[roger1]

Originally Posted by DaSouthWon

I say stack sandbags around it to catch the frag and shrap just in case. lol. If there is that much concern about it, replace it. Nothing has an infinite service life and a $500-$1000 compressor is probably no comparison in price to the damage it could do to your home or even worse you or a family member. I think its probably unlikely, but so are plane crashes and getting struck by lightning.

I get your point. But, I am looking at probably $2,000 to match the performance numbers of my compressor in a new one.

[betty55]

Originally Posted by roger1

I have a 5hp Sanborn compressor that has served me well since I bought it new in 1989 or 90, so it's nearly 20 years old.

It's an 80 gallon vertical that is 18 scfm @ 100 psi and 16 scfm at 175 psi.

The electric motor went out today. It trips the breaker and sparks inside the cover on top of the motor if I reset the breaker and immediately trips it again.

What should I do?

Is it time for a new compressor?
Or, should I take the motor down to a electric motor repair/rebuild service?
I see there are couple of electric motor places in San Angelo that are in the phone book.
What about buying a new motor, would that be better? Sounds like start copasiter in the top cover is bad take it out and replace it good luck.

Opinions please.

Roger

read quote above thanks

[pepi]

here is a handy helper for the lazy or forgetful folks like me , I installed one of these 3 yeas ago, I have replaced it once cause it got crud in it and did not want to stop venting, but overall I would not hesitate to suggest it as a workable salutation to the drain game

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...bCategoryName=

[ChevelleSS_LS6]

Originally Posted by 302 Z28

A.O. Smith motors are all either from China or Mexico. If that was my motor I would try and have it rebuilt locally some place. Chances are the rebuild would be better IMO.

Vince

either that or a used American (or Canadian) unit... so long as they have standards and a lack of slave labor. Jap stuff is good, but I have never seen a jap air compressor motor. Just the little mabuchi motors in toys and rc cars.

[roger1]

Originally Posted by betty55

read quote above thanks

Do you have a point to make here?
I don't understand your post.

[grouch]

Originally Posted by roger1

I get your point. But, I am looking at probably $2,000 to match the performance numbers of my compressor in a new one.

I'd be reluctant to give up on that compressor. Of the 3 main parts of the system, it's probably the only one that makes economic sense to rebuild when necessary. You already have a new motor. The tank and compressor have been working well, IIUC, with the only doubt being that the tank could be at the end of its service life.

First search I did turned up a "3 HP" compressor with a 60 gallon vertical tank for $327. That's less than a typical tank by itself and can probably be beaten by more searching. Maybe there's a shop near you that would test your current tank for less? Even if there isn't, the price of the new motor plus that tank is less than half your estimate for an equivalent but all-new system.



Just in case anyone still believes tanks don't explode...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=69953

[roger1]

Well,

I inadvertently left the web browser open with this thread up and my wife started reading it. She said to me "What's this about old compressors blowing up?"

If I get a new one, I'll probably be looking at either a Quincy or an Ingersoll Rand. At the minimum, I would try to match the performance of what I have now (18 scfm @ 100 psi and 16 scfm at 175 psi). I will want to stay with a single phase 220 Volt 30 Amp feed.

I think I could sell my old compressor by advertising in the local paper. I bet I could get $400 to $500 for it. Would this be an unethical thing to do? (That is, selling my problem to someone else.) Or, is it buyer beware as long as I am upfront about it's age? The compressor looks good, works perfectly and has a new motor and belts.

[T-bucket23]

I have a friend who does failure testing for a living. He said under normal conditions those tanks will not explode, they will just fail. They actually did some tesing for Ingersol rand and every tank they tested, eventually failed at a weld and not were catastropic explosions. A rusted tank will just gently blow out usually.
I would not be concerned about it.

[oldred]

Grouch, that's a good find on that tank explosion thanks for providing the link. Also in that same thread they have have a pretty good warning about the dangers of using PVC for air line plumbing.

Roger, if I may make a suggestion on the new compressor if you decide to go that route IMO the Quincy is the best choice and they have finally decided to get competitive with their pricing. Northern tool has some Quincy models now with free shipping, here are a couple of them but they have more.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0475_200350475

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0476_200350476


Quincy compressors have always been my favorite and they are made in the USA!

[oldred]

Originally Posted by T-bucket23

I have a friend who does failure testing for a living. He said under normal conditions those tanks will not explode, they will just fail. They actually did some tesing for Ingersol rand and every tank they tested, eventually failed at a weld and not were catastropic explosions. A rusted tank will just gently blow out usually.
I would not be concerned about it.

As I have already said they usually just spring a leak but the problem here is the word usually. The unfortunate fact is they can and do explode sometimes and the example Grouch provided the link to is a good example, also I have personally examined the results of two catastrophic explosions both of which caused heavy property damage and one one caused a disabling personal injury (the one involving the truck), both were caused by internal corrosion. Over the last 30 years or so I have seen several accident reports involving tank explosions at mine and construction sites and almost all of then was due to internal corrosion although a few of them were the result of physical damage or attempts at repair.

[grouch]

Originally Posted by roger1

Well,

I inadvertently left the web browser open with this thread up and my wife started reading it. She said to me "What's this about old compressors blowing up?"

I hope you pointed out that it's the tank that could explode, under the right circumstances, not the compressor.

Originally Posted by roger1

I think I could sell my old compressor by advertising in the local paper. I bet I could get $400 to $500 for it. Would this be an unethical thing to do? (That is, selling my problem to someone else.) Or, is it buyer beware as long as I am upfront about it's age? The compressor looks good, works perfectly and has a new motor and belts.

IMO, it would be wrong if you tried to conceal the reason for selling it. If I were going that route, I'd probably advertise the motor, compressor and the parts that go with them at the price you stated, then offer to give the buyer the tank with the warning about its age and possible hazard.

It still looks to me like you could keep that new motor, old compressor, and buy a cheapy new compressor + ASME tank and have a real good system for about half the price of a whole new one:
($350 new motor + ~$350 new tank w/dinky compressor)
versus
(($1400 to $2000) - ($400 to $500 back from old system, if sold)). Ok, I'll shut up now. It ain't my decision to make.

[roger1]

Grouch,

The only thing I see negative is that a "cheap" compressor is usually rated at 135 psi. Mine is 175.

[grouch]

Originally Posted by roger1

Grouch,

The only thing I see negative is that a "cheap" compressor is usually rated at 135 psi. Mine is 175.

That's why you keep your compressor. Is that a limitation of the tank or the compressor? Maybe the certification plate would tell. I'll see if I can find something on my tank about its limit, since it was part of just such a system.

[Rambo_The_Dog]

Originally Posted by roger1

Well,

I inadvertently left the web browser open with this thread up and my wife started reading it. She said to me "What's this about old compressors blowing up?"

If I get a new one, I'll probably be looking at either a Quincy or an Ingersoll Rand. At the minimum, I would try to match the performance of what I have now (18 scfm @ 100 psi and 16 scfm at 175 psi). I will want to stay with a single phase 220 Volt 30 Amp feed.

I think I could sell my old compressor by advertising in the local paper. I bet I could get $400 to $500 for it. Would this be an unethical thing to do? (That is, selling my problem to someone else.) Or, is it buyer beware as long as I am upfront about it's age? The compressor looks good, works perfectly and has a new motor and belts.

Leaving the browser open - that's a nice trick, other married folks might benefit from this insight

As far as selling your current setup, let me ask you this...If your motor hadn't burned I'm sure you would have just continued using yours without a thought, correct?

That's because you know you took as good of care of it as you could and it's always served you well.

So if you're honest with someone that you are selling the old setup now because you're not comfortable with it age - I don't feel that would be unethical.

I bought my "Barn Find" Devilbiss Pro 4000 on Craigslist used 2 years ago - it was approx 13 years old then. It was used in a private home shop and never ran commercially.

I don't even know if Devilbiss still makes compressors but for a 5hp 80 gal it has pretty good specs (check the inset on the bottom of the picture)

When I went to look at it the first thing I did was open the drain - the water that was there was clean, without rust. So given the history and maintenance I have been very comfortable about the tank holding up.

Since I moved in I always planned to move the compressor outside but, given the cost and the current housing market I opted to build the compressor a little room instead. It was way cheaper!

Now it's MUCH quieter working in the shop, not as nice as your shop though (shop envy)

[DaSouthWon]

Honesty is the best policy, however, theres some guy that won't really care and buy it anyways cause its a good compressor for cheap. Be up front, that leaves you with a clear mind, and when something happens you don't have to worry about if your quick cash cost the buyer an appendage. Just suggest that they get the tank tested, and that it's more than likely fine, but just like you check the brakes on your car, preventive maintnance goes a long way.