Replies

1. 
   Eef | Mar 05, 2009 12:31am | #1

   hey philip,

   very glad to hear that your freakin' shop did not burn to the ground!  i'll bet that old compressor sounds like a well ridden royal enfield.

   eef

1. 
   philip | Mar 05, 2009 06:52am | #2

   Eef,
   Right on two counts- frightening what could have happened so easily, and it would have been a massive building burning-on one side is a vacuum metallising plant with lots of combustible liquids like thinners etc and on the other a pine bunk bed operation complete with fine dust ready for spontaneous combustion....I kind of like to think that the wooden crate enclosure that houses it might have helped prevent combustion but on the other hand it doesn't exactly aid cooling.One lives and learns.
   The old British is typical and one of these days I will clean it up and paint it properly as mechanically it is sound. And it does just sit there (without "walking") and chuff along up to 115psi which is good enough for most things. Dark green, polish the ali manifold and the brass pipes, black motor-yep, another piece for the Marcou Repository for Old Machines.Philip Marcou

2. 
   roc | Mar 05, 2009 07:29am | #3

   I must say I am shocked old bean. I / we / about every body I have worked with in shops my whole life turn off the power to compressors when leaving the building for just this reason. Close the tank valve so system leaks don't drain the tank and then turn off the compressor.

   I suppose this gets to be a problem working alone and leaving for an errand.

   I have seen switch contacts fuse and so the switch can not open when it hits the full pressure preset and then the thing runs until the over pressure safety valve blows. And then you know what ? It just keeps on running ! Bad news.

   similarly

   One of my friends made the mistake of setting up an "automatic" shut off horizontal band saw to cut and went out side to talk on his cell phone. When he came back in he had flames off the motor up to his ceiling. The blade had jammed and the pulley slipping on the belt caught the belt on fire and then the motor all in a few minutes !

   Nice compressor though sounds like

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

1. 
   philip | Mar 05, 2009 08:10am | #4

   Roc, old Chap,
   I have been in the habit of shutting the out valve at the tank, so that any line leaks etc don't make it work needlessly. I have done that for 22 years-forgot a few times naturally, but I've always tried to maintain airlines so that they don't leak . Got away with it except this time when hot weather softened all hoses and one sneaked off-unbelievable. So the same thing could happen if one forgot to shut down main switch and this coincided with a fault with the auto pressure switch.
   I've never bothered to switch off electric power as this compressor type can't have the sort of leaks that the piston types get.
   Anyway, now I believe the original Compair salesman who told me that Hydrovanes are happiest when working so hard that spit vaporises on the pump body- and they reach that stage when pumping truck tyres all day, for example.Philip Marcou

1. 
   roc | Mar 05, 2009 08:32am | #5

   >maintain airlines so that they don't leak<You would have had a fun time at the fine art foundry that I worked at. It was like walking into a snake pit. Every thing and I mean everything was leaking ! PssssssI used to spend Sundays putting it all right. Hoping for more Christmas bonus if it didn't all go to the electric utility company.The artists didn't get it, I think, so they probably just thought I was nuts to care. All that leaking just drove me up the wall !Ten horse compressor just to keep up with the leaks ! The planet doesn't have a chance with that kind of practice.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Mar 05, 2009 08:50am | #6

   I have you beat.  I was a security guard at a faucet factory once.  They had three 150 HP compressors, one of which had to be running all the time even when no air was being used to maintain air pressure for the fire control valves.  I came by once when the low pressure alarm was signaling.  So I had to start another 150 HP compressor just to maintain the required pressure  all of which was caused by air leaks.  What a waste.  They finally cut off most of the lines and supplied air for the fire control valves with a 12.5 HP compressor.

1. 
   roc | Mar 05, 2009 10:39am | #9

   Ssshheeze150hp all the time. That is something !rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   philip | Mar 05, 2009 10:56am | #11

   Jeeeeeeeeeeeeehosiphat- 150horse...x3.... I bet they were either Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand or Broomwade?
   Philip Marcou

3. 
   Tinkerer3 | Mar 05, 2009 04:56pm | #14

   Having walked past those things eight times a day, you'd think that I'd remember what brand they were, however I don't think they were any of which you mentioned.  I think the word ended something like 'aire like Speedaire but that doesn't sound right either.  Instead of shutting off when reaching full pressure they would vent.  Sounded as loud as as a jet plane taking off.  They had other compressors (piston) that they ran occasionally also.

   Edited 3/5/2009 9:15 am ET by Tinkerer3

2. 
   philip | Mar 05, 2009 10:30am | #7

   Yah I know it's an ongoing task, but I found a way to make it easy- by use of these push on fittings when going from steel to hose, they all have a swivel inbuilt. The fittings are free and the hose (the blue stuff you can see joining the two compressors ) is a special stuff but not too expensive- you just push it in and the collar grabs it in proportion to the pressure.... Goodbye hissing pipes and hello to more convenient airlines.Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   roc | Mar 05, 2009 10:36am | #8

   Aaahh hhmmthanksrocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   dgreen | Mar 05, 2009 10:48am | #10

   I really enjoyed the saga and the pics.  I went to their website and had a look at the pumps, after 22 years they are remarkably similar to yours. The mark of a good design.

   In 30 years when my cast iron 3cyl. two stage 18cfm @ 175psi wears out I will most certainly give their product serious consideration. The lower noise level would certainly be welcome.

   I thought I had a nice set of pullers until I saw yours!

     

    

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   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

3. 
   philip | Mar 05, 2009 11:33am | #12

   Don,
   I think the low noise is just one consideration. Others are low maintenance, few moving parts, less power required for unit air volume, air quality , small footprint etc.
   BUT-they cost a bomb to initially. I haven't priced one here, but I bet one could get about 5 Harbour Fright piston types for the cost of one.Philip Marcou

4. 
   dgreen | Mar 05, 2009 11:46am | #13

   I am well aware of the advantages of rotary screw pumps and the price of obtaining one!

   They won't even quote you a price on the website!

   Nonetheless I would not give you the net worth of a months toilet contents for a Harbor Fright compressor.

   I have spare rings and valves for my pump and it has a good quality Leeson 5 horse motor, when it finally gives up the ghost the plan is to replace it with a screw.

   A couple of years after I bought mine the manufacturer went to aluminum heads which increased the noise level substantially.

   I was very impressed that the Hydrovane currently for sale was substantially the same as the one that has given you 22 years of good service. 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot