No one? Am I the only one who has kept their old Sears compressor alive? Surely not…

 

I've got an older C-man compressor that was built by DeVilbiss, and the only thing I've had to fix on it so far is a nylon washer inside the regulator. Mine cracked, and you can't buy individual parts (just the whole regulator), so I made one out of a coffee can top. Works great.

I say this because that sleeve you have is just a slice of tubing, and seems like a super easy thing to make. All you would need is to find the proper size tubing. You can get silicone tubing online all day long for cheap… a few bucks would probably score you enough for a lifetime

Cheers,
Brad

 

I say this because that sleeve you have is just a slice of tubing, and seems like a super easy thing to make. All you would need is to find the proper size tubing. You can get silicone tubing online all day long for cheap… a few bucks would probably score you enough for a lifetime

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix

Thanks for the response Brad.

Actually it's more than just a slice of tubing. It's a formed seal with lip and everything. It's more like… a slice of tube folded back into itself so that a cross section would be a "V" shape. Sortof.

The funny thing is that I had saved the old one to remind myself to order a new one. So I crammed both the recently broken one, and the old broken one into the cavity and screwed the nut down over both, and it seems to seal. I'll see how long that lasts…

 

I recently rebuild my oilless DeVillbiss compressor and in sourcing the parts, found that these compressor heads all are sourced from a small set of third-party standard units.

Unfortunately the orange/red silicon seals for the 3/8" air tubes that joined the heads were either not available or expensive. One parts vendor told me that they just use a standard brass nipple/compression ring fitting. The male threaded end screwed in to the unthreaded head hole when the seal resided, it went in easily enough and they also told me to use the "permanent" red locktight on the fitting threads which effectively made them into a single unit (24 hour dry time before using).

Worked perfectly! I just trimmed off the "bump" on the air tubes (about 1/4") and slid them into the compression end of the brass.

 

Unfortunately the orange/red silicon seals for the 3/8" air tubes that joined the heads were either not available or expensive. One parts vendor told me that they just use a standard brass nipple/compression ring fitting. The male threaded end screwed in to the unthreaded head hole when the seal resided, it went in easily enough and they also told me to use the "permanent" red locktight on the fitting threads which effectively made them into a single unit (24 hour dry time before using).

Worked perfectly! I just trimmed off the "bump" on the air tubes (about 1/4") and slid them into the compression end of the brass.

- splintergroup

Thanks for the information!

That sounds like that kit I linked to in my first post. Did you source the compression fitting at the local hardware store, or buy a kit online?

 

Thanks for the information!

That sounds like that kit I linked to in my first post. Did you source the compression fitting at the local hardware store, or buy a kit online?

- Underdog

Sorry! I didn't notice that link.

That is the same place I got all my rebuild parts, good prices and service.

They told me they didn't sell the kits anymore so I found a set of fittings on Amazon. The parts are definately a hardware store item, just a lot cheaper on line.

 

I've got a Craftsman that's at least 40 yrs old and a little one that's about 15 yrs. old. Both are running strong and I've never had any issues with them. Both also have a ton of hours on them. I've built houses, decks, roofs, and used them in the shop. I'm wondering what one you have. Mine are both oil though.

 

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They told me they didn t sell the kits anymore so I found a set of fittings on Amazon. The parts are definately a hardware store item, just a lot cheaper on line.

- splintergroup

How do you manage that?
This kit is listed at $8.95 plus shipping.
But my local Ace has a 3/8 male x 3/8 female fitting for $4.99.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/plumbing/pipe-fittings/brass-fittings/4338299

 

How do you manage that?
This kit is listed at $8.95 plus shipping.

But my local Ace has a 3/8 male x 3/8 female fitting for $4.99.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/plumbing/pipe-fittings/brass-fittings/4338299

- Underdog

Yeah, I wanted to order the seals but they were out of stock on the higher heat versions I needed, I asked about the kit and that was when they told me tehy no longer offered it. They told me to just use the fitting you referenced plus the "red" loctite.

I did a lookup on Amazon and the price has gone up! The ACE price is cheaper and you can get the Loctite there as well.

You just don't want to over tighten it.

 

I already have the Loctite, so that's a plus.
As for overtightening… that's always a danger for me even when things are an exact fit!

 

My oilless compressor is a large one, but next time I'm going with oiled 8^)

The noise level difference is #1 in my opinion. My compressor just got really loud over time so I though I'd tear it apart and see what's the what. The cylinders were deeply scored. These pumps are so minimal and simple, I can see why they command the low price market place. Another gripe is I have a "special" washer that fits between the two connecting rod bearing on the crankshaft. Flat washer with a rim that fits into the bearing races. It seems this is a typical wear out item and mine was showing no love, but they no longer make them so the price went from
$6 to north of $60 (ouch). Needless to say that when the pump screams again, I'm going top dog.

 

My oilless compressor is a large one, but next time I m going with oiled 8^)

The noise level difference is #1 in my opinion. My compressor just got really loud over time so I though I d tear it apart and see what s the what. The cylinders were deeply scored. These pumps are so minimal and simple, I can see why they command the low price market place. Another gripe is I have a "special" washer that fits between the two connecting rod bearing on the crankshaft. Flat washer with a rim that fits into the bearing races. It seems this is a typical wear out item and mine was showing no love, but they no longer make them so the price went from
$6 to north of $60 (ouch). Needless to say that when the pump screams again, I m going top dog.

- splintergroup

Yeah. I left mine on once when I went on vacation. Evidently it popped this stupid seal while I was gone and ran continuously until it threw a rod. I came back to find that it wouldn't run. Found pieces of the rod on the floor. Pretty easy to rebuild though.

I don't know how much longer I can keep it running though. Guess I'll see. It's lasted a looooong time. I bought this thing back when I was a young mechanic…. Boy. that brings back memories I'd rather not think about! Ha ha!