Look at my compressor

[RedMF40]

Just bought this thing. Onan twin with some heavy-duty compressor. Motor is stuck, not sure what I’ll do about that—if anything.

Now look at the battery. I count 5 cells. Ten volt battery? Feel free to discuss.

 

[Turkeyfoot]

Just bought this thing. Onan twin with some heavy-duty compressor. Motor is stuck, not sure what I’ll do about that—if anything.

Now look at the battery. I count 5 cells. Ten volt battery? Feel free to discuss.

Interesting. I've never a battery like that with what look like external cell-to-cell connections. From the image it looks like 5 cells connected in series using connections on the outside of the case. I wonder why? Are the individual cells replaceable?

 

[matthies]

That's a beauty there Clark !!

 

[kencombs]

5 cells is new to me! But external cell connectors used to be the normal thing. Lots of battery 'rebuilders' would drill them off, pull the cells/plates out rinse the case out and reinstall the best parts from a lot of batteries and sell 'rebuilt' units with new acid.

Really old tech. Guess everyone can tell how old I am! Last saw one of these new probably 60s?
I've used some to do 6-12v conversions by drilling and tapping a cell connector to get 6v for the dash and accessories.

 

[RedMF40]

Yes, individual cells. I hadn’t really looked closely at the battery before but noticed it was kinda funny looking. Here’s a better pic. This machine was supposed to be involved in starting jet engines. Don’t know about that.

 

[Dave in NY]

Yep, I remember seeing batteries 6 and 12 volt with external connectors like that between the cells. Early '60s. when I noticed it. Born in '56 so.....

 

[Scott 730]

Being that it is a former military piece, I would say all bets are off as far as any part of that thing being similar to a civilian unit. Look for a data plate on the starter motor to see its voltage rating.

 

[Mule Meat]

It has been years since I saw a five cell battery. The last one I saw was an Exide 5 cell with a glass class. If I remember correctly the guy said it was made around 1918.

 

[caterpillar guy]

First thing I would do is find a diesel I could repower it with those onan engines were nothing but a pain to me on the last one I had to deal with. Would have liked to blown it to pieces and let them fall where they did. Thats a lot of air if you get it running.

 

[RedMF40]

Being that it is a former military piece, I would say all bets are off as far as any part of that thing being similar to a civilian unit. Look for a data plate on the starter motor to see its voltage rating.

Hard to read but the data plate says to use 6V battery. Not a 10V

 

[Stan Coryell]

It might be worth emailing Davey.

The Davey History

Manufacturer of Davey Air Compressors

www.daveycompressor.com

What are the spark plug wires attached to? The CCKs had a magneto, but the points were in that location. Is it some kind of coil/ distributor?

It's really interesting.

 

[Scott 730]

Hard to read but the data plate says to use 6V battery. Not a 10V

Well, my theory didn't last very long.

 

[SleepyFarmall]

Yes, individual cells. I hadn’t really looked closely at the battery before but noticed it was kinda funny looking. Here’s a better pic. This machine was supposed to be involved in starting jet engines. Don’t know about that.

I think F-5 jets used air compressor to start the engines

 

[RedMF40]

It might be worth emailing Davey.

The Davey History

Manufacturer of Davey Air Compressors

www.daveycompressor.com

What are the spark plug wires attached to? The CCKs had a magneto, but the points were in that location. Is it some kind of coil/ distributor?

It's really interesting.

Looks like this design was a big breakthrough in air compressors back in the day. “Hydrovane.” Not sure how it made pressure but it’s not a piston compressor like I’m familiar with. I think it’s probably been sitting as-is since the 1960s. The man I bought it from is pushing 90 and it was his dad who bought it.

 

[Destroked 450]

Vane compressor, we had a old 69 model Worthington rotary vane compressor at the mill with 20 hp electric motor, it would flow 100 cfm of air at 100 psi, the screw compressor we replaced it with used a 25 go motor to produce the same volume and pressure, we keep the old vane compressor as a backup

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Six volt starter motors on early Ferguson tractors work very well ( in short bursts ) on twelve volts . A quick fix for poor starting is to use a twelve. The ten volt might be a compromise between the two to use long term .

 

[kencombs]

Six volt starter motors on early Ferguson tractors work very well ( in short bursts ) on twelve volts . A quick fix for poor starting is to use a twelve. The ten volt might be a compromise between the two to use long term .

Yep, Dad's little 1T chevy wrecker started life as a 6v 235 babbitt rod machine. Kept starter when it got a 12v alternator and battery with it's new full pressure 235. Lasted at least 8 years 'til it was sold.

 

[RedMF40]

Because I couldn’t leave well enough alone, I pulled one of the heads. Lot of carbon buildup. Plug was carbon-fouled, too. I’ll take a peek at the other side since these heads are so easy to get to.

 

[Dusty MI]

My memory is not good, but I seem to remember putting a 4 cell-8 volt wet battery on an old 6 volt farm tractor, without changing anything other the battery.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Must have been running alcohol gas it's all gummed up . Better use that straight gas for this. So now is a vane the same thing as the screw compressors being raved about now days. Or are they more like a vane hydraulic pump?