Air compressor repair

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Hazany

Hazany

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
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288
Loc
Philadelphia
We have a Campbell Housefeld 60 gallon air compressor that supplies air to everything around the shop.
It's 20 years old. It started making a very loud noise when it fills up. It's coming from the cast iron air pump.
I am wondering if anyone has replaced this kind of pump. A new pump is less than $300. A new air compressor is at least $1,000.
Thank you,
Bruce
 
IF the tank (pressure vessel) is sound that might be a good alternative. The problem is that it is near impossible to examine the internal condition of this vessel without specialized equipment to inspect for the internal integrity.

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How can you determine if an air compressor tank is safe?

I've recently learned that old air compressor tanks can catastrophically fail. I can't find anything about the average service life of a tank, but it appears the ones that do explode are typically ...
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All I know is that we have been very good about draining the water most nights or at least once a week.
The piece is bolted to the ground and the saw is somewhat in front of it.
Replacing the pump, if it works, would be a lot less work.
Maybe Home Depot would remove and install a new one. I suppose I can take the old one to a metal recycling place. It weighs 250 pounds!
 
I know a lot about this, I worked in an ASME pressure vessel shop for years. If you can buy a pump from Campbell, that’s the way to go. Granger would be the other alternative, but that’s going to be pricey.

The link provided is good, but several of the posters there are in the ozone. We used to get calls all the time about certifying pressure vessels, or at the least, testing them. Even in the early 90’s our cost would be hundreds of dollars. We’d have to log in into the system so our work ( even just testing) was insured, and then have a pipe fitter or myself rig up the test. And once our insurance company saw the test was going to occur, they v may choose to witness it, another $400-$1200 in 1988. When the rigors of official testing was explained, most folks with a relatively cheap industrial receiver tossed it and went new.

The link also was in error in that stationary tanks are governed by the ASME, OSHA and the states, not the USDOT.

Personally, the most likely failure point is at the drain. I would point that away from folks and bolt the tank down and you’ll probably be okay.
 
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