Air Compressor Gaskets Question

[Workstead]

I picked up a 30 year old Speedaire 2HP compressor that needs some TLC.

It needs reed valves that I can get from Grainger (Speedaire is their house brand) and they are priced about right. However the gaskets are very expensive, if they are available.

My question is this: can I make the 3 gaskets needed for the head and body. Someone has replaced the original gaskets when they took it apart but I wonder if I can use cork or the heavy paper gasket material? If so should I use some gasket compound also?

The compressor has a 165 psi max and the regulator is set to shut off at 135 psi.

The pump has 2 cylinders and is driven by a 2 HP Dayton motor.

Thanks,

Clem

 

[Bird]

Clem, I'm not familiar with that compressor, but I'd say you probably can make the gaskets, but personally, I'd buy the OEM gaskets.

 

[Workstead]

Clem, I'm not familiar with that compressor, but I'd say you probably can make the gaskets, but personally, I'd buy the OEM gaskets.

Thanks Bird.

I tend to agree that oem parts are best but the valves are $19 and the gaskets are about $70 if they can get them. I don't know whether any of the oher parts are good or not, until I get some air flowing.

I thought I would replace the valves and if the whole unit works I would then replace the gaskets, if necessary.

Since I have never worked on a compressor I didn't know what type of material would work for the gaskets.

Clem

 

[Bird]

Clem, I haven't worked on a lot of them, but a few and different ones use different material. If I didn't want to buy OEM gaskets, I'd try to take it apart carefully, see if the old gaskets could be reused, and whether they could or not, it would let me see the material, then I could go try to find comparable material to cut new gaskets. I think that would work, in most cases. Of course, I've rebuilt DeVilbiss oilless compressors which used something that looked like oddly shaped round rubber gaskets that fit into grooves; i.e., like o-rings, but bigger and oddly shaped, and for that kind of gaskets, I don't know of any way to fix them without the OEM gaskets.

 

[sandman2234]

I would imagine that they aren't cork or paper. Probably copper or some sort of wafered steel, or at least with a steel ring. Nothing cheap about them and probably for a reason...
David from jax

 

[Bird]

David, I wasn't thinking about that. If that's the kind of gaskets it has, I'd hope the old ones were reusable because, if not, I don't know that you have any choice but to buy new OEM gaskets.

 

[Workstead]

Sandman and Bird,

Someone must have taken this compressor apart and replaced at least one of the gaskets. The one between the base and the piston housing. They replaced it with some rubber type material. The two at the top between the valve housings look like the originals, but there are in tough shape and missing some pieces.

There are no grooves for the gaskets, just smooth cast iron surfaces.

Clem

 

[tommu56]

We need an odd size head type gasket for a repair part at work we looked at these.
Spiral Wound Gaskets, Spiralwound, Spiral wound, Spirals - Mercer Gasket & Shim

The spiral gasket they were too thick then the fork lift mechanic said lets cannibalize a head gasket for one of the trucks it just happen to have the same id as the old one a little trimming and Rube Goldburg would have been proud.

that got us through till we could fix her right.

for those wont know who Rube is.
Rube Goldberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

the lower gasket should be only an oil type seal permatex should have some thing to replace it.


check sears for parts their compressors heads look exactly like speedairs

tom

 

[Workstead]

We need an odd size head type gasket for a repair part at work we looked at these.
Spiral Wound Gaskets, Spiralwound, Spiral wound, Spirals - Mercer Gasket & Shim
.
.
.

the lower gasket should be only an oil type seal permatex should have some thing to replace it.


check sears for parts their compressors heads look exactly like speedairs

tom

Tom,

Good input on the lower gasket. The one that was in there looks like thin rubber. I'll check with the local compressor repair shop and see if they have some gasket material that will work, at least temporarily.

If they don't have the gaskets or material, I'll check Sears.

Clem

 

[ThomasH]

Speedaire is a brand that was made by the W. R. Brown company until about 15 years ago, and Devilbiss bought them. You might check their parts site at Devilbiss Parts page with Ex-Cell and Porter Cable listings. and see if they list parts for it.

Tom Hutton

 

[banjodunn]

G'day if you want to make a gasket to try it out use exhaust manifold gasket material the one that is like a heavy paper compound not the steel one you should be able to buy it at a good auto spare parts place i have done this as a get out of strife fix and have had it last for nearly twelve months (had the new gasket in shed for eleven months just never seem to find the time) but this will work to try it out, also i would cut the cut out back to 120 psi won't notice any difference in performance but less stress on compressor. Good luck with it all

 

[Workstead]

Speedaire is a brand that was made by the W. R. Brown company until about 15 years ago, and Devilbiss bought them. You might check their parts site at Devilbiss Parts page with Ex-Cell and Porter Cable listings. and see if they list parts for it.

Tom Hutton

Tom,

I checked a number of parts and got nothing. I'll call next week to see if they can navigate their parts listings.

Clem

 

[Workstead]

G'day if you want to make a gasket to try it out use exhaust manifold gasket material the one that is like a heavy paper compound not the steel one you should be able to buy it at a good auto spare parts place i have done this as a get out of strife fix and have had it last for nearly twelve months (had the new gasket in shed for eleven months just never seem to find the time) but this will work to try it out, also i would cut the cut out back to 120 psi won't notice any difference in performance but less stress on compressor. Good luck with it all

Jon,

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like you have "been there, done that."

Experience is a good instructor. Good advice to follow to see how everything works.

Thanks,

Clem