air con to on board air

[wozapinin]

Have just picked up a replacement motor (ford 250) for my 2a and it has an air con compressor mounted on it. As the old girl has manual air conditioning, (remove roof in summer), I am hoping maybe i could use it for on board air to pump up the tyres? Any advise for a simple wiring/plumbing set up and a tank size (as small as possible) would be appreciated and I'll post progress pics.

[discowhite]

search is your friend

cheers phil

[zulu Delta 534]

The most basic problem I can see with using an a/c compressor is that most a/c compressors are internally lubricated by oil which flows through the a/c circuit mixed with the gas. To us the same compressor as an on board compressor this lubricating problem has to be addressed first other wise the compressor will have only a very short life span.
Apart from this minor hiccup, the idea is a good sound and simple one and has, I am sure, been done before. Someone will possibly come up with a way they have found around the lubrication problem.
Regards
Glen

[paulthepilot_5]

The lubrication issue is not a huge drama. You can just squirt a small amount of oil into the intake every now and then. If you want to do it properly, set up an workshop air oiling unit on the intake and a oil seperator on the outlet. You can run a capillary tube between the two so the oil is recycled. As for a tank, the best thing to do is find an old air compressor and use the tank and pressure switch of it.

Paul

[123rover50]

I have used one for years , use an out of date propane gas bottle for a tank, and as the other chap says , squirt a bit of oil in now and then.

[isuzurover]

Oiling is no biggie. Btw - There have been HEAPS of posts on this issue, and I have posted info on the setup on my IIA several times...

[roverrescue]

Simple Wiring: put a switch between 12V and the two wires at the clutch.

Simple Plumbing:
-Hook the inlet pipe up to your PCV / rocker cover breather... instant filtered and oiled supply.
-Remove the rest of the AC system, now attach the AC dryer to the outlet side of the compressor. Remove the pressure switch from the top of the dryer and thread in a 150psi pressure relief valve. From the outlet of the dryer plumb to tank, tank to air fittings.
-Hit switch compressor will pump up system, when it gets to 150psi relief will let go and compressor will keep pumping... (you could always put a pressure switch in if you care)
the tank will catch the majority of the misted oil and drain it when you drain condensation. I use an old 22L tank from a discarded bunnings cheapy compressors cost me zero. It will mount beside the chassis rail of a fender???

easy

Steve

[NOFUSS]

I've seen a aircomp set up in a tojo with tank mounted in bull bar rails(very neat) with pressure switching on/off auto as he also had air horns. the air intake for comp was from the tappit cover breather he never oiled the intake as he get enought oilvapour from the motor. he did say it been going 4 3 years now with no probblem. the comp was a sd17 modle with a grease nipple in the housing for lube but he only used that once and never put grease in it since. i should of taken some pics but thats the last thing i think off when checken out some ones handy work.

[isuzurover]

I've seen a aircomp set up in a tojo with tank mounted in bull bar rails(very neat) with pressure switching on/off auto as he also had air horns. the air intake for comp was from the tappit cover breather he never oiled the intake as he get enought oilvapour from the motor. he did say it been going 4 3 years now with no probblem. the comp was a sd17 modle with a grease nipple in the housing for lube but he only used that once and never put grease in it since. i should of taken some pics but thats the last thing i think off when checken out some ones handy work.

My rock sliders double as air tanks. Excuse the mud:


My system was installed ~1997. In that time it has been used a lot - even to run air tools and put up fences, etc...
The only issues I have had have been with the mount bracket (broken studs) and recently with one air hose close to the compressor perishing from heat. I reccommend rubber hose for the first 12" or so.

[d2dave]

Ben,
Your compressor looks like a york compressor which I believe has an oil sump unlike others which circulate oil in the system.

Dave