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Compressor motor help

Jigstick

“What’s the matter colonel sanders….chicken?”
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Jul 21, 2017
    2,253
    2,973
    Pittsburgh PA
    The 210v 5hp compressor motor on my Ingersol shit the bed and I’m having a hell of a time finding a replacement. Any ideas of where to look? Tried Grainger but no luck.
     
    Make sure you get one that is the same speed. If i remember right there are 2 common speeds for compressors
     
    How old is the compressor? When mine died after roughly 20 years I figured it was time to replace it. I was not real good at draining the thing and figured I could be pushing my luck. A water test is fairly easy (and safe liquid does not compress like air does and make a 40 gal bomb) if you have a pressure washer (some care here) but easy to do.

    I just took the easy way out and for me I down sized a bit from 40 to 20gal, not as young as I once was and don't spend the time out there like I did before.

    Edit to add, most stuff is electric now as well. I can't thing of a time when I used the compressor for a tool past the plasma cutter. Air ratchet or impact are all electric. If I paint another car yea, but doubt I will. I even had an air drill, nibbler....all kinds of stuff. I just don't use air like I once did so I think 20gal was a smart choice.
     
    harbor freight?

    If you are really in Pittsburgh there is likely a motor in stock at a supply house within a 20min of you.

    picture of the motor nameplate?
     
    Single or three phase? What rpm? Shaft size and rotation.
     
    Last edited:
    just do a quick google search for "Electrical motor supply"

    Found these in a search of Pittsburgh.
    Rice electric
    OTP
    Globe

    If you have a wholesale license an HVAC or pump supply house.
     
    I've bought from these guys:
     
    Any idea what went wrong with the motor? First thing I'd check would be start/run capacitors
    This!

    I've had our big Compressor 'stop' on lots of occasions. And it's never the motor. It was always the points on the pressure switch or the capacitors.

    Also, if your compressor is in a 'cold' area (mine is in the unheated barn attic)... when it gets really cold, the motor trips as the compressor is too cold to turn (oil thickens up.) So we wrap the compressor in heat tape for the winter and it runs like a charm.

    Before assuming the motor is bad... it's often the starting components.

    Cheers,

    Sirhr
     
    The 210v 5hp compressor motor on my Ingersol shit the bed and I’m having a hell of a time finding a replacement. Any ideas of where to look? Tried Grainger but no luck.
    Are you sure it's the motor itself and not a $25 Capacitor?
     
    I agree with the others, check the start/run capacitors. My motor was getting wonky, starting slow, not maintaining a constant speed, so I replaced both the start and run capacitors and she's running like a champ once again. I've got so many hours on mine, I need to stay ahead of the game and get replacement reed valves so I have 'em already when they finally shit the bed.

    Branden
     
    Got ya covered,
    15hp 3~ pick up in south Alabama $1500.
     

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    Well it smelled like an electrical fire the last time I kicked it on. It was running but sounded strange. Got hot and started smoking.
    46D119A0-D8BB-481D-A554-145782A50335.jpeg
     
    Well it smelled like an electrical fire the last time I kicked it on. It was running but sounded strange. Got hot and started smoking.View attachment 8011320
    When the magic blue smoke gets out it's done. Most old motor shops can't rewind one as cheap as buying a new replacement, which won't be as good as a rewound one. If you go the Harbor freight route, be sure to buy the extended warranty! I've had good luck with their sump pumps, 35 years in the pool business.
     
    Rewinding is very expensive. I had a motor rewound a year ago as I wanted to keep it but for most standard motors in the single digit HP range it’s often cheaper to replace.
     
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    Rewinding is very expensive. I had a motor rewound a year ago as I wanted to keep it but for most standard motors in the single digit HP range it’s often cheaper to replace.
    Being in industrial maintenance we do still have a shop in Dothan; Alabama electric, that we'll take larger hp motors in to be rewound on occasion. Years ago Robbins electric would do our pool pump motors until it became cheaper to replace them, they went out of business because of that.
     
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