My gas powered compressor that I’ve been using for the last dozen years or so has finally given up.<!—-><!—-> <!—->
It was a Colman with a Honda motor. I was mostly happy with it, EXCEPT in cold (or even cool) weather. It could be the hardest starting piece of
I ever had.<!—-><!—->
More often then not, it was easier to pull the belt off (to the compressor) and start the Honda, let it fully warm up, shut it off and slip the belt back on, than start it back up.<!—-> <!—->
I’m looking for anybody’s experience with a compressor that is less temperamental for <!—-> <!—-><!—->Michigan<!—-><!—-> winters. <!—-><!—->
<!—->&
#160; <!—->
Thank You, Terry <!—-><!—->
Replies
Michigan winters will make anything temperamental, so I've heard.
bump
I've been known to be a little testy.
Terry
Maybe you need a block heater.
I remember working on a house one winter in Michigan where the electric compressor wouldn't start in the morning! (But we were drawing electricity for it from a neighbor's house quite a ways away.) I always dreaded it when the boss got out his gasoline powered compressor--very noisy. One day while putting it away, he let his end slip and rolled the exhaust pipe onto another guys forearm. Guy said he was going to tattoo the bosses initials in the circle it burned into the skin!
Put synthetic oil like Mobil 1 in the compressor. You'll be happy.
I've tied a number of different oils, played with heaters trying to warm the compressor before starting, mostly with limited success.
Ideally would be a unit designed with cold in mind.
I've thought of rigging up some form of a slip belt and/or clutch that would allow me to start the moter first and then engage the compressor - I'm just not that clever.
Sounds like I'll be replacing it with something similar to what I had and keep tweaking with it looking for the hot setup.
Terry
We have cold weather in central ny AS WELL AS mi. wE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, IT IS EXTREEMLY EASY TO FLOOD OUT THE MOTOR. wE HAVE USED (sorry), every different combo we could find, it is a struggle no matter which one we have used. We use Yamaha generators and never have a problem starting them, so we have come to the conclusion it is the Honda motor. One thing we have done when it gets below 10degrees f, is to build a simply box, put the generator in it with the compressor and let it run for 10 minutes, it helps.
Assuming you have a snow blower, how to you keep that operating?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
well you could try electric compressors.. If your generator is big enough it will run the compressor as well..
On hard mornings we've placed our compressor right next to the exhaust of a truck. After 5 minutes of the several hundred degree air coming out the compressor fires up.
Not the most practical but it does work (and is better than hand nailing all day long).
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
small heat gun aimed at the compressor's crank case for a bit or two...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
wrap the crank case with thermostatically controlled heat tape....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thank you all for the various suggestions.
<!----><!----> <!---->
frenchy – I have electric compressors and they will operate off my 6500w Honda generator. They can be just as much a strain to start in the cold as the gas powered.
<!----> <!---->
Frammer52 – I have also played with tarping over the compressor and placing a heater under there and that will work, just looking to see if someone has discovered a brand or setup that is simpler. I have absolute faith in the Honda motors. On the days when I gave up and pulled the belt off the pulleys, the Honda would start right up. If I gave it a chance to warm up a bit, it would be able to turn the cold compressor over after I restarted it.
<!----> <!---->
JonBlackmore – Haven’t tried using the exhaust yet, I’ll have to try that. The magnetic block heater is probably the way I’ll be going. I’ve just been using portable electric heaters against the compressor – just sometimes it takes forever to get it warmed up enough.
<!----> <!---->
IMERC – The heat gun would probably be quicker and more concentrated then the heaters I have been using.
<!----> <!---->
norskeboy – My compressor does have an unloader valve. And that works for most of the cold weather. The problem seems to be that the compressor gets so stiff when its really cold that opening it just isn’t enough. That Thomas compressor interests me. I’ve wondered about the direct drive setup and how well it works in the cold. My first portable compressor was a Thomas “pancakeâ€.
<!----> <!---->
highfish – The problem is in the compressor, not the motor. I will probably end up repairing it before all is said and done at any rate. I’ll still be getting another gas compressor, just adding to my “fleet†of compressors. No snowblower – tractor w/blade that sits in a barn with a block heater.
<!----> <!---->
Thank again for all the advise.
<!----> <!---->
Terry
Have you tried opening a valve, to release the pressure in the tank, if there is any? If it's empty, the compressor may have a pressure relief valve that's sticking. My Rol-Aire had a problem with that and since I cleaned it, it has been great.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
That is my thought. I always have to open the pressure relief valve on the tank and hold it open for a few minutes until the compressor oil warms up some.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
We all do, or otherwise it will keep stalling the motor.
Heck mentioned a block heater, or maybe try a 12v heater that you place near the compressor and run while driving to the job?
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
We build houses in the Mn. Arrowhead (N. shore of Lake Superior). I bought a Thomas TG-550H Renegade last fall. started framing a place in Dec. used the unit every day all winter with no starting issues.
The compressor is Honda powered but opening the unloader & letting the engine warm up for 5 or 10 min.before letting compressor pressure up worked fine. By the way it is a direct drive pump, not sure if that makes a difference or not.Plus Thomas are made in USA. We also use Yamaha generators but have fried 2 Rol-Airs in the last 3 yrs.
A happy Thomas owner
Does your compressor have a pressure bypass on the idle control circuit? Assuming you are using a gas compressor, plugging in a heat tape or block heater isn't really all that handy so the vehicle exhaust trick is actually a pretty useful trick.
Synthetic compressor oil and motor oil is a good place to start, Northern Hydraulic should carry a centrifugal clutch that might fit your compressor that would do the trick for startup and bypass the compressor if you don't have the pressure relief already installed.
Edit: Sorry for poor reading comprehension - Honda is the only way to go, most likely any brand compressor will outlast even the Honda if you take care of it. I like IR products but we cheaped out and bought a Puma brand at the local farm supply - so far so good... John Deere paints someone's green and it has a generator coil as well as a compressor - might look at that.
Edited 10/25/2008 9:36 pm by Haystax
When was the last tune-up? What failed, and why not re-build it? Unless it threw a rod, and even if it did, it could still be repaired. If the cylinder is scored, you can have a machine shop bore it and install a sleeve. If hte piston had wear or a hole, that can be replaced, too.
My outside the box thinking would suggest change the compressior for an oil less model.
There's still work in Michigan?
There's still work in Michigan?
After last winter being my slowest ever and early spring starting slow, since early May I've been swamped.
Terry
I'm glad to hear that!