Advice on Gardner Denver Compressor

[StevenM]

I have an old 1972 Gardner Denver Air Compressor. I have had this for about 25 years. Not in the greatest shape. I don't know if I should haul it away or if it is worth salvaging it to someone for parts or?

Here is what I know of it:
Part # 32-ACA-645
Ser # M988
175 psi
Vessel dia. 16
Shell mat. SA-455-A
Insp. Ser. E-39
Design temp. 650F
Vessel length 38
Shell .1875
head .1875
head d.r. 2-1

Any help you can give me would be much appreciated. I have tried looking all over the net to find info on this & your forum keeps popping up.

 

[504]

They are still building compressors in Quincy IL.

 

[wp6529]

The info you posted is just for the tank. If the tank is not rusting out internally and the compressor isn't trashed it should be a high quality unit well worth a modest investment in refurbishing.

 

[Hemmjo]

What does not in the greatest shape mean? It is just ugly from dust and dirt dirt collection on it, peeling paint, or are things actually broken on it

It is probably a better compressor that what you can buy today.

 

[caterpillar guy]

The pressure is just a nominal figure since the pressure switch and be changed for less pressure though I would not know why anybody would want less than 175PSI. As for the air pump if it is good and the tank is not leaking run it or fix it. Better than anything you might get today unless you bought a Saylor Beal. They are still the slow speed air pump not the 3450 motors but the 1750 RPM unless they have changed in the last year. I searched for a couple decades for a decent compressor and found this Saylor Beal been very happy with it so far. Good air build up speed and good pressure at 175 PSI.

 

[Steve@Advance]

Sounds like an industrial duty compressor. It would be very, very expensive to replace with one of
comparable quality today!

If mine, I would hold on to it and repair it. The most common problems are valve related, easily repaired,
usually with disassembly and cleaning.

Synthetic oil helps keep them clean.

 

[StevenM]

I want to thank everyone for your time & wisdom!

Not in the greatest shape means, rust up top on pump, tank has some rust spots (no holes). No peeling paint, just not pretty. I held on to it thinking one day I would do something with it, now wife wants it gone. I did not know if it was worth trying to get it going or just junking it for scrap.

Edited to add: Just tried the compressor and it runs like a top!

This post was edited by StevenM on 12/04/2023 at 01:17 pm.

 

[Nordic]

I have owned and used two of those units. If it starts and runs I would have one any day. In all likelihood with those is if the engine is OK, the unit is trouble free. Mine had the Fordson Diesels, the same as the Majors at the time. There are better diesels than them but if they are not abused they will run for a long time. I did have head gasket issues. The compressors themselves are absolutely great. If you clean it up you'll get a good dollar for it. The ideal customer for what you have, would be guys that purge irrigation systems and also guys that do part time sandblasting.