Old Air Compressors-Safety Hazards-Heads Up

[Bordercollie]

I was planning to use a 20+ year old garage-type air compressor to add 75psi air to a soft motorhome tire. My son had bought it used, for cheap, ten years ago and who knows how long previous users had it and if they maintained it. I was looking at You Tube videos to see how to operate the old monster and ran across a video showing the destruction in a residential garage that was caused when a tank blew up. It wiped out his garage door and entry door plus other damage. The long term user and DIY mechanic swore he would never again run another compressor inside his garage and would never stand next to one again while running.

I decided to use my 2-gallon Campbell Hausfeld compressor that takes forever to get up to 100psi and able to pump to 75psi. At least I bought it new and have used very little. There was another video that showed a guy cutting a section out of an old compressor tank. It showed that rust in the bottom of the horizontal tank had penetrated 25% through the thick tank metal.

[klutchdust]

The air compressor tanks at the shop where i was employed had a inspector come out and they used a device to measure the thickness of the tank and check for weak spots.
IF your compressed air tank is leaking from rust toss it.
Exploding tires. I survived a 10:00x20 truck tire explosion as I was removing it from a semi trailer.It was a set of duals. The tire had air in it, the inside tire was flat. Once I removed the 5 lug nuts I woke up in an ambulance.
The multi-piece rims are still in use. Cages are used when airing them up. The three piece rims known as "widow makers" can be found on old farm equipment and old trucks that are still in use in various countries.
Most of todays trucks use tubeless tires and they do not require the multi piece rims.
Stand aside when airing up tires, reach across with your arm only.

[Bordercollie]

I checked tire valve for leakage using the spit method, no leakage noted. Will keep an eye on that tire and the rest when we get back on the road.

[bobndot]

Don’t forget to carry a valve core tool to tighten the valve stem on the tire.


I went to add air on my duals and one of the valve cores loosened up causing the air to leak out. I didn’t have the $3 tool and had to make an auto parts store visit. Something simple that i forgot caused me grief.

[Acampingwewillg]

I know when sitting by the MH tire trying to get up to 110-120 lbs of pressure, I'm always concerned about said fire exploding on me. Now I can worry about the compressor too.

[Sjm9911]

When used correctly they sould last and do fine. So they need to have condensate drained. They should also have relief valves. Like anything in life, if you dont know how to use it , maybe you shouldn't.

[rhagfo]

Well give some thought when airing up 80 psi to 110 psi tires. If you get new tires at Discount/America’s tire they inflate your tires in a cage.

[rwynkoop]

OH wow. I have one from 1994 that leaks air due to rust. Going to stop using it now. Wow, did not know this could happen.

[gbopp]

When I was working part time for a small municipality a few years ago, the insurance company sent an inspector to check all the Pressure Vessels used by the water and sewer plants.
This included a small consumer grade air compressor that was only used occasionally to sweep the floor with air.
The inspector said, 'you would be amazed at how often they explode and the damage they cause when they do explode.'

[Bordercollie]

My little 2-gallon Campbell Hausfeld 120vac compressor was able to pump 75psi into RV tire.

Tips for small compressors: It runs as long as needed to get to 100psi in the tank then it shuts off. You have to jamb the chuck quickly onto the tire valve, so as not to lose any air, listen carefully as air goes slowly into the tire, then check psi with accurate gage, without losing air. May need to repeat until you "sneak" in enough air to reach 75-80 psi.

[SAR_Tracker]

yep.
Store it at 50% pressure.
Unplug it when not in use.
Relieve the regulator to zero.
Drain the water from the tank religiously.

[Lwiddis]

Good advice. Thank you.