ac compressor to air compressor

[dgarner08]

hey everybody i got bord the other dayand have ben trying to figure out how to make a homemade air compressor. has anyone here converted a ac compressor to an air compressor. i know it can be done but i want a portable one and i cant figure out how to lubricate it. it would be cool to run it off a small gas engine but i don't know how well it would work anybody got any ideas...info

 

[baddis]

contact wickedsludge he was in the process of doing so.

 

[JohnnyU]

No one's ever done that before....

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OnBoardAir.html

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tonyc/jeep1/OBAIR3.html

 

[baddis]

my fault i mis read his post

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i think johnny was being sarcastic.

i still havnt finished converting my compressor fully. ive used it a few times by just adding a few drops of air compressor oil to the intake before running it...but in the long term, i plan on installing an automatic air tool oiler in line of the intake, and an oil remover on the output (oil is bad for tire casings).

but the only advantage to using an a/c compressor for an air compressor is the fact that it eliminates the installation hassle involved with fabricating brackets, modifying the stock pulleys and belts, and fitting a large compressor under the hood. if your going to adapt your compressor to a small gas engine, your going to have to fabricate all these parts anyway...so why not just use a regular york compressor that is internally lubricated and designed for use as an air compressor?

 

[Piney]

I have found that the newer 5-piston pumps are much less suited for an air compressor as the older 3-piston units. even with an oiler they get real hot and like to sieze up.

 

[Ranger5.0]

There is a realy cool A/C compressor made by a company called Harison, its the Model A-6. Its a 3 barrel 6 piston compressor with a internal presurized oiling system with its own sump. Its the BEST candidate for a conversion. it is somwhat common on older ford vehicles.

 

[Simple_serf]

Modern compressors are generally bad for this. Older conventional design reciprocating compressors generally work better.

One possible place to look would be a junkyard with some old school busses. many of these have a small air compressor for the brakes. Old gassers generally have belt driven compressors.

just an idea.

 

[Southern3.0]

I picked up an old twin piston type york compressor off a buddys '78 f-150. I read on a jeep forum that at 3000 rpm the 10cu york (the one I have) puts out over 9 scfm, Thats more then my 33 gal craftsman compressor puts out so Im trying to figure out a way to use the york pump on my tank. Once I find a motor and start really working on it I'll take some pics and post them up.

 

[Ranger5.0]

theres a small oil drain in the one side of the compressor that needs to be pluged to keep oil from entering the air side of the compressor. Its common to convert a york into an air compressor. We did one in college for shits and giggles last week

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

theres no way (at least not on the compressors used in RBV's) to keep oil from coming out the output short of not oiling it. these compressors work similer to a 2-stroke...the oil coming in the intake makes its way through the "crank", through the valves, and into the chambers..exiting on the exhaust stroke.