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Inching forward with this but have successfully got it apart : Conrod on the left : clamped a socket in a vice, resting on a block, rested the big-end on it, and tapped the outer race down with a smaller socket. Came out remarkably easily, didn't even need to use heat. Cut into the inner...

In case people are interested in the history of these - Since I've been looking, I've seen quite a lot of this basic unit - here's what's on eBay at the moment : It's all the same basic pump, a small but well-made (cast-iron cylinder and head) unit, small capacity, splash lube, direct drive...

I'm intrigued by the 'run a seam of weld' option. Never come across that before (and I don't have a welder, although it's something I want to learn so am looking for some good hands-on tuition, reachable from Surrey-ish area...). I would have thought the heat would expand the bearing, which is...

I can get a replacement bearing - I am wondering if it's worth doing the replacement, but the track of the balls on the outer race is very visible and there's some pitting. It seems pretty hard to feel how much runout there is in bearings of this type. I did consider just getting a replacement...

OK OK.. we do seem to have come quite a long way off topic. So how about climbing back on with some more thoughts ? Here's the bearing, split : The pound coin is in there for scale. Since the bearing is likely the original one, I'd like to replace it - ones of the right size are available...

Got it. This is a Broom Wade compressor from the 1960s so I don't think it's "cheap as chips" manufacturing. Although it's a small compressor so probably not done to the same tolerances as some of their larger ones and I can see just being able to slap a bearing in there that will cope with...

OK, that's interesting. But split-shell-type bearings don't allow any movement. Why would you use a ball-bearing in this context ? Not being picky, seriously interested. Lower friction given it's a small motor driving it ? or it's too much effort to try and constrain the piston twisting around...

Like I said, a sheltered life. Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've worked on motors and drill presses and lathes that have bearings, but all the piston/crank assemblies I've seen have had conventional split ends with bearing shells etc. Now I just need to find some new piston rings.

Stripping down a compressor and looking at the conrod, it has a bearing at the crank end of a type that I've not seen before : I didn't think bearings were supposed to do this, but maybe I've led a sheltered life. The conrod swings quite happily around on the bearing, in any...

...and just to follow up, I used some autosol to lap it properly and then some graphite grease, its working perfectly now. I probably cleaned it too zealously in the first place. thanks all for the help !

I’d be very interested in a pointer to piston ring for-sales or any specs for them ? Strangely, I started taking one of the poppet valves out to check it this afternoon, it seemed quite grubby and next thing I knew the whole darn compressor was spread out on the bench in its component parts...

Snap... I picked up one of these recently, attached to a smallish pressure vessel. Something of a cleanup project - needed an inlet filter and the regulator/filter assembly was beyond repair, but everything else works and it's surprisingly quiet. I like restoring old things and it's...

Thanks all - sounds like lapping it gently and then some "grease with good stuff in it" is the best approach. I've got some Autosol, will try that. I did clean the inner component, gently, on a deburring wheel, but lapping would be more certain of actually getting a fit.

Working on restoring / fixing up an old compressor (vertical-style Broom Wade) and I'm looking at the drain valve, which is a simple but nicely-made little thing : Dismantling it, it's really simple - just a taper-fit centre being pulled down into a conical bore by the spring at the bottom ...