I am looking at this air compressor at Tractor Supply - Ingersol 2-stage

[murphy1244]

1958 Quincy... still going.....

.View attachment 346115

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[jimgerken]

Pics of new Champion...
The shipping crate was 7.5 feet tall, so made it seem way bigger than it really is. Still, standing on the palet beside it, I cannot see into the air filter housing.
In the third picture, what is the little tube that runs from the front bearing cap to the cylinder head? Is it a crankcase ventilation tube? I don't see any other crankcase vent anywhere. Seems strange that they would intentionally take the crankcase vapor into the compressed air though, assuming it has some oil mist in it. Maybe I am all wrong. Still left wondering what its there for. Parts list doesnt shed any light on that question either.

 

[BukitCase]

Jim, I'd like to help but champion's site isn't very helpful either - they are data mining so won't tell you much of anything or let you download unless you "register", and I already get 20-30 emails a day from my curiosity -

I looked at my DevAir, and it has no such tube. Made in Canada now, it's same size as yours but different mfg. and pressure lubed, but otherwise about the same other than the (now) $2800 price. Fortunately I bought it a few years ago when it was "only" $1800. Brochure for mine is linked on page 2 of this thread if you wanna compare notes for any reason.

Just a wild (desperate) guess - since your unit is splash lubed, that tube may be a way to lube the valves??!? No clue... Steve

 

[jimgerken]

Thanks Steve.
I sent the question about the mystery tube to the Champion Customer assistance email. We shall see what they say.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Nice compressor, but I'm guessing you went over on the budget a bit?

 

[DXN1EL]

Nice compressor!
The only thing I can think about the tube is that is something to help the motor to start unloaded??????
I know Schrader compressors use a centrifugal unloaded to allow the motor to start with no load on it.

 

[Husaberg]

That is a nice compressor and motor! On my Quincy the motor has 'special' in the horsepower data plate. That tube is for the valve unloader for easier starting. I'm envious.

 

[BukitCase]

Jim, I think Husaberg's right - check out page 2 of the DevAir brochure (on page 2 of this thread) look for "load-free starting" - mine doesn't have this, it has a different type of unloader - looks like yours may have the centrifugal unloader... Steve

 

[Husaberg]

Here is a picture of a centrifugal unloader.


Google Image Result for http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/00031559-00006.png

 

[jimgerken]

Unloader is one theory. But when I look at where it taps into the head, its in the intake tract right after the filter. So it seems to connect the crankcase to the intake tract. Neither of those areas are high pressure, so I don't follow how the tube could unload any pressure. I am sticking with my theory of crankcase vent back into intake for now. No word back from Champion Company yet.
I put an 8 gauge rubber power cord on it and ran it over the weekend. What a nice difference in sound tone compared to my 3450-motored v-twin Puma. With the motor speed cut in half and the compressor at 800 instead of 1400 rpm, its main sound frequency content is mostly lower than the vocal range. WAY less annoying to hear it come up to pressure. And I assume once bolted to concrete through damping pads it may get a little better yet, without the curvy pallet lightly tapping on the floor. It starts and runs just fine on the 30 amp dual breaker and 10 gauge THHN that my old one was using. Motor plate says 20 amps, so assume that 10 gauge (20 feet from panel) and a dual 30 amp breaker is fine, even though the generic instructions that came with it say to use 8 gauge wire. The NEC says THHN 10 gauge must be fused at 30 amps, even though it is rated to carry 40 (weird).