful, from once or twice a month usage to almost daily. Reality is it should never see the usage a pro shop uses, so it probably is overkill.

You have probably gone through the decision process, consider if you even need as much compressor as you are looking at. Now and in coming years, cordless will continue to replace many traditional air tools. There will always be people that need air or prefer air, but less and less.

 

[redmondjp]

As stated, you don't need pressure lubrication. But I have to confess to having just bought a used Quincy 325 that has it - the price was right. Total overkill for my needs.

In home use, you don't need the low oil shutdown either. You should be inspecting the oil level anyways as a matter of habit when you are near the compressor, when you are draining the tank (assuming you don't or won't have an auto tank drain). And the oil level should never go down either (hasn't on my consumer-grade 3HP Devibliss that I've been using for the past 24 years).

You might consider adding an hourmeter to your compressor so you know when to change the oil. I also put an electric solenoid valve on my existing compressor's tank drain so all I have to do is push a button for second or two every time I'm in that corner of the garage - it beats the heck out of crawling around on the floor with a pair of channellocks trying to get the petcock open.

 

[scottym]

Thanks for all of the info guys. Yesterday I bought and older (tanks say 1996) Ingersoll Rand T30 2475, 80 gallon compressor with a 5hp 3 phase motor. I'm in the process of cleaning it up and putting a single phase 5hp motor on it. I know this might seem like a lot of money to some of you but I got it for $600.00 Canadian dollars. Around here that is cheap. I'm hoping all it needs is a crank seal replacement.

 

[redmondjp]

Thanks for all of the info guys. Yesterday I bought and older (tanks say 1996) Ingersoll Rand T30 2475, 80 gallon compressor with a 5hp 3 phase motor. I'm in the process of cleaning it up and putting a single phase 5hp motor on it. I know this might seem like a lot of money to some of you but I got it for $600.00 Canadian dollars. Around here that is cheap. I'm hoping all it needs is a crank seal replacement.

Sounds like you got a good deal. Check the breather on the crankcase also (on a T30 pump I seem to recall that it's built into the filler cap but not positive) to see that it's not plugged, and also an overfilled crankcase can cause oil leaks. Worst-case is worn or stuck piston rings which are overpressurizing the crankcase. Got any pictures of it yet? Post them up!

 

[angrystroker]

You have probably gone through the decision process, consider if you even need as much compressor as you are looking at. Now and in coming years, cordless will continue to replace many traditional air tools. There will always be people that need air or prefer air, but less and less.

I believe you are incorrect thinking cordless will replace the traditional air or corded tools for that matter. The cordless are bulky and forever in need of battery replacements and charges.

Someone needs the tool for hours, the cordless stuff cannot not hold a candle to corded or air. I own and use all three of the powers and the battery powered is the least productive of all. Sure it has a place but not going to replace, just the way it is.

 

[FMC1959]

I believe you are incorrect thinking cordless will replace the traditional air or corded tools for that matter. The cordless are bulky and forever in need of battery replacements and charges.

Someone needs the tool for hours, the cordless stuff cannot not hold a candle to corded or air. I own and use all three of the powers and the battery powered is the least productive of all. Sure it has a place but not going to replace, just the way it is.

I would not say they will completely replace them, but look at the trend. Read many threads on this forum concerning cordless vs electric vs air and you will see there are people going the way of cordless.

If you go back 10 years, probably no one was using cordless in place of air tools. 5 years ago and then today, the percentage of users adopting cordless over air has gone up.

Fast forward 10 years from now when cordless technology has gone up that much further and you will have even more cordless users and less relying on air.

There will always be user preference and jobs where air will not be replaced.

My point to the OP is that a couple of years ago I was seriously looking at upgrading my compressor (5 or 7 HP 2 stage brute), but I didn't and probably never will. Because I am getting more and more cordless, my 30 gallon compressor will do fine till it no longer functions. I will always need a compressor and have air tools, but will use them less and less as time goes on.

He should consider if his situation is that he needs this now and in coming years. Unless he is very hard-core/heavy duty user, pressure lubericated is overkill, and maybe the size he is looking at is overkill.

 

[scottym]

Hi everyone,

As requested here are some pics.

On another note tomorrow I'm getting two older Quincy 325 pumps and a 5hp single phase motor for $410.00.

 

[redmondjp]

Hi everyone,

As requested here are some pics.

On another note tomorrow I'm getting two older Quincy 325 pumps and a 5hp single phase motor for $410.00.

Wow! Awesome deal. Are you thinking about using one of the 325s instead of the T30?

 

[scottym]

Ya I'm thinking thinking of using both pumps to make one good one. I figure I can sell the ingersoll rand t30 2475 pump but keep the vertical 80 gallon tank and put the Quincy 325 on the tank.

 

[redmondjp]

Ya I'm thinking thinking of using both pumps to make one good one. I figure I can sell the ingersoll rand t30 2475 pump but keep the vertical 80 gallon tank and put the Quincy 325 on the tank.

Sounds like a plan. Be forewarned that the 325 will take a hoist to put onto the tank, or you and two burly friends. You'll figure that out tomorrow!

 

[scottym]

Here are some pics of the Quincy 325 pumps I got. Both are Roc of 7 so I assume they are pretty old. I think they will be a better pump than the IR T30 2475 pump I have now.

 

[redmondjp]

Thanks for posting the pictures.

The orange 325, with its twin unloader towers, is (or was) set up for continuous-run operation. It will be interesting to pull the crankcase covers and see what the insides look like.

 

[scottym]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick update. I decided to rebuild the green pump. I pulled the head and the valves had some carbon but not as bad as I expected. There is no scoring or ridges in the cylinders and you can still see the cross hatching. It looks brand new. I pulled the inspection cover and besides a little sludge at the bottom it looked amazing. There is zero end play in the crank and judging by the fact that I didn't see punch marks on the rod caps I would say everything is original. Besides rebuilding the valves I need to replace the oil seal on the crank input and get a new oil pressure gauge.

 

[redmondjp]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick update. I decided to rebuild the green pump. I pulled the head and the valves had some carbon but not as bad as I expected. There is no scoring or ridges in the cylinders and you can still see the cross hatching. It looks brand new. I pulled the inspection cover and besides a little sludge at the bottom it looked amazing. There is zero end play in the crank and judging by the fact that I didn't see punch marks on the rod caps I would say everything is original. Besides rebuilding the valves I need to replace the oil seal on the crank input and get a new oil pressure gauge.

Awesome! I can't find the link right now, but there is one place linked in a recent thread that sells a valve kit for the 325 pump for $65 or so. You'll be very happy with this pump.

 

[scottym]

Where has everyone had the best luck ordering parts from?