Revival of a damaged comressor

[jimgreen]

Hi all, I've read this forum for years, only needed to post now as I've always found an answer !



Long story short, setting up my new garage after moving house, compressor falls from loft space. I was testing it before bolting it down!

I broke the reg housing, so I got a new one, tapping out the snapped off bit in the pressure switch. I is all back together, but now I've realised the flare on the relief pipe where it gets fastened to the fill pipe just before the nrv is broken.

I went to know a few things,

-does the relief valve have to live in the pressure switch?
-is there something off the shelf I can replace this whole pipe with?

I guess what I'm saying is can the valve live on the end of the actual fill pipe?

Its only a little wolf / power craft compressor, but I can't justify buying another one (I'd love a 100ltr one!)

 

[rtbcomp]

You could either make a new pipe or replace the existing unions with push-fits and use a piece of nylon pipe.

The relief (or unloading ) valve is operated by the pressure switch so that's where it has to be unless you want to wire in an external solenoid valve, but even if you did that you'd still have to connect it to the non-return valve.

 

[jimgreen]

Damn, I reckon my pressure switch may be toast then, no solenoid present !

 

[rtbcomp]

I think you misunderstand.

The unloader is operated by a plunger in the pressure switch and does not have a solenoid.

You said I guess what I'm saying is can the valve live on the end of the actual fill pipe?. If you wanted to do this then you'd have to supply a solenoid valve.

 

[DrNik]

what i did is, the pipe is made of aluminium, and the flare fractured, so i cut it off neatly, and then inserted the shank of a drill bit that fitted inside the ali pipe but a sloppy fit, put it in less than 10mm and pulled the drill to one side and rotated it round and round, leaning the drill on the wall of the pipe, kept doing this till i had a had a flare, slightly shorter now but bent a gentle curve in the pipe to allow for the different length

 

[jimgreen]

Thanks Nik, it worked a treat. Wont have to buy a flairing tool to do brakes now either!

No leaks at 2bar, I'm chicken to take it to 8!

 

[rtbcomp]

..... Wont have to buy a flairing tool to do brakes now either!

......

Brake flares have to work at over 1000 psi and the pipe is thicker - I hope you're joking.

 

[jimgreen]

Could add some duct tape around it I guess

 

[rtbcomp]

Not on brake pipes, you should use baler twine.

 

[the snooper]

Wont have to buy a flairing tool to do brakes now either!

buy a flaring kit, they arnt expensive and will save you being sued / locked up if your dodgy flare fails and you kill someone as a result

 

[jimgreen]

:-) love it. Thanks for the help guys, will show you the install when finished.

 

[jimgreen]

Wooohoo, the last big thing off the floor of the garage, bring on the cars!

Mostly aldi gear, I just use it for pumping up tyres and the odd air tool.

Reel mounted.

All you can see of the compressor. And the switch. Keeps the noise down !

And here it lives, all snug in the loft. I only wish it was 10 times bigger!

 

[rtbcomp]

Does the loft get hot in summer? That might be a problem.

 

[Robotstar5]

How do you get to the drain plug on the tank?

 

[jimgreen]

How do you get to the drain plug on the tank?

For now just up the ladder, but a remote drain is on the cards.

Does the loft get hot in summer? That might be a problem.

No idea, we've only been here for a few months. Should be interesting! What problems do you predict?

 

[the snooper]

No idea, we've only been here for a few months. Should be interesting! What problems do you predict?

depends how hot it gets in there at worst it could overheat and seize up

 

[jimgreen]

I don't think it would ever get that hot. We will see! Certainly won't get as hot as when it was in a small cupboard.

The drain is the most annoying thing that needs sorting.

 

[the snooper]

in a small cupboard it only had its own generated heat to contend with, in a loft it has the heat of the sun aswell

 

[jimgreen]

I'm sure it will be fine :-) just look out for my post in 6 months about a melted compressor.

 

[jimgreen]

All is well 6 months later. Thanks for your help with this everyone