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OnBoard Air Components

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Welp, I just recieved the Compressor, clutch, and bracket/mounting kit From OnboardAir. It's a York, engine driven compressor. Very nice pieces. The mounting bracket is extremely beefy, as in the new alt. pulley, and the rest of the components. Brad Kilby is a great guy to deal with. When I was Ordering the parts last week, Brad mentioned that he has been searching the TDR forumns... . Contemplating a diesel.





Hopefully I'll have the system mounted in a couple of weeks. I'll post about the system when it's operational.
 
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I'll try to get access to a digital camera. If you go to www.onboardair.com you can view a picture of the compressor mounted.



Basically, the alternator is dropped down, the factory bracket removed, the new braket bolted in place, the alternator pulley replaced with a serp/v-groove tandem pulley, factory serp belt replaced with a shorter unit. All of the parts are included. Hopefully all goes smooth.
 
Cummins compressor

There is a truck on ebay that has a compressor driven off of the engine gear train. Does anybody have any info? Any problems with this? I am fairly new to this and I figured this maybe a little more expensive, however, it would be BETTER in my opinion (than a belt drive compressor).



Any input?



Thanks

Dan
 
dshockley



Some Cummins engines actaully came with an air brake compressor driven off the accesory drive. Problem is with our ram,is the vacuum pump\ps pump units already there,don't allow the room for the air compressor assy.



Straight6Jeff-Could you tell me the OD,and the depth of the mounting hole of the new alt pulley. I have a MUCH larger alternator on my truck,which I would like to use to drive my York compressor,just have to find a pulley to work. I can fab my own brackets.
 
Well,



Here one is?? This truck has the gear drive air compressor. It is a ram and though it does look like a tight fit, it does fit. Any one else have any comments?



Thanks

Dan



Ram w/ air?
 
That is a tight fit. I wonder where the power steering and vacuum pump are ?



I know someone around here was trying it,and if I remember correctly,he found a setup to piggyback the PS pump off the gear driven air compressor,or vice\versa,and scrapping the vacuum pump for an electric one. It was all done with OEM parts. Only problem was the setup hit the motor mounts or something in that area,so it wouldn't work
 
Well,



Instead of guessing on how/where stuff was transferred to, I sent the guy an email. I will let you know if I here anything back.



Dan
 
When the 5. 9 is used in vehicles with air brakes the compressor is driven off of the accessory drive where our vacuum and p/s pumps are driven. Usually p/s pump with a separate reservoir is used, and a belt driven or electric vacuum pump.

I am in the process of collecting the parts needed to install one on my truck. It looks like it might run $2500-3000 depending if I can find the parts used or have to buy new. The compressor alone is 1300 new.

I have the Cummins parts numbers for the compressor, brackets and plumbing. As for the p/s pump I think I am going to use a ZF from a F*rd F650. For a vacuum pump F*rd uses an electric one that is more than adequate
 
On Board Air

If you have a 98 or newer Ram, check out VMAC, Nanaimo, BC Canada. They specialize in under the hood air compressors.

www.throttlecommander.com or 1-800-738-8622

No assoc. with VMAC, I live in Washington State. I've put under the hood compressors on two rigs (chev & toyota), using the york and makeing my own brackets. I've been looking for an under the hood air set up for my 91 Ram. Any other 1st gens out there looking to put on board air under the hood? If been to Kilby's site and IH8MUD.com, Obiewans and others looking for ideas/help with this little project.



IMA54CJ3B
 
Thanks Dan,I would be very interested to hear more about it. I have been looking to do the onboard air stuff,as well as a full blown central hydraulic system,and would prefer as much stuff gear driven as possible.



tgbol-double check everything before you buy. Like I mentioned earlier,I know it has been done,and bolted up to the engine,but when it was dumped in the truck,the motor mount got in the way. Take a look at your truck,you'll see what I mean. The parts are cheaper if you can get a junkyard unit. You will also need the unloader assy,to cut out the compressor when the pressure comes up.
 
Originally posted by tgbol

When the 5. 9 is used in vehicles with air brakes the compressor is driven off of the accessory drive where our vacuum and p/s pumps are driven. Usually p/s pump with a separate reservoir is used, and a belt driven or electric vacuum pump.

I am in the process of collecting the parts needed to install one on my truck. It looks like it might run $2500-3000 depending if I can find the parts used or have to buy new. The compressor alone is 1300 new.

I have the Cummins parts numbers for the compressor, brackets and plumbing. As for the p/s pump I think I am going to use a ZF from a F*rd F650. For a vacuum pump F*rd uses an electric one that is more than adequate



I am missing something here. By looking at the OnboardAir site it seems as if you can get everything for about $500.

tgbol, what is the advantage of your system? Or what is the disadvantage to the OnboardAir system?
 
For 99% of the people nothing. What I am looking at doing is using the Cummins set that is on truck with air brakes. It will maintain air pressure 90-125 at all times. It has a little more volume. Also the compressor is actually running all the time with an unloader valve (governor) when the air isn't needed, like a gasoline powered compressor. I just want it!

The other system converts an A/C compressor to air. It can be controlled by a toggle switch or a pressure switch to maintain pressure as above. This probably the way to go for most of us.

I am currently using a small air horn compressor but it takes for ever to fill my 11 gallon tank.

While I am writing this I might as well coment on the VMAC compressor. It is a screw type and requires oil in the system to lubercate it. Then there is an oil seperator and an air tank. It is a neat installation under the hood but requires a lot more under the truck. We have about 30 new F*rd service trucks with the VMAC. They supply a lot more air than most of us can use even using impacts

Sorry about the length!
 
Originally posted by Bigramguy

That is a tight fit. I wonder where the power steering and vacuum pump are ?



I know someone around here was trying it,and if I remember correctly,he found a setup to piggyback the PS pump off the gear driven air compressor,or vice\versa,and scrapping the vacuum pump for an electric one. It was all done with OEM parts. Only problem was the setup hit the motor mounts or something in that area,so it wouldn't work



would/could an engine driven compressor work in the 3rd gen engines. they have the belt driven PS pump don't they?
 
tgbol,



You gave just enough information about the VMAC compressor to get my attention. Please provide more details as I am not familiar with them.



Thanks and good luck on your conversion,

Dan



P. S. Don't the york compressors also have a non-sealed lube system so that you can get oil on the air side of things. I know that this is how most ac compressors are lubed and thought that I read these were the same. One big advantage to the ac compressor is the clutch and very little drag under normal driving. How about a PTO driven air compressor?
 
dshockley

The VMAC is a very hd unit. It works the same as large trailer style compressor except it is about 90 cfm at 100psi. It will run a large air gun, and tire machine. We also use them to drive small jack hammers for water service work. When they are installed there is a lock-out that the parking brake must be on before the compressor works.

PTO driven units work pretty much the same. We use two different styles. One is driven directly with a drive line to the unit. The other has a pump at the PTO and a hydraulic motor to drive the compressor. The hydraulic unit requires a reservoir, oil cooler, and filtration. The compressors both require oil seperators, filters, and an air tank.

You do not want to engage a PTO while the vehicle is moving The gears would be turning too fast and cause damage.

If you just want to be able to use an air gun to change tires and such the York compressor and a small tank will allow you to do whatever. The York will recover pretty quick.

In an earlier thread there was a link to a company that makes electric air compressors for off roaders. Their HD unit is a York compressor driven by a winch motor. A friend of mine has one on his Jeep. It works great for him when airing up and changing tires.

I hope this helps you
 
york compressor

Does anyone out else here remember anything about someone in texas working on kits to put the york compressors on out trucks? If I remember correctly there was someone other than onboard air doing those kit's there and if I remember correctly at the time they were trying to find someone to offer thier truck as a guenie pig for the prototype? But hey I could just have a selective memory! Seth
 
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