implmex
Diamond
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2002
- Location
- Vancouver BC Canada
Good morning All:
I have a Gardner Denver 2 stage reciprocating compressor vintage 2001 that's recently started acting up.
When I drain it completely and then fill it, it starts lugging badly and the belts squeal at around 60 PSi, then it returns to normal and fills the rest of the way to 160.
Sometimes it does it sometimes not.
It's got 5 ponies and the flywheel speed is getting down to within maybe a couple of hundred RPM.
It's got a 2.5:1 reduction ratio and the nameplate motor speed is 1725
I took the belts off, degreased them and the pulleys, dressed the belts with belt dressing spray, retensioned them and fired it up again.
It's not much better.
The crankcase has oil (recently replaced), I drain the water daily, the compressor turns over with what feels like acceptable compression with free movement at bottom dead center and no evil noises during a manual stroke, the motor spins freely...all seems to be good in that department.
So I don't think it's the crankcase bearings or the motor bearings.
Short of taking the whole thing apart to try to find a problem, any ideas what might be happening.
A stuck delivery valve to the high pressure side maybe?
Are the valves typically accessible from the outside of a recip or do I have to tear the whole goddamn thing apart?
I've never had a 2 stage recip compressor apart...where do I start?
I assume I have to get a gasket kit first before I start undoing bolts.
Do these things have piston rings like a car?
Do the cylinders typically get a hone before the whole works goes back together?
If this is going to be a major undertaking, I'll probably have it serviced by the seller rather than farting about with it myself.
So my question is mostly about what kind of effort this is likely going to be.
Cheers
Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining
I have a Gardner Denver 2 stage reciprocating compressor vintage 2001 that's recently started acting up.
When I drain it completely and then fill it, it starts lugging badly and the belts squeal at around 60 PSi, then it returns to normal and fills the rest of the way to 160.
Sometimes it does it sometimes not.
It's got 5 ponies and the flywheel speed is getting down to within maybe a couple of hundred RPM.
It's got a 2.5:1 reduction ratio and the nameplate motor speed is 1725
I took the belts off, degreased them and the pulleys, dressed the belts with belt dressing spray, retensioned them and fired it up again.
It's not much better.
The crankcase has oil (recently replaced), I drain the water daily, the compressor turns over with what feels like acceptable compression with free movement at bottom dead center and no evil noises during a manual stroke, the motor spins freely...all seems to be good in that department.
So I don't think it's the crankcase bearings or the motor bearings.
Short of taking the whole thing apart to try to find a problem, any ideas what might be happening.
A stuck delivery valve to the high pressure side maybe?
Are the valves typically accessible from the outside of a recip or do I have to tear the whole goddamn thing apart?
I've never had a 2 stage recip compressor apart...where do I start?
I assume I have to get a gasket kit first before I start undoing bolts.
Do these things have piston rings like a car?
Do the cylinders typically get a hone before the whole works goes back together?
If this is going to be a major undertaking, I'll probably have it serviced by the seller rather than farting about with it myself.
So my question is mostly about what kind of effort this is likely going to be.
Cheers
Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining