used compressor issues

[redline9k]

After some hesitation (i dont like used things), i bought a "reconditioned" cman pro 27g compressor from sears last week bc it was over 50% off.

It looked clean, oil was full, manager said a guy returned it a few days ago with no explanation. ok, fine, great price, out the door.

I go home and find the regulator is leaking...o-ring isnt in the right place...easy fix. Decided id drain and fill the oil with fresh just to get a good starting point...it came out very dark green/black and had a few visible metal shavings in the bottom...seems the guy might have used it awhile.

Is this consistent with what you find with normal break-in as the piston rings mesh w/ the cylinder walls? Ive cycled it and it seems to run well, but the 0-150psi is a little slow at 5:32 from what ive read other people with the same compressor are in the low 4min.

(this is why used is usually NOT a good deal IMO!)

so...at this point, do I return it and just buck and up and pay for a new one? The size is perfect, and the specs are great for what i need, just not sure i didnt get stuck with a pos some guy abused and returned - or after changing the oil, and tightening things up, is it ready to go for years to come?

 

[pipsters]

The 4:00 was for a 25 gal, so yours would be a little more but probably not 1:30 more.

Of more concern is the metal shavings and condition of the oil. After running it for an hour or so I switched to synthetic blend oil, and no metal shavings came out. Also I have run that same oil for over 4 years and it still looks pretty honey colored.

Just a guess but he might have run it without oil, realized his mistake, and put oil in to return it...

See if you can swing getting a new pump. Maybe talk to the same manager and tell them what you've written here. Instead of returning the whole thing he might authorize a replacement pump for you to install.