Air tank on tractor.

[Bedlam]

Just thought I'd put a couple of pictures on to show how I solved a problem .
I often move trailer around the yard, (mostly off road ones). And the tire loose air after months or years. Well I have a portable air tank that I fill, and then use to fill the tires .
I searched And did find a compressor (12V) but the price was more than I wanted to spend right now.
So, my solution was to mount the tank on the tractor. But I was space limited, So I found a used truck air tank form a friend and made this mount for it.
Total cost was 9 Dollars.
The most aggravation? Finding a 1/4 inch ball valve. I went to three local hardware stores, and all didn't go smaller than 1/2 inch. They all recommended using a bushing, which would have worked but I wanted it to remain slim.
I did purchase one 1/4 inch close nipple for $1.69. I thought it was a bit much, and was surprised when I found Home Depot has the nipple for $.49. But even more happy when I saw their ball valves varied from 3/4 down to 1/4...
So Home Depot does do good.
To mount I used the clamps that were stock to hold the lines to the loader, and added some "ears" to it to make a cradle, and halved a bungy cord to secure it. I had some old welding hose around, and used some quick dis connect fittings to hook them up instead of the barbed fittings.I suppose if I were to add a 12 volt compressor, I could use this as a storage tank to it.
Oh the reason why I dint just throw the store bought tank I have into the bucket and use it that was is , old age, I tend to forget whats in the bucket before scooping some dirt. etc.( especially with snow, I don't see it till it thaws in the spring)LOL.
Surely nothing to fancy but fits the need and bill for me.
Allan

 

[Dusty]

Interesting project. How long did it take from start to finish?

Dusty

 

[Bedlam]

How long? well. about a week. LOL
Off and on , here and there, probably an hour and a half.Most of the time outside of actually "doing' it was looking for and finding how to save a buck.Remember I am way cheap.
Am beating myself up over paying the 6 dollars for the valve.I could have use an oil tank valve I had, but dipped into the penney jar..LOL
Its amazing how a small project seems trivial, but ive used it already.
Oh, if anyone has a portable air tank, A tip on filling. set up a connector with both male ends , back to back. Then when you fill just connect it to the compressor, and open valves. You don need to hold it on the tank to fill such as the case with the hand gauge.
Al

 

[Timber]

You can actually mount a compressor cylinder head on you tractors engine like you would and alternator. Change the pulley or the belt and when the tractor runs so does the compressor. Road service trucks are set up this way. It would also let you use air tools far away from power depending on how big a cylinder head you use. Most road service truck use a 2 cylinder but what ever you can make fit

 

[markct]

most service trucks nowdays drive a compressor off the pto, the problem with belt drives is that you cant get enough hp for a compressor to run anything bigger than a half inch impact. to run a impact gun big enough to do roadside tire service or much truck or equipment repair its pretty much gota be off the pto. for just running a small impact or other air tools tho you can tap into a trucks air brake system, or if the truck doesnt have air brakes you can mount an air brake compressor from a larger truck on it, along with the air governor and other associated parts

 

[jwstewar]

most service trucks nowdays drive a compressor off the pto, the problem with belt drives is that you cant get enough hp for a compressor to run anything bigger than a half inch impact. to run a impact gun big enough to do roadside tire service or much truck or equipment repair its pretty much gota be off the pto. for just running a small impact or other air tools tho you can tap into a trucks air brake system, or if the truck doesnt have air brakes you can mount an air brake compressor from a larger truck on it, along with the air governor and other associated parts

I don't agree with this. Dad has done work for years with a compressor driven off a belt off the front of the engine. You might ask what size gun did he use? 1". His last truck that he did this with was a '93 Chevy 1500 with the 4.3 V6. They are still using this truck, but their later trucks have gone to a compressor in the bed just because of cost and speed of repair/replacement. The underhood compressors were so expensive plus required the truck to be running all of the time. Cheaper to just run the small ac engine + saved wear on the truck since sometimes he would need the compressor all day.

Just a little bit about Dad. He will turn 68 on the 29th. He is about 5'10" and weighs about 125 lbs. Has been that skinny forever. When he was working full time a typical day for Dad was changing 4 or 5 semi truck tires and throw a tractor tire or two in for good measure. Once in awhile he would go work on a FWD Log picker down at the local paper plant. I remember him saying it would take a couple of days to change one tire. Dad is still working, just doesn't do too many of the big ones any more. Mostly shows the "young guys" how to do it. He has been down ever since they took him "off the road" about 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[Bedlam]

Actually, I searched with no luck finding. But I more envisioned a small compressor that ran off the PTO. Just big enough to do what Id want. but not be overly heavy etc.Seems that they should make on that wouldn't be much larger than my backhoe hydraulic pump, I guess there isn't much call for something like that.If anyone has links etc Id love to check them out. Thanks
Al

 

[MikeD74T]

Look at "pto compressor" on EBAY -there's 2 listed right now. The John Deere ones appear frequently. MikeD74T

 

[Bedlam]

well, thanks MIKE> ILL check it out.
Al

 

[Timber]

You can use any compressor pump it doesn't have to anything special and just make you own mounting plate

 

[BTDT]

What's the power plug for on the front of your tractor, you have a washer and dryer on that thing?

 

[Bedlam]

Funny thing, After posting this two things happened.
One was I say the pic I posted, and thought I wonder if anyone will see that outlet.
It is a dryer outlet. I use the two angled terminals connected to the battery,
The third is left blank. I then used a three prong pigtail, available at most any good landfill. (code now requires a four prong setup).
Connected the pigtail to a set of used jumper cables, and an m able to just lug it in and jump cars etc.( there store bought connectors are expensive)
The second thing that happened, was not unexpected. It lost air in the tank almost overnight.
The tank was given to me by a "friend". And it has a pin hole leak in it, I just wish this "friend' had told me he thought it was "bad'. I could deal with that.But he has a habit of not telling why a truck company would replace it.LOL
Anyway, Its a pinhole size hole in the tank itself, which seems quite sold . I am thinking drill it out and plug it. But I'm not sure if the inside has deteriorated or not.
Any ideas??
Here is a pic of the tank in testing.
the wife was home and caught me.
Yes first time I filled the tub in a long time.seeding tire leaks etc I think a tub is a requirement in the garage.
If anyone has any ideas let me know..
Guess maybe I should have gone with mounting the store bought tank..

 

[BTDT]

I don't know if these are still available or not, but my dad had a hose with an air chuck on one end and a threaded piece that would screw into the spark plug hole on the other, when he needed air in a tire, he could pull out a spark plug on truck, screw end into spark plug hole, crank truck and air up tire. I think he originally got it at JC Whitney. Kind of primitive but it worked.

 

[Bedlam]

I can almost remember that.
I have rented a compressor that was a six cylinder and converted so it drew air for three of the cylinders.
I wonder if a small lawn mower engine could be adapted to be spun with the PTO shaft.But I don't think id use it enough to go that route. I drilled the leak in the tank out, it was less rusted than I thought. . I threaded it and put in a plug. Hope that fixes the trouble.
Food for thought though.
Al

 

[bx23barry]

A/C compressors make great engine driven air compressors and have an electric clutch already on the pulley.

 

[Bedlam]

I was wondering about an AC pump, and use a pressure relief valve also.
I just sent two cars with AC to the junk yard too. My only remaining one is non ac.. Always seems to be the case, once you get rid of it you need it.I wonder if it was mounted direct drive to PTO how much air would get produced at 540 ? (If I didn't mount it on the engine.)
Seems even if it were small amount , it may be enough to fill a tire , as thats all id be looking for.
Al

 

[Swisher]

Here is one you don't need a tank.

Amazon.com: NorthStar PTO Air Compressor Kit Attaches to Your Tractor for Portable Air: Tools & Hardware

 

[Swisher]

I think I saw one at Northern Tool also.

 

[Bedlam]

well thanks . that looks like just what I envisioned.
Hope the price is what I envisioned too LOL

 

[montanaman]

Just a few ideas from me. The portable air tanks are usually prety cheap to buy and you don't need to worry about what condition they are in if you buy one new. They also have expiration dates on them which is enough to make me nervous!! I'd ignore the dates if you drain it and take good care of it.

Pressure can kill so I'd be carefull fixing a rusty tank.

Don't ask, but years back at a slow day at work, we exploded a 64oz Pepsi bottle and everyone from the office came out to the shop to see what all the noise was. Made a 12 gauge sound like a cap gun. I think we passed it off as a tire blowing or something and I had the hardest time not laughing and wetting myself!

As far as using a car AC compressor for an on board air, I love the idea and have a few on hand if that day ever gets here! You want to use the York compressors because they contain oil in the compressor while many styles have the oil traveling in the system. Use the type without a sump and it won't live long.

I know that older Fords used the York's as well as big trucks and I think Volvo. I'm sure there are other brands that used it too.

Like has been mentioned, you have the built in 12 volt clutch that can be hooked to a pressure switch so it will cycle when needed and won't take any power when it isn't being used. If there is room, under hood would be great but it could be easily built into a self contained 3 point unit as long as you have a 12 volt feed to the back of the tractor.

I had dreams of doing this on my old 78 Chevy K-20 but mother nature got the best of her :-( Very popular in off roading as well as the alternator powered welders.

Ken