Air compressors

[ScottB]

Anyone know of a good source for PTO drive boxes? I want to run an air compressor off of my pto box on the trany. Is this a bad Idea. Anybody got any input.

------------------
93 W350 White 4" stack Headache rack with Lights. Gauges 27pnds boost Banks quick turbo. Hand Throttle CB

 

[Eventer]

Scott,

I have been searching for an on-board air compressor also. The only Web site I have found is www.ptospecialties.com

I don't have any idea of cost. Let us know what you find.

After writing this, I went out to the URL above and did not find any air compressors. So I guess we are back to square one. Sorry...

------------------
Lyndon Hendry

2001 2500 QC LB ETH/DEE 3. 55RE Patriot Blue
Pop-Up Hitch, Stock engine except for MIA blow-by-bottle

[This message has been edited by Eventer (edited 12-30-2000). ]

 

[jcbrown]

Try this site http://www.vanair.com/home.htm

 

[Jeff H]

Why run it off the pto ?
You should run it off the engine under your hood like the big trucks do. Call up Cummins and see if one can installed in the Dodge.

 

[illflem]

Jeff,you're right that's the way Cummins designed it and has a compressor available. Only problem is Dodge went and put a vacuum pump where it would have gone,there's no room anywhere else.

 

[Jeff H]

There must be something that fits. Those guys with the tire trucks who change tractor tires out in the field need air. Even if you end up with a little unit and adding brackets and installing another belt.

 

[wrench]

Here a couple more!!! http://www.cycloneair.com/
http://www.thomaspumps.com/

good luck Wrench

 

[Sled Puller]

Since we do not need constant air, no reason to have that belt and pulley running all the time!
I saw a nice outfit set up with a Hydraulic motor running the air compressor off the pto. Guy made it all out of surplus parts.
Just an idea.
Gene

 

[ScottB]

Thanks for the input. I like the hydraulic idea. I just want somthing that I don't have to spend a lot of money on. I'd prefer somthing I can fab up myself. It would be a fun project.

------------------
93 W350 White 4" stack Headache rack with Lights. Gauges 27pnds boost Banks quick turbo. Hand Throttle CB

 

[illflem]

Scott,give Surplus Center a call(800-488-3407) and request a catalog. They sell mostly new surplus at unbelievable prices,you could put together something from them pretty cheap. Only thing you may need to spend a good chunk on is the pto unit for the transmission.

 

[Jeff H]

It wouldn't have to run all the time. Put a clutch on it.

 

[Andy Perreault]

I saw a nice outfit set up with a Hydraulic motor running the air compressor off the pto.

I have seen big-rig tire service trucks that are set up like this. I crawled under a PSD and checked it out, there was a PTO hydraulic pump at the transmission, and the hoses went to the compressor, which was aft of the cab, outside of the left frame rail. Of course, the truck had a service body on it, not the regular truck bed. I didn't get to see what the compressor looked like, it was inside one of the service body side compartments.
There was a Dodge/Cummins service truck in the yard at work a few months ago, but he pulled in just as I was leaving. I didn't get the chance to check it out.
Here's another idea: I drove a Ford work van in the mid-80's that had the 7. 3 liter diesel. It had a belt driven vacuum pump (do newer PSD's have this?). What I'm wondering is, is it possible to remove our gear driven vacuum pump, install an air compressor in its place, and add a belt driven vacuum pump from a Ford?
Andy

 

[illflem]

That's a good idea Andy,the problem is finding a place to add anything under the hood. An electric vacuum pump would be easier to locate under the hood. Cummins also wants over $1000 for their engine mounted air compressor. Hydraulic is a good way to go,it's much easier to route hoses than driveshafts. Another alterative is a 12 volt compressor,there are some available for a good price that are rated for continuous duty.

 

[ScottB]

I've got this old compressor in my shop. It is a little Emglow it is run by a one and a half horse electric motor and I was thinking of taking just the compressor and mounting it under the truck and running it with a pto shaft or hydrolics. I Have to look at the compressor to make sure I can adapt some sort of drive to it. But maybee I can buy a compressor as cheap as rigging mine I don't know.

------------------
93 W350 White 4" stack Headache rack with Lights. Gauges 27pnds boost Banks quick turbo. Hand Throttle CB

 

[Bumble]

I recently finished installing a Thomas compressor under my truck cab. The Thomas compressor says it puts out 2. 2 CFM at 0 psi, continuous duty. It is a strong looking pump, and is larger than a size 12 shoe box. It is 12 VDC/26 amps, so you wouldn't want to run it very long without the engine running. It runs very quite and smooth. If you plan on pumping up anything larger than a bike tire, you'll also need an air tank. For safety reasons I went with a steel SCUBA tank rated at over 3000 psi. The compressor is costly, but sometimes you get what you pay for. With a couple quick connect fittings, ball valve, solenoid, compressor, tank, this project quickly approached the 4 figure range, but it is rock solid.
The Thomas compressor can be found at their web site and at currieenterprises.com.

------------------
2001, 3500, Cummins, SLT, 5sp, 3. 54LS, camper/tow package, 4x4, 165 watt backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.

 

[Dane]

What about this?

Get a contractor air compressor which comes with all the stuff you need - compressor, regulator, and storage tank. Many of them are small enough to mount under the bed or in the side of the bed.

Get a 12 VDC to 110 VAC converter large enough to run the compressor (including start up current)

Both could be purchased for less than $1000 total ($750 if you shop around)

That way you have a stout air source built to run a long duty cycle that could run air horns, inflate tires or air bags etc.

The converter could also run power tools, small mig welders etc...

------------------
2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Andy Perreault]

The Thomas compressor says it puts out 2. 2 CFM at 0 psi

zero psi? I assume that's a typo?
Andy

 

[Thomas]

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cgi-local/SoftCart. exe/online-store/scstore/p-CE-9058C_TJ.html?L+scstore+gkqr7308ffa55aa5+993440579

The 2. 20 is free flow. I believe this Thomas Pump air compressor puts out . 95 CFM at 100 psi.

 

[Dane]

Heres the kit from Currie that includes everything but the air tank -
http://www.currieenterprises.com/cgi-local/SoftCart. exe/online-store/scstore/p-CE-9058_YJ.html?L+scstore+gkqr7308ffa55aa5+993826212

Heres an article that lists a couple of other on board air compressor manufacturers - http://www.currieenterprises.com/cgi-local/SoftCart. exe/online-store/scstore/news_thinAir_pg3.html?L+scstore+gkqr7308ffa55aa5+993779349

------------------
2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Bumble]

2. 2 CFM at zero psi means it puts out that flowrate with no restrictions. As restriction builds up (as in building pressure in a tank), the flowrate will go down. All I can say is this compressor rocks!

------------------
2001, 3500, Cummins, SLT, 5sp, 3. 54LS, camper/tow package, 4x4, 165 watt backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.