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Old compressor, unknown manufacturer, maintenance help?

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  • Member since
    June 2009
Posted by Bimmicus on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:22 PM
Thanks folks. I wound up talking to Andrew at Silentaire. It turns out that Silentaire bought out Manoir's original stock 20 years back, so he not only had original manuals to reference but he was able to sell me the air filter assembly that my unit is missing. So, pretty jazzed about that.

I guess all that remains to be seen is whether this dust-choked relic provides decent painting results or not; I think I'll slap a second filter on the airbrush line and hope for the best.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the responses.
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Windy city, US
Posted by keilau on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:53 PM
 MikeV wrote:
I would contact Ernesto at Silentaire as he is the most knowledgable silent compressor technician I know of. Here is their website. Give him a call and explain what your concerns are.

I am almost positive it is as it looks just like my Badger Millionaire and the Silentaire 20.

If you decide not to use Ernesto's service yet, you may find the manual for Silentaire Supersilent compressors useful.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:15 AM
 HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

Probably nothing more than removing that cover which appears to be the inlet filter and give it a cleaning.

The cover on top you don't want to remove. The cover on the side is the electrical connections. The inlet filter on these style compressors is normally mounted on top of the tube that you see the red plug hanging from in the photo.

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:07 AM

Probably nothing more than removing that cover which appears to be the inlet filter and give it a cleaning.

Essentially this is a refrigeration style compressor. There might be a sight glass to indicate internal oil level...for that you'll probably have to remove the blue outer case to see. 

I'd take of the case (blue cover) and give it a good vaccuuming as well as use a brush to remove any dirt and dusty. 

 

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:35 AM

Welcome to the forum. 

I would contact Ernesto at Silentaire as he is the most knowledgable silent compressor technician I know of. Here is their website. Give him a call and explain what your concerns are.

He is a really nice guy with an Italian accent. The pumps in these silent compressors are made in Italy.

http://www.silentaircompressor.com/parts.html

I would imagine it needs the oil changed if it is a oil cooled compressor and it will probably need the air intake filter replaced as well. Do you know if it is an oil filled compressor or not?

I am almost positive it is as it looks just like my Badger Millionaire and the Silentaire 20.

I am not sure but I think Silentaire may have bought out Air Force compressors years ago.

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    June 2009
Old compressor, unknown manufacturer, maintenance help?
Posted by Bimmicus on Monday, June 29, 2009 8:58 PM
Ahoy folks. This is my first post here, and I hope you won't mind if I get right to the questions:

I have a high-end but old and neglected air compressor that I would like to start using again. However, I know nothing of the inner workings of such machines, have no manual for it, and the manufacturer appears to be long gone. I'm hoping someone out there has a similar unit and can tell me what I need to do to keep the thing happy.

The unit is an Air Force silent compressor made by one Manoir International, and is about 25 years old. It has sat disused for the bulk of those years. Some quick snaps for reference at the following links:

http://home.earthlink.net/~superwombat/_uimages/kompressor-01a.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~superwombat/_uimages/kompressor-01b.jpg

To make it brief, I have no idea what I need to do to maintain this thing and I don't want it catching fire or blowing up while I'm using it. I think I may have figured out how to change out the oil but I don't know what the heck to put in it. I see no way to access the air filter or even any sign that one exists. It was totally silent 20 years ago, but is now just ever so slightly audible when it runs.

Does anyone know how to service something like this? Is using a compressor this old even a good idea, or should I just ignore my wallet's screams and shell out for something new?

I would GREATLY appreciate any advice on this.
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