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converting an air cond pump to a compressor
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:48 am
by cookie monster
have just got hold of an air conditioning compressor(rotary clutch type) with the view to converting it to an air pump.
have got a nice little space for it above my alternator and will be able to fabricate some bkts to mount it.
going to use an arb pressure switch attached to my 8 ltr receiver, to let it cycle on and off.
the only thing i am wondering about is how to rig up the suction side of the pump.
should i run a hose to a 'dry' area of the engine bay and fit some sort of filter?
or a filter straight onto the suction fitting?
any suggestions would be appreciated
cookie monster
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:02 am
by BundyRumandCoke
You can buy the alloy filters that fit onto air compressors. I use one of these, made up a bracket, and bolted it to the firewall. Then just use a length of tube to feed to the suction side of the compressor.
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:17 am
by ausyota
A good idea for the suction hose is to tap it into your air cleaner box so it draws air through your engines air filter.
Paul.
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:27 pm
by DNA Off Road
How are you planning to lubricate it? Grease or oil?
Yes best to put the intake into the air cleaner if you can - the cleaner the air - the longer it will last.
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:18 am
by Woop
A lawnmower air filter also works fine.
Nick
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:44 pm
by Old Yella
I have a set up which is very simple and it works fine.
I run a foam filter on the inlet, and about 30cm of annealed copper pipe out of the outlet because if you run the hose and clamp it it gets too hot, and soft and comes off. I also run a T piece with a 125psi blow off valve and an air line running to the rear off the tray.
There is a plug on the top of the compressor take that out drill a hole in it, tap a thread and fit a grease nipple to it. this is what I use for lubrication.
I regularly inflate the tyrwes of 5 or more vehicles on most outings and can reset the bead on tyres and inflate 35's from 0 psi 35psi in about 4 minutes.
This is my second compressor with different lubrication set ups and this has been working well for about 18 months with no probs.
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:53 pm
by phippsy
Any ideas on how one could be put into a lux with air, steer and no room???
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:19 pm
by vraamm
i think i need a filter on mine now after reading these posts! Reconditioned it once in almost 10yrs, occasionally squirt some oil in it. air intake just has a piece of cloth over it, which i change every now and then. Outlet plumbed to a T piece, one side goes to pressure gauge in dash with switch for clutch, other side goes into roll cage. good for 200+psi, enough for my (small) tyres & real quick.
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:39 am
by cookie monster
Old Yella wrote:I have a set up which is very simple and it works fine.
I run a foam filter on the inlet, and about 30cm of annealed copper pipe out of the outlet because if you run the hose and clamp it it gets too hot, and soft and comes off. I also run a T piece with a 125psi blow off valve and an air line running to the rear off the tray.
There is a plug on the top of the compressor take that out drill a hole in it, tap a thread and fit a grease nipple to it. this is what I use for lubrication.
I regularly inflate the tyrwes of 5 or more vehicles on most outings and can reset the bead on tyres and inflate 35's from 0 psi 35psi in about 4 minutes.
This is my second compressor with different lubrication set ups and this has been working well for about 18 months with no probs.
THANKS FOR THAT. GREAT INFO. WILL DO THE GREASE NIPPLE MOD ETC.
COOKIE MONSTER
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:05 pm
by HIL01X
phippsy wrote:Any ideas on how one could be put into a lux with air, steer and no room???
I have one. Put it under the power steering pump
No good if you have crossover steering though

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:18 pm
by high n mighty
That seems to hang a lil low there. I wonder if there is a higher point to mount it, I will have the same issues unless I get rid of my aircon cause it has a stuffed bearing anyway that I couldn't be bothered replacing. The condenser is also full of mud but I keep wondering if it will be suitable as an engine oil cooler to run with my turbo.
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:52 pm
by HIL01X
I only had to bend the tin guard down about 10mm at the most.
With an intercooled turbo under the bonnet there is nowhere else for it, and I must have looked at it for 6 months before I worked it out.

Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:21 am
by Screwy
Old Yella wrote:I have a set up which is very simple and it works fine.
I run a foam filter on the inlet, and about 30cm of annealed copper pipe out of the outlet because if you run the hose and clamp it it gets too hot, and soft and comes off. I also run a T piece with a 125psi blow off valve and an air line running to the rear off the tray.
There is a plug on the top of the compressor take that out drill a hole in it, tap a thread and fit a grease nipple to it. this is what I use for lubrication.
I regularly inflate the tyrwes of 5 or more vehicles on most outings and can reset the bead on tyres and inflate 35's from 0 psi 35psi in about 4 minutes.
This is my second compressor with different lubrication set ups and this has been working well for about 18 months with no probs.
Do u run an oil/air seperator in your line?
If not, how do u get the grease and rubbish out of the tank as it will biuld up and start going into your tyres
screwy

Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 10:04 pm
by Old Yella
Screwy_ScrewBall wrote:Old Yella wrote:I have a set up which is very simple and it works fine.
I run a foam filter on the inlet, and about 30cm of annealed copper pipe out of the outlet because if you run the hose and clamp it it gets too hot, and soft and comes off. I also run a T piece with a 125psi blow off valve and an air line running to the rear off the tray.
There is a plug on the top of the compressor take that out drill a hole in it, tap a thread and fit a grease nipple to it. this is what I use for lubrication.
I regularly inflate the tyrwes of 5 or more vehicles on most outings and can reset the bead on tyres and inflate 35's from 0 psi 35psi in about 4 minutes.
This is my second compressor with different lubrication set ups and this has been working well for about 18 months with no probs.
Do u run an oil/air seperator in your line?
If not, how do u get the grease and rubbish out of the tank as it will biuld up and start going into your tyres
screwy

No screwy I don't have an oil seperator or a tank.Its not as though I am pumping 20 litres of grease through it a week, I only give it 2 or 3 pumps a month.I regularly have my tyres off my rims cleaning dirt and bits of tree out of the bead and they are clean not oily.
You could improve this
BASIC setup alot, but as it is it is extremely effective.