Old Igersoll Rand Compressor

[thirsty]

Has anybody here ever rebuilt an old compressor?
I just found out today that my compressor crapped out. I'm about 99% sure it sucked up some paint Saturday night. It ran perfect as usual while I was painting, Sunday I noticed the filter was off but didn't use the compressor until today doing struts in a car. I always shut it off when I leave so it I know it was still working fine Saturday. I turned it on today and the compressor isn't building any pressure. Motor spins the pump but doesn't suck any air in. I've never worked on a compressor so not sure what is in there.

Anybody know what might be wrong?

When I said old I mean 1940's or 1950's. It came out of our old Amoco station. I really want to fix this but not even sure I can get parts for it. I'm hoping that it just has some urethane primer, some base coat, and some clear coat. sticking something open. Boy do I feel dumb about the filter thing!

Within ten minute I secured a deal on another compressor for free but that is not the route I want to go.

Thanks, John

[VileZambonie]

If you can't find parts to rebuild the pump, put it aside for now and throw a harbor freight one on it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/145-psi-3-hp-twin-cylinder-air-compressor-pump-67697.html

[thirsty]

That's an idea. Thanks Vile.
I was thinking kinda the same thing with the other compressor I can get. Either the pump on mine or my motor on that one. The other one is 3 phase.

[Grim 82]

IR is pretty good with parts availability, and Gator makes just about all the wear parts that IR has discontinued for tools, not too sure about compressors.  If you have a model number I can check availability for you. Is it a reed valve compressor or conventional valve? If it seems to pump but not build pressure make sure the unloader valve isn't stuck open. If it has flat reed valves in it they could just be stuck, but sometimes they try to divide by zero, eat themselves, and die.

[thirsty]

Thanks Grim.
It's a Type 30 Model 32C4

[Big Katz]

Hopefully it just glued the valves shut with paint. I'd pop the head off and see if you can clean them up. They are most likely plate valves. They are a pretty simple design. You won't have a problem figuring them out. As far as gasket, I'd just make new ones if you can't buy new ones.

[Grim 82]

^Agreed. You need to rip the head off either way. You might find that a wirewheel and some gasket paper will solve your problems. If you need hard parts for that pump, you might want to look into retiring it. I'll try to find a parts breakdown for that thing. The 30 series has seen 75 birthdays already.

[thirsty]

If you need hard parts for that pump, you might want to look into retiring it.

I always have had that in mind and tried never to abuse the old compressor.


This is where it has been for the last 22 years.

[thirsty]

I got this fixed last night. The culprit was paint sticking the valves pieces together. Got them cleaned up and it works great. I'm going to look into getting rebuild parts for this just in case something does need to be replaced in the future.

This is one of the valves.

[Big Katz]

Glad to hear it was am easy fix.
Hopfully you can get parts. That compressor was well built and made to repair. Wish more things in the world were made like that!

[Jim Rockford]

Good fix, I just rebuilt my type 30 from 1963, rings bearings and valves.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub3Breubqh0

[thirsty]

Jim- That's a great running compressor in your video. Good looking garage too. Did you get your IR parts online or did you deal with IR directly? I was only finding parts for newer compressors when I looked at their site. I gotta look into this some more.

[Jim Rockford]

I found an aftermarket company out of N.C. I'll have to find who it was , but the kit have everything even new rods which even after all this time Mine didn't need but I kept em as spares.