Air compressor carnage!

[G-Body_Vet]

If it ain't one thing it's another!

The other night I had just picked up some choice beverages for the garage, got about 3 seconds of run time out of my compressor and there it went. Both rod ends fragged and bent the bottom of the sleeves. Luckily repair parts are available and it should only cost me about $120 in parts. What gets me is that I have no idea what caused it. Besides it being 15 years old and an oil free compressor, I have no idea. The rod bearings really didn't even feel too bad either. The motor shaft spins freely and nothing appears worn or out of balance. I hate to replace a 60 gal, 6hp compressor if it can be fixed. I just hope I'm not pissing away the money if this continues to happen. Any ideas? :?

 

[beermonkey9417]

ouch, that dont look good. are them cast arms? it might be that just the stress on the arms after so many years/cycles just gave way. maybe time fro some cnc'd ones?

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Yeah they're cast for sure. They almost feel like some kinda pot metal because they weigh next to nothing! I really hope it was just years of wear and tear that finally caught up. I already ordered the parts and it came to $134 with shipping. I hope this fixes everything because I'm dead in the water right now. I have some blasting work on hold at the moment.

 

[kornball426]

Wouldn't just about any compressor go on your tank? I wish I had a big compressor.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Wouldn't just about any compressor go on your tank? I wish I had a big compressor.

That did cross my mind but I'm going to go with the repair option first since it's the most trouble-free and cheapest method right now.

 

[beermonkey9417]

i know harborfreight.com sells compressor motors. http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/ ... pumps.html

so if ya ever wanna go that route.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Back in bidness! It cost me $150 in parts+shipping but it lives again! Let's hope this doesn't happen again or at least for a long time anyway.

 

[beermonkey9417]

sweet! got pics?

 

[G-Body_Vet]

sweet! got pics?

I could take some but all you would see is the plastic cover now. The replacement sleeves were stainless instead of that cast, pot metal looking sh*t from before.

 

[kornball426]

Well that's cool.. Not so much the stainless because I can't see that having much benefit unless you use the compressor very rarely, since stainless is softer than carbon steel. But at least it's real steel not pot metal sh*t, I hope you have a lot of luck with it. 8)

You should have gone with forged rods and pistons.