Well, it wasn't broke, so I fixed it.
I wanted to convert my 220v 5hp Craftsman air compressor from a 20-gallon horizontal tank, to a 30 gallon vertical tank.
The compressor was running perfectly, I just wanted a little more air capacity, and more importantly I wanted to free up some space in that corner of the garage by standing the thing up in the corner rather than occupying the bigger footprint of the horizontal tank.
The project took a couple months, because at the last minute I cracked the manifold that all the pipes and gauges go into, so I had to fab a new one, buy taps for the threads, etc. Then I replaced the cable running from the on/off box to the motor, and then realized the plug's wire was too short so that got replaced as well. All in all, spent a couple months on it, fitting it in between other projects.
I did NOT change the oil, because it was full, and looked okay. There was a little weeping around the head gasket, but I found all the head bolts were half a round loose.
Finally got it in place today, fired it up, watched it build to 60psi and then it stalled at that psi... and then the pump slowed to a stop, chugging slowly.
Shut it off, checked belt tension, oil level, turned it on again, it fired up then chugged to stop again.
It rotates by hand just fine--not tight at all.
I took the belt off and fired up the motor, and it runs like a champ. The two together, and it bogs down and stops.
Any idea what I did?
-Brad
I wanted to convert my 220v 5hp Craftsman air compressor from a 20-gallon horizontal tank, to a 30 gallon vertical tank.
The compressor was running perfectly, I just wanted a little more air capacity, and more importantly I wanted to free up some space in that corner of the garage by standing the thing up in the corner rather than occupying the bigger footprint of the horizontal tank.
The project took a couple months, because at the last minute I cracked the manifold that all the pipes and gauges go into, so I had to fab a new one, buy taps for the threads, etc. Then I replaced the cable running from the on/off box to the motor, and then realized the plug's wire was too short so that got replaced as well. All in all, spent a couple months on it, fitting it in between other projects.
I did NOT change the oil, because it was full, and looked okay. There was a little weeping around the head gasket, but I found all the head bolts were half a round loose.
Finally got it in place today, fired it up, watched it build to 60psi and then it stalled at that psi... and then the pump slowed to a stop, chugging slowly.
Shut it off, checked belt tension, oil level, turned it on again, it fired up then chugged to stop again.
It rotates by hand just fine--not tight at all.
I took the belt off and fired up the motor, and it runs like a champ. The two together, and it bogs down and stops.
Any idea what I did?
-Brad