Great video. But it breaks my heart to see a piece of machinery in that condition. Before you get too deep in getting parts, do yourself a favor, Put that crankcase on the floor and carefully fill it with water. See if it leaks out. If there is a crack in the crankcase, It is not worth trying to find parts for it. Joe.
Comp Air bought out Le Roi Dresser Compressor back n the day. As of a few years ago parts were still available but brutally expensive. They are one of the best compressors in the world along with Quincy QR line and Saylor Beal. That pump new is worth like $3500.
Bro, my dad died and left me his compressor, no idea it used oil. It started getting real slow, went looking why, found out it used oil. Checked oil levels, there wasn't any 😳🤦, trying to figure out if i can rebuild the pump now.
This will be a nice upcomming project; machine two rods. measure what you have for pistons and find something close then bore cyl jugs to as needed. This is a low rpm and little heat deal. Polish crank and all is good. I say this cause of stories in Cuba like Ford pistons in DeSotos etc. Lawnmower piston for the small one. Always a way out.
Mr. Pine I don't know what you consider low rpm but several hundred rpm and this size air compressor will create enough heat to boil a lot of water. That connector tubing gives an indication of the heat generated in just the LP cylinder. I have been around similar compressors and they get very hot.
It is the way I choose to bring back that compressor to life, at least, the rods can be done in aluminum plate, at worst, the crank should be ground off to have a good journal surface and the low pressure piston can very often be replaced by an automotive piston. it asks for measurement of the center of the crankpin to the top of the cylinder. I have redone an ingorsoll radn compressor that way and it is serving me for over 35 years
...I once worked in a compressor repair shop....this sort of failure is usually due to lack of oil....most of it looks to be on the outside of the unit....these pumps with splash type lubrication really need the oil to be better monitored...parts can usually be had, but will be expensive....Dresser was good stuff at one time.... Units often are just pushed in the corner of the shop and oil not checked for years at a time.....I've seen compressors with no oil leaks that run for years without much wear/damage....
rods are generally forged. tricky to do without the dies and a trip hammer. I guess they could be machined out of good steel with a chunky cross section, or out of titanium like in a race car engine.
Between your fans and vast number of mechanically inclined associates won't be long before you figure out the best solution. On one hand rebuilding would make great videos. But on the other you have so many irons in the fire might be better off shelving this project. Bet you give it a few weeks and someone will find the parts and donate them. You have a loving fan base. 😀 👍 🔧
A good speed shop should be able to take the bore & stroke measurements and see if a diesel engine piston would match up or special order one. Hey it's all cast iron and heavy duty, not like the junk they make today. For the quality alone, it might be worth the time and investment. Just sayin. Lol
You can buy rebuild kits,,,as long as the cylinders and crankshaft is good it's worth fixing because it's a very well built unit,,,,but you won't know how hot it got,and metal becomes Brittle with to much heat
Being run dry (for who knows how long) I would worry about the bearings and their surfaces on the crank and the crank mating surfaces for the rod ends, that would not be cheap to re condition :( . I just think this compressor pump is is a big can of worms that may only show some problems up when you are knees deep in money into it, you have re assembled it and run it under load.
I am leaning in that same direction. Unless a donor pump shows up that I can salvage some parts from, it just is not practical. I can buy new pistons, but they cost about what a whole new pump of the same quality would cost....
Hey Cast Pistons can be cast the rods can be Machined out of steel it's not a race engine. LOL Worst case reuse the rings. I know Making more work for you!
no, the residual stress resulting from the weld will make the rod will break at the weld joint and the damage will be more important due to the ductility of the welded rod for the time invested to straighten the things and remachining to an acceptable geometric and dimensions tolerances, it is much more payful to invest that time to fabricate new rods.
Keith I think you should fix it, make you own pistons you should be able to cast some and any automotive machine shop can match rings to the bore cut the new pistons to accept them, cut the crank 010 and make some rods, I would love to see this done. I really enjoy you vids thanks Al
I have a smaller 1958 version of that compressor. It’s a Westinghouse design originally used on train air brakes. They have an unloader valve connected to the oil pump and unload the heads when no oil pressure is present. They are almost stupid proof but they still need oil ;-). If you can find the parts and successfully rebuild it, it might just be the last compressor you ever own.
What oil do you recommend for a single stage compressor of the same age. I got one cheap but know that the oil probably hasn't been changed for a long time. It still pumps up but slows way down as the pressure bulids. I've discovered that the motor is probably failing but I want to also do good for the compressor. I have serious question about the tank and saw your video on pressure testing 👍👍👍👍👍 Any ideas for a certified tank for 140 psi type 10 - 15 gallon new??
My compressors are not that old, but I run them on compressor oil from Kroon Oil (I live in Europe where you get that stuff easily). Compressor oil is different from the oil used in cars (Oil for cars has more stuff inside to get a bigger temperature range). My compressors have pumps from Italy (they have a couple of pump manufacturers). Other companies like Kaeser from Germany officially use 5W30 engine oil. You can get such tanks from internet, there are even sellers in Ebay or Amazon which offer compressor tanks, 140 PSI (less than 10 bars) is the typical operating pressure for such tanks
Buy new Parts??? Very Disappointing to hear those words from you Keith, hows your foundry Discipline? you could easily Piece Con rods together and use them as Patterns, Coat them in Plaster of Paris to make up size to allow for shrinkage, sand smooth and paint, Mold them out, then 'machine newly forged Parts, Simple! Same goes for the Pistons, unless you opt for the lost Foam or wax pattern Technique, job done! Failing that Break out the 4140 Billet Steel and Grab some serious Chip Time on the Mill
Keith, did a little digging. This place has at least one of the connecting rods. If the only damage is in the skirts on the piston, you can trim it off and put in a new connecting rod. They're a bit spendy but cheaper than a new head. Good luck! www.compressorpartsstore.com/LeRoi-Westinghouse-Wayne-Parts-s/27.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=27&show=20&page=2
If I had the tools (I certainly have the time), I might try machining new pistons and rods and endcaps from either raw stock or actually casting blanks from some kind of backyard foundry setup.
Please start your next project by cleaning it first. I hate working/seeing things worked on that are dirty and getting the work area and tool needlessly dirty.
Honestly, the Pistons look salvageable to me. The little damage on the skirts are not going to make it fail i dont think. Shouldnt be that hard to make new conrods, i know youtubers that do that kind of stuff with a drillpress and a handfile. The conrods dont need to be forged or anything fancy, they aint going in a 1500hp supra. Get some ground steel and shape them a little, drill and ream some acurate holes in them and split them in half and its pretty much done. Its not impossible, just a matter of how far you want to take this rebuild.
That looks like the same air compressor that was installed in our shop just after I started working there. Ours was a horizontal tank instead of vertical. We had a phase drop out and ruined the motor just after it was installed. Outside of filters and oil, that was the only thing that was done in the 35 years that I worked there. It was still running the last time I was there for a visit.
Consider: Size and fit your own pistons and rods then make your own bearings to fit the crank. Junk yards are full of junked old motors with pistons and rods everywhere. If the measurements work, so will the part. Bo.
I rebuilt an Ajax two stage pump many years ago, the parts were quite expensive (and they were available) I don't remember if you checked the bottom of the tank out when you got it. See if that is significantly rusted. If good, I'd put a Harbor Freight two stage pump on it and run it!
HI KEITH we all know you are a machinest and have tools to go along with the trade but do you really have the time and money to tackle this project all the people on youtube that wants you to rebuild it just for there entertainment i havent read a word about sending any money to you to help in cost also it is real easy to spend your money then theres so all in all you do what you want to you make the call for KEITH i also know that you might think being a machinest will probably kill your rateing with some people if you dont fix it in the long run its just opinions and you know the story about opinions anyway that is just my thoughts you thought i was going to say opinion ha ha ha talk to later and as always GODBLESS larry
Oh dear! Reminds me of the time I forgot to tighten and lock the oil pump drive pinion on my Norton (yes, I know!) 705 fastback .... blew up at speed on what you'd call a narrow Interstate one dark and wet Sunday night. It's a miracle - quite literally - that I'm still here. BobUK.
Keith, found this video while looking at a possible overhaul on my compressor. I have a Dresser 5000 two stage that doesn’t have much suction, but does seem to have outlet pressure when turning by hand on the bench. I also found the main check valve completely eroded away, which is cause for concern. I plan to pull the head to see what is going on. Found a place in PA that has parts for Dresser.
Why do you have to “buy parts”? Do you not have the tooling and ability to “make” pistons and connecting rods? I would love to see the “how to do it” videos....... Especially if that head is worth as much as you quoted. You always talk about machining projects, why not make this into one?
My thought also. It would be a shame to spend the time and money to fix the compressor only to find the tank is rotted and unsafe. Given the state of the pump, I'd definitely get the tank safety checked before proceeding.
I have a Dresser pump and they are a lifetime air compressor when maintained properly. Dresser was bought out by LeROI and some parts are available through LeROI dealers. I would rebuild it if I were you.
I just thought I'd say that I'm a little disappointed that the Vintage Machinery guy isn't going to fix the vintage compressor. I know it doesn't have the romantic and nostalgia value that a steam locomotive has, but it's still cool old-time machinery. Maybe you can find someone willing to give it a try. I thought you'd be re-casting the pistons and connecting rods with your new (ish) furnace. You have one impressive machine shop at your disposal.
I'd like to see this rebuilt. This is vintage machinery isn't it? Of course if it isn't worth it that's understood. I think it will be better than most replacement pumps.
Compressor parts are extremely expensive. It would probably cost more to replace these parts than to purchase a new two stage compressor. The crankshaft bearings and races probably need to be replaced and the heads likely need rebuilt too,more added costs.
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If it was rare it would maybe be worth to repair it, but honestly it is not worth it. That is only the bottom half maybe the valves are seized as well. Your time would be better spent elsewhere.
Heck, for the kind of money you'd need to replace it I would make new rods and like others have said the pistons may be repairable. If they aren't salvageable then making new ones from billet can't be that hard with the old ones to copy from. Time is one of those things that can't be replaced so maybe not worth it in that respect, but it's good content and as a viewer I'd love to see it.
I bolt such bases to handy scrap metal then clamp those as required to make wrasslin' easier. No pneumatic or cordless or corded impact wrenches for the teardown? (Wise way with old machines is break torque by hand if that's practical then use impacts to run the fasteners, only breaking torque by impact on obviously resistant fasteners. I've disassembled engines and equipment I knew were scrap for the education and recommend other do likewise. Many compressor parts (Saylor-Beall are an American made example) are still readily available from the maker. Otherwise Ebay may be a source. I'd Ebay the good parts if a different pump is planned.
Just shows you that somewhere out in industrial land is a maintenance man who is just a jackass to say the least. Those type that would always say "FORK THE COMPANY" and all they really did was "FORK THEMSELVES" out of a job. Am sure you can repair the item if you choose to do so. They just do not make compressors like that anymore unless you pay and arm and a leg. Am sure you will make a great decision. Keep up the great work too.
I just saw this. I tried to do a little, and this may or may not help. Look under "Leroi Dresser or Dresser Rand for possible parts. Could it be that Rand by itself is cross compatible with Dresser. I've seen some compressors that were labeled purely as Rand. This might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresser_Industries Both are part of Siemens. I have no idea of what the prices are, but if you also have the motor and it's in good shape, you might want to consider it. A new compressor, 2 stage, 5ph could run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $900-1400.
Not too surprising considering the buildup of dirt on the exterior of the pump & the filthy air filter. Looks like a lack of PM, aka laziness. I change & check the oil on my 2 stage Quincy regularly. Too big an investment to neglect Simple maintenance. If you can't get parts or they're too pricey to make it worth wild, you might consider looking for a Quincy or other quality pump ?
Cost of pistons, rods, gaskets (and ridge-reamers, if you don't have ones in those sizes) versus the value of an equivalent (capacity, quality) used compressor unit. All that tempered by the risk of thus far undisclosed other damages (bent crank, crank journals, trashed main bearings, distorted crankcase, re-boring cylinders). When both big-ends seize up sufficiently to snap the rods, many bad things can happen. Personally, I would be leery of investing much more time in this (even research time), much less investing money.
I think a rebuild kit is around 200 dollars,,well worth the investment,,because you have nothing in it anyway,,check the bore for out of round,,,and be sure to hone it to seat new rings,,,as I said,,,it was a well built expensive unit new,,,,dam, those piston are huge,,,what is the CFM rating?
I'm in a similar situation. Much smaller compressor but on conrod broke. Everything else is just fine. I am having trouble getting the spare part as it has oddball dimensions. Is it viable to simply mill one from the same material (aluminum)? If so, should I be making two of the same part for balancing reasons?
My first thought is it will cost more to repair than you can buy a brand new one for ! if you could find Used parts or another used one you might be able to make a good one from the 2 .... but chances are it's junk ! but you don't know if you don't look ! besides the price was right !!! LOL....
Keith, i have a two cylinder air brake compressor that i had to get an adapter made to use a John Deere pulley of some sort on, and its a very nice pump. It has a water cooled head on it, so I'll need to figure out someth on that. Ive had it for a while now, but do have plans for it.
crank can be reground ring,s not to badbut pistons brgs another problem these old heavy compressors run forever if taken care of i prefer quincy or kellog american they are the best my motto buy once for lifetime of hot air incidently i still have my dad opertiona antique quincy still makes 200 plus press.
You didn't comment on one thing I observed on your tear down. The rod break on the large cylinder was an old break with a lot of oil and dirt on it. The break on the small piston was a fresh break. They had been operating the unit with a thrown rod for quite some time until it threw the second rod. I bet it didn't pump worth a flip with no first stage pumping and the second stage having to suck through the first stage valves to get air. As you decided it was probably to expensive to fix.
It would be a big project, but I'd love to see you make new pistons and connecting rods...after all, you do have a machine shop. Not worth it financially, but would have lots of educational and entertainment value. And you'd have the trickest hotrod air compressor on UA-cam. :)
Aside from the busted piston rods, the state of the air filter alone is a good indication that the previous owner didn't do a damn minute's worth of maintenance on it. I don't understand these numb-nuts suggesting a refurb. Bin the whole thing, not worth the time or money to fix someone else's junk.
My experience with pistons is that manufactures buy pistons from piston suppliers . Example some Fords and GM engines use the same pistons just different pin heights. Same with rings. I would consider either looking for a close replacement and then machine them to fit or make new ones from billet aluminum. Steel rods of course could also be made. It would be a great project for You Tube. In the old days nothing got thrown away it got repaired.
If fixed, I suspect it'll end up like King Arthur's battle ax... handle replaced three times & head twice. My vote? Unceremoniously lose the thing and don't look back. I bet it was run decades with that oil & air filter; and likely knocked for years. Cylinders & remaining bearings (if any) are almost surely oversize, crank might be bent, case tweaked, who knows. The possibilities are infinite, and some may not manifest themselves till you've invested tons of money, time & effort... plus you'll be without a decent compressor the whole while. A Pandora's box if there ever was; life's too short...
Looks like a quality American made unit. Unlike todays junk it's totally re-buildable. I think I saw an I.D. tag. It's most likely outlived 3 Chinese compressors. It deserves a rebuild. Besides it would make a great video for folks to learn from.
Dresser Industries merged into Halliburton 20 years ago. Then Halliburton sold the "non-oil-patch" equipment portions to GE. Thus ended yet-another 100+ y/o company.
Short of sand blasting, I don't see any large consumers of air in your shop. Why not run a 1 to 2 hp compressor and call it a day? If you need more air for blasting, have a second unit you can turn on in parallel to feed the need. 95% of the time, do you really want to be starting a huge compressor and filling a large volume of air so you can have a little spritzing air or impact off a few bolts? It would seem multiple smaller units with multiple tanks you can valve in and out as necessary would be the lower cost/lower energy way to go in a non-production shop setting. Always enjoy your excellent content, even when things don't go as planned. It's life.
It's easy to get tune-up parts from LeRoi Dresser, but pistons and cranks are another story altogether. Just the tune-up kit with unloader and valve rebuild, gaskets, seals, and bearings is about $500
ATTENTION ! When disassembling the high pressure cylinder head, make sure that there is no more pressure on the high pressure side! So do not loosen head with completely disassembled bolts. !!! (Good old compressor )
That's not damage, that's carnage!!
Jonathan W would make a good block for a motorcycle engine.
..yeah...cast Iron....sturdy, but heavy.....
Totally rebuild-able if you can find the parts. That looks like a quality unit. The new units are really cheaply built. Good luck.
Fred Miller Anything is refundable if you throw enough parts, time, and money at it.
Please repair it! It'd make a great video!
You know a machinist?
Timothy Sielbeck he will probably have to let his finger walk through the yellow pages to find one. Lol
Great video. But it breaks my heart to see a piece of machinery in that condition.
Before you get too deep in getting parts, do yourself a favor, Put that crankcase on the floor and carefully fill it with water. See if it leaks out. If there is a crack in the crankcase, It is not worth trying to find parts for it.
Joe.
Comp Air bought out Le Roi Dresser Compressor back n the day. As of a few years ago parts were still available but brutally expensive. They are one of the best compressors in the world along with Quincy QR line and Saylor Beal. That pump new is worth like $3500.
I think I am going to go check the oil in my compressor.
For the record, mine was good.
Drain the condensate out of the air tank as well.
@@gregwarner3753 I have but it is due again. The comment was from two years ago.
Bro, my dad died and left me his compressor, no idea it used oil. It started getting real slow, went looking why, found out it used oil. Checked oil levels, there wasn't any 😳🤦, trying to figure out if i can rebuild the pump now.
This will be a nice upcomming project; machine two rods. measure what you have for pistons and find something close then bore cyl jugs to as needed. This is a low rpm and little heat deal. Polish crank and all is good. I say this cause of stories in Cuba like Ford pistons in DeSotos etc. Lawnmower piston for the small one. Always a way out.
Mr. Pine I don't know what you consider low rpm but several hundred rpm and this size air compressor will create enough heat to boil a lot of water. That connector tubing gives an indication of the heat generated in just the LP cylinder. I have been around similar compressors and they get very hot.
Shorten the piston skirts and make new rods.
Hammer0f Thor
Just what I would suggest, all he needs to do is to make sure that the pistons are in good shape up top.
It is the way I choose to bring back that compressor to life, at least, the rods can be done in aluminum plate,
at worst, the crank should be ground off to have a good journal surface and the low pressure piston can very often be replaced by an automotive piston.
it asks for measurement of the center of the crankpin to the top of the cylinder.
I have redone an ingorsoll radn compressor that way and it is serving me for over 35 years
...I once worked in a compressor repair shop....this sort of failure is usually due to lack of oil....most of it looks to be on the outside of the unit....these pumps with splash type lubrication really need the oil to be better monitored...parts can usually be had, but will be expensive....Dresser was good stuff at one time....
Units often are just pushed in the corner of the shop and oil not checked for years at a time.....I've seen compressors with no oil leaks that run for years without much wear/damage....
It would be AWESOME to watch you make new pistons and rods!
Yes It would be
That would be epic series!!
rods are generally forged. tricky to do without the dies and a trip hammer. I guess they could be machined out of good steel with a chunky cross section, or out of titanium like in a race car engine.
New h beam rods would be easy to make. They don't move real fast like a car, so strength is not paramount.
Between your fans and vast number of mechanically inclined associates won't be long before you figure out the best solution. On one hand rebuilding would make great videos. But on the other you have so many irons in the fire might be better off shelving this project. Bet you give it a few weeks and someone will find the parts and donate them. You have a loving fan base. 😀 👍 🔧
A good speed shop should be able to take the bore & stroke measurements and see if a diesel engine piston would match up or special order one. Hey it's all cast iron and heavy duty, not like the junk they make today. For the quality alone, it might be worth the time and investment. Just sayin. Lol
You can buy rebuild kits,,,as long as the cylinders and crankshaft is good it's worth fixing because it's a very well built unit,,,,but you won't know how hot it got,and metal becomes Brittle with to much heat
Oh it is a simple and easy fix, it just isn't worth it. :-( Only way to do it would be if there was a donor with bad crank to get the parts from.
That's too bad!! - I was just about to tell Keith "I know a guy in Tennessee that's done this stuff before..."
Well I am in Kentucky but I have fixed a compressor before! :-) Mine was not nearly that sad a shape though .
Being run dry (for who knows how long) I would worry about the bearings and their surfaces on the crank and the crank mating surfaces for the rod ends, that would not be cheap to re condition :( . I just think this compressor pump is is a big can of worms that may only show some problems up when you are knees deep in money into it, you have re assembled it and run it under load.
I am leaning in that same direction. Unless a donor pump shows up that I can salvage some parts from, it just is not practical. I can buy new pistons, but they cost about what a whole new pump of the same quality would cost....
If it cast a shadow it can be restored.
Hey Cast Pistons can be cast the rods can be Machined out of steel it's not a race engine. LOL Worst case reuse the rings. I know Making more work for you!
And we want to see the furnace heated up one day!
You don't think a little TIG welding and some buffing on those rod parts would do the job? :-)
no, the residual stress resulting from the weld will make the rod will break at the weld joint and the damage will be more important due to the ductility of the welded rod
for the time invested to straighten the things and remachining to an acceptable geometric and dimensions tolerances, it is much more payful to invest that time to fabricate new rods.
That compressor was made in Sidney, Ohio - home of Monarch Lathes! It would be very cool if you could get it running.
Keith I think you should fix it, make you own pistons you should be able to cast some and any automotive machine shop can match rings to the bore cut the new pistons to accept them, cut the crank 010 and make some rods, I would love to see this done. I really enjoy you vids thanks Al
I have a smaller 1958 version of that compressor. It’s a Westinghouse design originally used on train air brakes. They have an unloader valve connected to the oil pump and unload the heads when no oil pressure is present. They are almost stupid proof but they still need oil ;-). If you can find the parts and successfully rebuild it, it might just be the last compressor you ever own.
What oil do you recommend for a single stage compressor of the same age. I got one cheap but know that the oil probably hasn't been changed for a long time. It still pumps up but slows way down as the pressure bulids. I've discovered that the motor is probably failing but I want to also do good for the compressor. I have serious question about the tank and saw your video on pressure testing 👍👍👍👍👍 Any ideas for a certified tank for 140 psi type 10 - 15 gallon new??
My compressors are not that old, but I run them on compressor oil from Kroon Oil (I live in Europe where you get that stuff easily). Compressor oil is different from the oil used in cars (Oil for cars has more stuff inside to get a bigger temperature range). My compressors have pumps from Italy (they have a couple of pump manufacturers).
Other companies like Kaeser from Germany officially use 5W30 engine oil.
You can get such tanks from internet, there are even sellers in Ebay or Amazon which offer compressor tanks, 140 PSI (less than 10 bars) is the typical operating pressure for such tanks
Buy new Parts??? Very Disappointing to hear those words from you Keith, hows your foundry Discipline? you could easily Piece Con rods together and use them as Patterns, Coat them in Plaster of Paris to make up size to allow for shrinkage, sand smooth and paint, Mold them out, then 'machine newly forged Parts, Simple! Same goes for the Pistons, unless you opt for the lost Foam or wax pattern Technique, job done!
Failing that Break out the 4140 Billet Steel and Grab some serious Chip Time on the Mill
I subscribed to your channel years ago to watch you renovate old equipment.
fire up the tig welder and be back in business in 30 minutes.. ;)
well now we know why it wasn't in service and still dirty.
If you are tempted to rebuild it check if the crank is bent. It took a lot of force to break those rods.
Nice boat anchor!
Hi Keith, the compressor might not have worked out but the camera work, lighting and sound on this video was outstanding! Like super HD! Thanks!
Keith, did a little digging. This place has at least one of the connecting rods. If the only damage is in the skirts on the piston, you can trim it off and put in a new connecting rod. They're a bit spendy but cheaper than a new head. Good luck!
www.compressorpartsstore.com/LeRoi-Westinghouse-Wayne-Parts-s/27.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=27&show=20&page=2
If I had the tools (I certainly have the time), I might try machining new pistons and rods and endcaps from either raw stock or actually casting blanks from some kind of backyard foundry setup.
Please start your next project by cleaning it first. I hate working/seeing things worked on that are dirty and getting the work area and tool needlessly dirty.
Degrease & a pressure washer would have made that a better job
A man with your skills could make a couple of pistons and con rods. A good project for UA-cam.
Honestly, the Pistons look salvageable to me. The little damage on the skirts are not going to make it fail i dont think. Shouldnt be that hard to make new conrods, i know youtubers that do that kind of stuff with a drillpress and a handfile. The conrods dont need to be forged or anything fancy, they aint going in a 1500hp supra. Get some ground steel and shape them a little, drill and ream some acurate holes in them and split them in half and its pretty much done. Its not impossible, just a matter of how far you want to take this rebuild.
Still something you do just because you can... not necessarily because it's a good idea. But I would like to see it. :)
Somebody could burn out some rod blanks or water cut them. I agree that the pistons could prolly be salvaged.
Looks like a good boat anchor to me.
That looks like the same air compressor that was installed in our shop just after I started working there. Ours was a horizontal tank instead of vertical. We had a phase drop out and ruined the motor just after it was installed. Outside of filters and oil, that was the only thing that was done in the 35 years that I worked there. It was still running the last time I was there for a visit.
Scrap It now before you waste any more time or money !! Thanks for the vid, Cliff
i'd fix it because i hate all the new high speed noisy compressors.
Consider: Size and fit your own pistons and rods then make your own bearings to fit the crank. Junk yards are full of junked old motors with pistons and rods everywhere. If the measurements work, so will the part. Bo.
The next step is clear ... SCRAP YARD. The folks at the steel plant will make something new out of the mess.
Keep us updated,I’d like to see it brought back to life.
Air filter maintenance was the cause of the failure it starved for air and burnt its own oil
fishingsgreat makes sense!
Clogged or rather seized valves ?
I rebuilt an Ajax two stage pump many years ago, the parts were quite expensive (and they were available) I don't remember if you checked the bottom of the tank out when you got it. See if that is significantly rusted. If good, I'd put a Harbor Freight two stage pump on it and run it!
That compressor is worth exactly what you paid for it.
HI KEITH we all know you are a machinest and have tools to go along with the trade but do you really have the time and money to tackle this project all the people on youtube that wants you to rebuild it just for there entertainment i havent read a word about sending any money to you to help in cost also it is real easy to spend your money then theres so all in all you do what you want to you make the call for KEITH i also know that you might think being a machinest will probably kill your rateing with some people if you dont fix it in the long run its just opinions and you know the story about opinions anyway that is just my thoughts you thought i was going to say opinion ha ha ha talk to later and as always GODBLESS larry
Oh dear! Reminds me of the time I forgot to tighten and lock the oil pump drive pinion on my Norton (yes, I know!) 705 fastback .... blew up at speed on what you'd call a narrow Interstate one dark and wet Sunday night. It's a miracle - quite literally - that I'm still here. BobUK.
Keith, found this video while looking at a possible overhaul on my compressor. I have a Dresser 5000 two stage that doesn’t have much suction, but does seem to have outlet pressure when turning by hand on the bench. I also found the main check valve completely eroded away, which is cause for concern.
I plan to pull the head to see what is going on. Found a place in PA that has parts for Dresser.
Why do you have to “buy parts”? Do you not have the tooling and ability to “make” pistons and connecting rods? I would love to see the “how to do it” videos....... Especially if that head is worth as much as you quoted. You always talk about machining projects, why not make this into one?
HI KIETH make a trotline weight of it i enjoy your videos keep making them talk to you later and GODBLESS larry
What's the bottom of the tank look like?
My thought also. It would be a shame to spend the time and money to fix the compressor only to find the tank is rotted and unsafe. Given the state of the pump, I'd definitely get the tank safety checked before proceeding.
Find a auto piston that will fit and make the rodsRon in Ohio. The scrap yard is your friend
I have a Dresser pump and they are a lifetime air compressor when maintained properly. Dresser was bought out by LeROI and some parts are available through LeROI dealers. I would rebuild it if I were you.
I hope the parts are around because that is a good compressor motor. I wish I had one like that. Good lick!
I just thought I'd say that I'm a little disappointed that the Vintage Machinery guy isn't going to fix the vintage compressor. I know it doesn't have the romantic and nostalgia value that a steam locomotive has, but it's still cool old-time machinery. Maybe you can find someone willing to give it a try. I thought you'd be re-casting the pistons and connecting rods with your new (ish) furnace. You have one impressive machine shop at your disposal.
I'd like to see this rebuilt. This is vintage machinery isn't it? Of course if it isn't worth it that's understood. I think it will be better than most replacement pumps.
Compressor parts are extremely expensive. It would probably cost more to replace these parts than to purchase a new two stage compressor. The crankshaft bearings and races probably need to be replaced and the heads likely need rebuilt too,more added costs.
If it was rare it would maybe be worth to repair it, but honestly it is not worth it. That is only the bottom half maybe the valves are seized as well. Your time would be better spent elsewhere.
Thanks for the insight keith, not worth repairing
Heck, for the kind of money you'd need to replace it I would make new rods and like others have said the pistons may be repairable. If they aren't salvageable then making new ones from billet can't be that hard with the old ones to copy from. Time is one of those things that can't be replaced so maybe not worth it in that respect, but it's good content and as a viewer I'd love to see it.
I bolt such bases to handy scrap metal then clamp those as required to make wrasslin' easier.
No pneumatic or cordless or corded impact wrenches for the teardown? (Wise way with old machines is break torque by hand if that's practical then use impacts to run the fasteners, only breaking torque by impact on obviously resistant fasteners.
I've disassembled engines and equipment I knew were scrap for the education and recommend other do likewise. Many compressor parts (Saylor-Beall are an American made example) are still readily available from the maker. Otherwise Ebay may be a source. I'd Ebay the good parts if a different pump is planned.
I can see a long series of videos in which you make new pistons, rods, turn the crank etc. Its a video bonanza!!!!
Just shows you that somewhere out in industrial land is a maintenance man who is just a jackass to say the least. Those type that would always say "FORK THE COMPANY" and all they really did was "FORK THEMSELVES" out of a job. Am sure you can repair the item if you choose to do so. They just do not make compressors like that anymore unless you pay and arm and a leg. Am sure you will make a great decision. Keep up the great work too.
I just saw this. I tried to do a little, and this may or may not help. Look under "Leroi Dresser or Dresser Rand for possible parts. Could it be that Rand by itself is cross compatible with Dresser. I've seen some compressors that were labeled purely as Rand. This might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresser_Industries Both are part of Siemens. I have no idea of what the prices are, but if you also have the motor and it's in good shape, you might want to consider it. A new compressor, 2 stage, 5ph could run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $900-1400.
Not too surprising considering the buildup of dirt on the exterior of the pump & the filthy air filter. Looks like a lack of PM, aka laziness. I change & check the oil on my 2 stage Quincy regularly. Too big an investment to neglect Simple maintenance. If you can't get parts or they're too pricey to make it worth wild, you might consider looking for a Quincy or other quality pump ?
Cost of pistons, rods, gaskets (and ridge-reamers, if you don't have ones in those sizes) versus the value of an equivalent (capacity, quality) used compressor unit. All that tempered by the risk of thus far undisclosed other damages (bent crank, crank journals, trashed main bearings, distorted crankcase, re-boring cylinders). When both big-ends seize up sufficiently to snap the rods, many bad things can happen. Personally, I would be leery of investing much more time in this (even research time), much less investing money.
I think a rebuild kit is around 200 dollars,,well worth the investment,,because you have nothing in it anyway,,check the bore for out of round,,,and be sure to hone it to seat new rings,,,as I said,,,it was a well built expensive unit new,,,,dam, those piston are huge,,,what is the CFM rating?
I'm in a similar situation. Much smaller compressor but on conrod broke. Everything else is just fine. I am having trouble getting the spare part as it has oddball dimensions.
Is it viable to simply mill one from the same material (aluminum)? If so, should I be making two of the same part for balancing reasons?
My first thought is it will cost more to repair than you can buy a brand new one for ! if you could find Used parts or another used one you might be able to make a good one from the 2
.... but chances are it's junk ! but you don't know if you don't look ! besides the price was right !!! LOL....
Mill your own rods. The pistons can be cleaned up, just deburr the skirts of the damaged pistons.
Yeah, but you can fix it right?
Keith, i have a two cylinder air brake compressor that i had to get an adapter made to use a John Deere pulley of some sort on, and its a very nice pump. It has a water cooled head on it, so I'll need to figure out someth on that. Ive had it for a while now, but do have plans for it.
crank can be reground ring,s not to badbut pistons brgs another problem these old heavy compressors run forever if taken care of i prefer quincy or kellog american they are the best my motto buy once for lifetime of hot air incidently i still have my dad opertiona antique quincy still makes 200 plus press.
Making new pistons and rods from scratch and polishing the crank would make an amazing video series. Hint, hint. ;)
YES !!!!!
You didn't comment on one thing I observed on your tear down. The rod break on the large cylinder was an old break with a lot of oil and dirt on it. The break on the small piston was a fresh break. They had been operating the unit with a thrown rod for quite some time until it threw the second rod. I bet it didn't pump worth a flip with no first stage pumping and the second stage having to suck through the first stage valves to get air. As you decided it was probably to expensive to fix.
If you don't fix it, everybody is unsubscribing.
It would be a big project, but I'd love to see you make new pistons and connecting rods...after all, you do have a machine shop. Not worth it financially, but would have lots of educational and entertainment value. And you'd have the trickest hotrod air compressor on UA-cam. :)
I totally agree
That's gotta be a downer. But I believe in looking on the bright side. It's repairable.
Aside from the busted piston rods, the state of the air filter alone is a good indication that the previous owner didn't do a damn minute's worth of maintenance on it. I don't understand these numb-nuts suggesting a refurb. Bin the whole thing, not worth the time or money to fix someone else's junk.
Has anyone removed the crank? I need to remove the rear bearing to free each rod upon removal. Limited space, (heat)?
Keith take a look at the web site oemaircompressor.com/LeroiDresser-ReciprocatingPartsandRebuildKits.aspx
I would reuse the pistons get some new rods put it together and let run
THERE'S your problem!
It shit-the-bed...
That'll just buff out, Keith.
My experience with pistons is that manufactures buy pistons from piston suppliers . Example some Fords and GM engines use the same pistons just different pin heights. Same with rings. I would consider either looking for a close replacement and then machine them to fit or make new ones from billet aluminum. Steel rods of course could also be made. It would be a great project for You Tube. In the old days nothing got thrown away it got repaired.
I totally agree, I done that on an oldd Ingersoll rand compressor and it still serve me very well 30 years after this rebuild
If fixed, I suspect it'll end up like King Arthur's battle ax... handle replaced three times & head twice. My vote? Unceremoniously lose the thing and don't look back. I bet it was run decades with that oil & air filter; and likely knocked for years. Cylinders & remaining bearings (if any) are almost surely oversize, crank might be bent, case tweaked, who knows. The possibilities are infinite, and some may not manifest themselves till you've invested tons of money, time & effort... plus you'll be without a decent compressor the whole while. A Pandora's box if there ever was; life's too short...
Hey, you have a machine shop, make the parts! :)
Looks like a quality American made unit. Unlike todays junk it's totally re-buildable. I think I saw an I.D. tag. It's most likely outlived 3 Chinese compressors. It deserves a rebuild. Besides it would make a great video for folks to learn from.
That is a great compressor and i would love to see you repair it
It was never serviced as usual , people never think of the air compressor as one of there exspenves tools .....
probably a workplace, no-one was paid extra to service it, it just ran until it failed,
I would have pressure washed it first and used some power tools to save us all some time.
OEM Compressor parts 16:17 16:18
Looks like my Westinghouse 3YC
That thing overheated, seized up and snapped the conrod
Project? Make your own pistons and rods? I can recommend a good machinist.. 😉
Keith, it seems you have some feed stock for cast iron work in the "new" foundry.
Eli D.
I have a pump just like this one. Mine has a stuck valve.
That one looks to be at least 30 or more years old. Maybe 40.
Dresser Industries merged into Halliburton 20 years ago. Then Halliburton sold the "non-oil-patch" equipment portions to GE. Thus ended yet-another 100+ y/o company.
Short of sand blasting, I don't see any large consumers of air in your shop. Why not run a 1 to 2 hp compressor and call it a day? If you need more air for blasting, have a second unit you can turn on in parallel to feed the need. 95% of the time, do you really want to be starting a huge compressor and filling a large volume of air so you can have a little spritzing air or impact off a few bolts? It would seem multiple smaller units with multiple tanks you can valve in and out as necessary would be the lower cost/lower energy way to go in a non-production shop setting. Always enjoy your excellent content, even when things don't go as planned. It's life.
Northern Tool also has brand new pumps
It's easy to get tune-up parts from LeRoi Dresser, but pistons and cranks are another story altogether. Just the tune-up kit with unloader and valve rebuild, gaskets, seals, and bearings is about $500
15036742744 might have parts
ATTENTION ! When disassembling the high pressure cylinder head, make sure that there is no more pressure on the high pressure side! So do not loosen head with completely disassembled bolts. !!! (Good old compressor )