Ad for two free 80 gallon air compressors. An Ingersoll-Rand and a Porter-Cable. Neither working, but I figured the worst that could happen is that I'd wind up with two good tanks.

Spent about $40 in gas to go grab them, then spent a couple of days cleaning and testing.

Long story short, the P-C was junk. Motor needs a start switch at the very least ($50-$75, IF you can find one) and the aluminum pump knocks louder than a Jehovah's Witness on uppers.

The I-R was missing the pressure switch and all the external plumbing, but it has a cast iron pump. Went through the motor and tested it on the bench, seemed okay. Bore-scoped the inside of the IR tank and it is solid. So I cleaned it all up, remounted the motor and pump and swiped all the needed plumbing off the P-C with a few bits out of my stash. Changed the oil in the pump and fired it up and voila! Runs good, sounds good, builds air. I chickened out and shut it off at 120 PSI (rated for 175) because I have no idea of the condition of the pressure switch and didn't see the need to work it that hard anyway. 80 gallons at 120 PSI will run anything I'll do with it.

I need to grab a new filter for the pump intake, a new pressure switch, a quarter-turn ball valve for the drain and some anti-vibration pucks to mount it on.

I think I'll also pop for a magnetic motor starter as it's asking a lot of that little pressure switch to start a 5 HP motor.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PHPaul,

Sweet!

Not bad for free. I need to get a decent size compressor, getting by with a little pancake, but have the room for an upright like yours.

I assume you widen your search beyond local.
I have sold items to CA and NH due to people searching far and wide.

I read the words, but all I got was manly grunt sounds. I wish I was handy like that.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
I assume you widen your search beyond local.
I have sold items to CA and NH due to people searching far and wide.

I guess that depends on your definition of "local". These were about 80 miles away.

I've gone further for something I wanted and have gone out of state but it wasn't for something I found on Craigslist.

Scope the Porter Cable tank and if it's okay it will make one heck of a slave tank.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
Scope the Porter Cable tank and if it's okay it will make one heck of a slave tank.

That's one option, but I don't have any place convenient to put it.

Younger Grandson says they have one at work with a bad tank. As far as he knows, they're going to junk it. If so, I'll take it. If not, I'll offer to sell them a good tank.

I think I may have found the problem with the pump on the Porter-Cable...

Try some JB Weld.

Nice score on the IR. That’s a mighty fine compressor for the cost of fuel and repairs!

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:
Try some JB Weld.

Should I clean the oil off first or just glue it?

Is there a test to determine if the tank is solid on old air compressors? I have a Craftsman unit that is about 47 years old and I replaced it for fear of the thing blowing apart in the basement some day.

quote:

Originally posted by Gene Hillman:
Is there a test to determine if the tank is solid on old air compressors? I have a Craftsman unit that is about 47 years old and I replaced it for fear of the thing blowing apart in the basement some day.

I suppose you could have it hydrostatically checked, but for a homeowner compressor, it'd likely be cheaper to just replace it.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by dgshooter:
Try some JB Weld.

Should I clean the oil off first or just glue it?

Surface prep is the key!