IR compressor rant - no standard parts!

[milner351]

Well - for years I've gotten good reliable service from my 7.5hp two stage 80 gallon IR compressor.

I'm quickly finding out that IR is so big, they can strong arm thier suppliers into making IR specific parts - NOTHING on this thing is standard!

The local compressor rebuilding shop is trying to help me - but they simply have nothing that fits. Everything has to be ordered specifically from IR.

If I had a lathe and a chunk of Brass, I'd MAKE the freaking part to make the compressor work.

The new check valve came in (finally, and it's an IR part) 3 of 4 of it's ports are the same as the old one - the inlet coming in from the pump is a 3/4" female flare..... the old one is 5/8" female flare.... so - I have a piece of 5/8" copper line with double flares at both ends (think huge fuel or brake line)- one to the pump - one to the check valve.

So - it's either get a bushing - with 5/8" flare female to 3/4" male flare
--- apparently this little jewel does not exist!

Grainger doesn't have one.

The compressor rebuilding shop doesn't have one.

OR

The other option is to change over the whole line starting at the 1/2" NPT outlet of the pump, ending at the 3/4" flare at the new check valve. The compressor shop would be happy to make me that line - but - they don't have anything with a 3/4" male flare end to fit the IR check valve.

freaking argh!

[DanStokes]

John - I'd PM Bob (damned if I can think of his signon but he's in Ohio somewhere near Akron, I think). He works for Swagelok and I'd put money on them having the needed adaptor and probably in at least 3 different metals.

Dan

[70chevyC-10]

BluLightning ?

[milner351]

Well - the only viable option is to get another check valve from the IR store which of course closes at 5pm and isn't open on weekends.

The price is over twice what "standard" check valves cost at places like Grainger... and I've proven that you can't make another one work without major PITA factor - even another IR valve, so - IR has ya - want your machine fixed? gotta use our parts, and gotta pay top dollar for them.

Joy.

[hoofhearted]

Post a pic of what you have. I may be able to come up with some flare fittings. Some of the old Dental units I work on have them. I replace them with compression when I can. I also save some of the old parts.

[428FE]

There are no compressor part stores anywhere close to me so I have been using http://www.ecompressedair.com/ for my I/R parts. So far, so good.

[milner351]

Here's what I ordered - my mistake - it's clearly marked 3/4 3/4
what I have is 5/8 3/4 but I sure didn't know that before - eyeing up 5/8 vs 3/4 not being all that familiar with it - and not seeing 5/8 stuff anywhere (forgot there even was 5/8 in copper tube size)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270661542337?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

The somewhat local IR dealer assured me the one they had in stock was the right one for my compressor - I paid for it over the phone and a friend was nice enough to pick it up for me as there was no way I could make it there before they closed today - hopefully I'll be able to end this saga this weekend. I'd like to have these hours back to apply to the falcon!

[DanStokes]

Yes, Bob is BluLightning. This old age memory thing sucks.

Dan

[BluLightning]

Crap! Sorry I just saw this thread. I do work for Swagelok and could have probably hooked you up with something that would have worked John.