US General compressors

[MicroZone]

Has anyone purchased one of these units from HF? They are the U.S. General air compressors and come in quite a few big sizes. They look fairly beefy and put out a great amount of air. The prices are decent and I also have a catalog with their 50 percent off. I'm thinking I can score a decent air compressor for a decent price.

[Patriot Performance]

I seen some them in thier store the other day. They did look like beefy units. However I have no idea on life span. What is the customer support like I wonder. Will you be able to get a pump rebuild kit in the future if need be. Who makes the motor?

These are all the reason I bought a Quincy. I know its reliable.

[MicroZone]

Yep - that's why I was asking. HF seems to have good customer service, it's probably a division of theirs. I was looking at the compressors in Northertool but their customer service is worthless when it comes to helping with equipment issues.

[edl]

Well...you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that at least for their biggest unit...the $1400, 80gallon, 7.5hp one...it is actually made...in...the...USA...believe it or not...it has to be one of their best kept secrets...it is made by one of the largest compressor companies, ABAC/American IMC (I think I have that initials right) - ABAC is an Italian company, joint ventured with IMC in the 80's - bought the US partner out in 94 - but still mfg's at their South Carolina plant - I have the unit - bought it with one of the usual 20% off coupons - had them first offer it to me at the lowest sales price - so about 1000 out the door - a STEAL - this company also makes the high end and well-known Bel-Aire compressors - their equivalent model (which has a slightly different compressor - both have USA Baldor motors) is about 3 times that price - YMMV - good luck, edl

[MicroZone]

Wow - great information, thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge of them. I definately will consider buying one when the time and money is right.

[Sandy]

I purchased a US General impact wrench a while back. Kept it around the house well past the warrantee. Took it out to pull the grouzers of my lil crawler. Needless to say I hammered the guts right out of it :) . It did work great as long as it worked and did make it about 75% of the way through the job where a couple other cheapo models wouldn't even crack the rust.

Anyway, the US General rep says they are new there isn't a good parts inventory going yet but as soon as they get the guts I need they'll send them free 'o charge. Haven't seen them yet. :) I have faith tho :waving: .

[MicroZone]

That's good customer service. More good points!

[Sandy]

That's good customer service. More good points!

These are the metric version of 3/8ths or 7/16ths grade 10's with the bolt down from the top and nut on bottom. You can't get the impact on the nut so it has to be on the bolt head on top. With the impact on the bolt you have to spin the whole bolt to crack it loose. Triple tuff duty. Had the bolt head literally smokin on many and the lower body of the impact was blistering hot. Hammered out three impact sockets in the process. Still ended up blowing about 15 or so off with the torch and replacing about 150 bolts because of the reduced head size from hammering. Looking back. Should have just blown them all off.

Back to the point :), maybe 200 bolts or so with super extended hammering time the dern thing did pretty good for a cheapo. One tiny piece of praise==it deleivered enough power to destroy itself. Most won't.

[MicroZone]

Hahaaaa...oh man, that IS some heavy duty stuff.

[DDA52]

Well...you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that at least for their biggest unit...the $1400, 80gallon, 7.5hp one...it is actually made...in...the...USA...believe it or not...it has to be one of their best kept secrets...it is made by one of the largest compressor companies, ABAC/American IMC (I think I have that initials right) - ABAC is an Italian company, joint ventured with IMC in the 80's - bought the US partner out in 94 - but still mfg's at their South Carolina plant - I have the unit - bought it with one of the usual 20% off coupons - had them first offer it to me at the lowest sales price - so about 1000 out the door - a STEAL - this company also makes the high end and well-known Bel-Aire compressors - their equivalent model (which has a slightly different compressor - both have USA Baldor motors) is about 3 times that price - YMMV - good luck, edl

Now that is very interesting. May have to give them a harder look when the time comes. I was leaning towards IR, but now.......:blob3:

[MicroZone]

Yep, same here. I was looking at them good in the store and they looked like good heavy duty parts that were put together well.

[DDA52]

Dang...I just had to go look at them on the website. Now I find factory recon for $1200.00.:blob3: :blob3: :blob3: Looking better all the time. I also liked the airflow numbers. That should run a 1" impact no prob.:cool:

[rookie]

Back in the early 90's I bought a 5hp 2 stage industrial compressor.it is a curtis masterline with 80 gallon tank.I did alot of foot work before I bought it,didnt have internet back then.I went to several pneumatic shops to get info.one of which was owned and operated by a guy I had gone to school with.He told me the samething all the other places had told me.All compressors have acheaper line,and with this line they dyno 10% of production for that day,and if that 10% dyno's lets say 6.5hp they can be sold as such.but in fact that same compressor might have been originally a 3hp.this is not done with industrial grade compressors.

[edl]

had a few more questions off line on this one - anyone else pull the trigger on the 7.5hp/80gal compressor? - still loving mine!

[MicroZone]

Not yet - waiting on some big cake to purchase one.

[yellow]

I'm heading out today to pick up on of those 5hp 2 stage 165psi 60gal compressor. Any last words before I pull the trigger? Its going to be $640 out the door.

[MicroZone]

Nope, nothing here yet. Too busy and haven't laid out the cash for one. Grab it and let us know.

[yellow]

Picked it up and was hoping to use the 20% off since my local store is generally laid back when it comes to those things. Today the manager must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because he said "no expiration, no go". I was able to use the 15% in the flyer mailed to me but get this; the front cover said there was a coupon on the back cover, but in fact there was no coupon what-so-ever. It was a misprint or something but he still decided to honor it. No expiration, nada but he still took 15% off. I am sure he could have done 20% if he didn't have his panties in a bunch.

[steve45]

Make sure you mount it on isolation pads!!! I just had to replace the motor on my Husky compressor because vibration cracked the motor housing. Manufacturer said it happens regularly if it's bolted directly to the floor.

[yellow]

I did a search for some but couldn't find anything that I particularly liked. I heard about hockey pucks; the soild rubber type. Any ideas on using them? What are good alternatives?

[MicroZone]

Any good tool store should sell them. They are used on a variety of tools.

[yellow]

Anyone have any thoughts on this item.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46960
It’s an automatic drain for a compressor. This one is rated for 145psi. I have a 165psi max compressor but only time will tell if that's truly accurate.
In a weeks time I plan on changing out all the old oil to flush out all the break in crud. I'm hoping to keep this compressor going for a long long time. Any other thoughts on preventative maintenance?

[steve45]

Here's a link to a thread on automatic drains that I've tried: http://www.weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=8219

Campbell Hausfeld sells the isolation pads. They came in a package of 3 for $34, IIRC. I was in HF yesterday and noticed that the US General compressors had 4 feet, vs the CH 3 feet.

[edl]

Anyone have any thoughts on this item.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46960
It’s an automatic drain for a compressor. This one is rated for 145psi. I have a 165psi max compressor but only time will tell if that's truly accurate.
In a weeks time I plan on changing out all the old oil to flush out all the break in crud. I'm hoping to keep this compressor going for a long long time. Any other thoughts on preventative maintenance?

understand how to change the oil - how do you "flush" it out? - thanks, ed

[Diehard]

i used mining belt for my isolators, any kind of conveyor belt will work if its thick enough.

[MJDamiani]

I would like to thank everybody involved in this discussion. It made me think, When was the last time that I changed the oil in my compressor head ? I went out into the garage at 0300hrs. and checked. To my surprise the oil was in "like new condition" and right up to the full mark on the dip stick. Thank you again for reminding me to check something that I simply forgot to check. This forum did more than it was intended for.

Mike

[yellow]

That's what I say all the time too! This forum is GREAT.

Edl when I said flush I didn't mean "flush" as in power flushing your tranny fluid. I meant to just remove all the break in microscopic metal shavings and crud that comes off a new compressor (same as changing it). It’s important on new compressors to at least change out all the oil after some time. If you leave it in the floating metal will just scour away on the cylinder walls. It’s not only true for compressors, just about anything that has a wet sump on it. The compressor oil breaks down and loses its viscosity just like any other oil after years and years of use. Even older compressors can benefit from a change once in a while. Hey it’s only a few bucks to do it anyway! Why not? Should be part of anyone’s regular tool maintenance.

[edl]

you bet - have about 100 hours on the 80gal/7.5hp US Gen compressor I bought - which has been tremendous and is a private label of a really solid US company (see an earlier post by me in this thread) - that is now first on the list of "things to do" - great reminder and thanks! -ed

[steve45]

The oil in a compressor should look 'like new', because there is no combustion going on in the cylinders. However, like Yellow said, there will be particles in the oil that need to be removed.

Don't forget, the compressor doesn't have an oil filter to remove these particles, either!

[WolfmanJack13]

I did a search for some but couldn't find anything that I particularly liked. I heard about hockey pucks; the soild rubber type. Any ideas on using them? What are good alternatives?

I have used hockey pucks many times on vibrating equpment. They last forever and are cheap. Might be tough finding some now winter is over. :cool2: