Years ago I put together an air compressor for my father using a Bendix Westinghouse unit removed from an old truck equipped with air brakes.
These compressors come in many different configuration, some are driven direct, some are belt driven while some require lubrication from the engine others will be self lubricated. some are air cooled others liquid.
The one I had was liquid cooled required engine coolant for cooling, Heres what I did to modify, removed the connecting rod caps and drilled a hole on center then added a home made dipper changing the lube system to a splash type, made a new base as the old one drained oil back to the engine mine had to be self contained.
For cooling hung a small radiator from the wall behind the unit hooked up some hose, a small plastic fan was affixed to the motor pulley plus hot liquids rise naturally so it was a combination of forced air and convection for cooling.
These types of compressors come equipped with a governor which make then ideal for use with a small gasoline engine, you need to have a small air line from the tank feeding pressure to the governor so that the compressor may sense when to cut in to make air and when to stop producing air when the preset PSI is meet. You can set the governor as high as 130 psi tthe down side is that your down to 60 psi before the governor kicks the compressor back into pumping mode.
When the governor cuts in at 120 / 130 PSI it actually opens one of the valves inside the compressor head rendering it incapable of compressing more air while the compressor is still turning over.
For use with an electric motor do not hook an air line to the governor, use a pressure switch attached to your air tank to make and break power when required. This is the route I choose fro my fathers compressor.
Two HP electric motor on a 30 gallon tank, he used it for over 20 years without any problems.
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