Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - comressor storage

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David Doran
10-12-08, 08:20 AM
Once one purchases a compressor and puts it through its "breaki-in", is it fair to assume one has to do this only once? What happens if a compressor sits for six months or a year and not used, does it loose that so called break in? I guess what I am asking is once that break-in is done, from then on not matter how long a compressor has sat not used you plug it in and follow normal operating procedure and it should work fine.

j HOWARD
10-12-08, 10:59 AM
I had an oil comp.--opened drain plug- it sat for about a year-
closed drain plug-turned on--it ran fine.
Now I have an oil less comp.--the noise will drive you crazy...
marksr
10-12-08, 01:02 PM
I have a small 11 gal 1hp compressor that is about 25 yrs old. I used to use it fairly often but now that I'm retired and since my shop has a 60 gal 6 hp compressor, it only gets used on the rare occasion that I need to use air tools at another location. It still works flawlessly even though it may not be used for 6 months or more at a time.

markiz37
10-12-08, 05:52 PM
The break-in process is there for seating the rings and some other mating parts. Once broken in, the only way to "unbreak" it is to wear it out by using it. Then it's rebuild and break-in time again. Storage won't hurt anything except oil, so drain it out. And like jHoward said - keep the tank drain open.
chandler
10-12-08, 08:30 PM
Don't know, David, all my compressors never go more than overnight without being used, and run constantly all day, sorry.
chandler
10-13-08, 05:11 AM
One more thought...if you do store it, make sure your tank is devoid of water. Rust is a bad dude. When you turn it off, open the drain and allow the air to blow the moisture out as much as it will, and leave the drain open as stated by JHoward.