Anybody ever run a compressor backwards?

[Saloon65]

Have a probably 15 year old Campbell Hausfield compressor, the generic 5 fake horsepower recip vertical compressor that was indistinguishable from 20 other manufacturer’s stuff for a while.. Motor is dead, and I’ve got one that i can make run, but it’s the opposite rotation than what was on it. I really don’t think there’s anything but just standard splash lubrication in the thing,but it does have an arrow on the flywheel..

The motors i can find that all the specs fit are all expensive enough that i’m hesitant to put that much money into it.

I know it SHOULD work, but just wondering if any actual non-bot people have done it successfully..

 

[vetteboy79]

. Motor is dead, and I’ve got one that i can make run, but it’s the opposite rotation than what was on it.

I'd start here...you should be able to change the direction of rotation easily by just swapping some leads around.

Pic of the motor connection?

 

[Saloon65]

I'd start here...you should be able to change the direction of rotation easily by just swapping some leads around.

Pic of the motor connection?

Been there done that, no reversal on this one. Even have a big “Non Reversible” stamped across the nameplate label.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

One lung two lung? In series or parallel?

 

[Saloon65]

One lung two lung? In series or parallel?

i believe one. pretty simple and generic. parts list calls the pump a c/h VT470000KB.

 

[total newb]

Mount the drive motor on the other side

 

[WaterH]

Figure eight in the belt?

 

[aczlan]

I think your biggest problem will be airflow from the fan built into the flywheel, can probably be solved with a box fan set up to turn on anytime the compressors running.

Aaron Z

 

[bgaidan]

I doubt it'll hurt the pump. I've seen compressors that actually had direction to alternate running in forward and reverse to help with equal wear. But as others have said, watch if the flywheel also serves as a fan.

 

[SomeGuy]

Just flip sides and drill new holes to mount?

 

[Saloon65]

I doubt it'll hurt the pump. I've seen compressors that actually had direction to alternate running in forward and reverse to help with equal wear. But as others have said, watch if the flywheel also serves as a fan.

it does have SOME “fan” to it, but not much. as long as the housing is still there,i guessed that worst case would be that it just sucks instead of blows across the same compressor fins.

I went out there a little while ago and just spun it backwards by hand, couldn’t really tell any difference in sound or anything..

 

[bgaidan]

it does have SOME “fan” to it, but not much. as long as the housing is still there,i guessed that worst case would be that it just sucks instead of blows across the same compressor fins.

I went out there a little while ago and just spun it backwards by hand, couldn’t really tell any difference in sound or anything..

Is it this style pump? Fuck it, run it. I don't think I've ever been inside one of these, but my much more expensive Emglo didn't have anything in it that would make me believe it was directional. I think the splash lube will work either way.

Looking at a few random parts diagrams like these, looks like the splash is just from the crank lobes and shouldn't care what way it's going.
Worst case, the replacement pump is $100 from HF.

 

[Stephen Wilson]

If it's a capacitor start motor you should be able to reverse it:
https://woodgears.ca/motors/reversi... single phase,polarity of the starter winding.

 

[Safe Dude]

Mount the drive motor on the other side

Beat me to it as i have done this before .

 

[Saloon65]

Beat me to it as i have done this before .

I had considered all those options, just trying to keep the fabrication and retrofit aspect down..if i can bolt it up and make it run, i’m all in.

im going to see if i can get anything done with reversing the motor, then go with it backwards if that doesn’t work... be been running this thing fifteen years or so in one direction, i’m almost positive I’ll for sure get another fifteen if i start wearing everything down on the opposite side...

 

[Saloon65]

Well, just to wrap this up, i opened that new motor up, and all the connections i would need to swap were buried under the winding wrapping. Thus, i said heck with it. R&R’d the motor, hooked it up, turned on the power and and the whole thing exploded in my face.

well, not really. The damn thing was turning the right direction to begin with. “CCW” apparently means two different things to different manufacturers here. Changed the oil as long as i was at it, by the looks of that i’ll be buying that new pump anyway before long. Back in business for now, however.

Thanks for all the help!