Found On Road Dead--HF 100PSI Oilless Air Compressor

[mccutter]

Found On Road Dead--HF 100PSI Oilless Air Compressor.

This Central Pneumatic has a 3gal tank and 1/3hp motor. I couldn't find a model number but the motor/compressor is similar to their 100PSI "pancake" model. Noticed it in front of my neighbors house as I was driving by on "trash" day so I stopped and threw it in my trunk. Figured worst case scenario it could be used for parts?

Once back at the shop, I plugged it in, let it run for a minute and as I expected, it did not build pressure. Gootoob has guys that have replaced O-rings on this style and got them to work so I figured I would throw a couple O-rings at it to see if I could get it working.

2 screws for the handle, 4 screws for the cover and 4 screws for the cylinder head and I had it apart. Once apart, it became apparent what the problem was--do you see it? The cylinder was also scored. Removed the top O-ring and blew a little air into the hole and the "out" reed and housing popped out.

Consider that this compressor draws its air from the crankcase sort of like a 2-stroke engine and there is probably a vent to the motor because I didn't see one external. If you haven't figured the issue, it is that there is an "in" reed built into the top of the piston and it is broken off exposing a hole to the crankcase. I didn't see the remnant in the crankcase nor in the head so beats me where it went to...

A quick web search (amaz, ebay, temu, etc) brings up NO rebuild/repair parts that even remotely resemble these parts. For shits and giggles, I might call HF parts to see if anything is available for it. I'd be willing to throw a $20 bill at it, but that is about it. I've never liked oilless compressors and this is a perfect example of why one should buy the HF extended warranty...

[digr]

I have made reed valves from putty knife blades

[dubby]

I've got a similar one, but of the "Husky" variety from Home Depot. Honestly, it's not good for much. The kids picked it up as a present for some occasion I had years ago when I was still making lures, and it did very well running my airbrush. Airing up anything more than a sports-ball or kid's bicycle tire is a chore for them.

Beyond that, it is very slow to build pressure and not enough volume to do much actual work. I used to bring it over occasionally to blow out the computer boxes and similar air-sucking appliances. Now days it's just as easy to disassemble them and drag them next door to the big compressor.

[mccutter]

Originally Posted by digr

I have made reed valves from putty knife blades

I had thought of "fixing" it with a feeler gauge or something. The reed looks to be held on with peened over "nubs" I could probably file down to get the old reed off, then peen back over the new reed. Then I still have to deal with a scored cylinder, getting new O-rings, a slightly damaged piston ring and whatever else surfaces after that. Reminds me I have to call HF to see if any parts are available--I'll have to use the model number for the pancake unit since I don't know what this one is.

Interestingly, there are sellers on debay trying to get $150 for well-used specimens of this compressor! They must be smoking that new fentanyl-flavored crack that's going around...

[Whitetrash]

Maybe some steel strapping like they use to palletize stuff or cube bricks for loading and hauling.

[VW cat]

Sometimes the quality is so poor, it's not worth it. Last example of that was a wood splitter that was given to me. One of those with the electric motor underneath. I think it used springs to retract the cylinder rod, one or two of these were broke. The rod seal leaked bad, but it did work. On disassembly, I was so disappointed in it's construction, that I tossed it in the scrap.

Once found a rototiller in the local scrap yard. It was quite well built, maybe 40 years old, an Ariens. I put a new Princess Auto motor on it, one of those Honda copies, and it does my garden every year.