OLD Curtis air compressor issue

JD Seller

Well-known Member
I have an older Curtis two stage air compressor. It has the centrifugal air dump system on it. It doe not work without me fooling with it every now and then. I want to just switch it over to a normal unloader/dump valve setup. I would just disable the current system so the compressor starts to pump as soon as the compressor turns. Then install a unloader/dump valve in the supply line from the compressor to the tank.

My question is this. Where do I get a large unloader/dump valve??? Also do you see any reason for what I am doing to not work???

I have a Speed Air compressor that is much newer and this is how it is plumbed.
 
(quoted from post at 23:05:25 08/29/13) I have an older Curtis two stage air compressor. It has the centrifugal air dump system on it. It doe not work without me fooling with it every now and then. I want to just switch it over to a normal unloader/dump valve setup. I would just disable the current system so the compressor starts to pump as soon as the compressor turns. Then install a unloader/dump valve in the supply line from the compressor to the tank.

My question is this. Where do I get a large unloader/dump valve??? Also do you see any reason for what I am doing to not work???

I have a Speed Air compressor that is much newer and this is how it is plumbed.
have an old 1927 Curtis with that unloader setup. I think just maintain it, but you can install the later pressure dump unloader as you wish.........it should work, too. W.W. Grainger out to have what you need.
 
Install a pressure switch with the little bleed off needle valve on the side. Install an in-tank check valve between the pump and tank. Plumb a 1/4" copper tube from the check valve 1/8" NPT bleed off port to the unloader needle valve. Adjust to desired cut-out pressure.

Some Curtis setups use the exhaust valve as the check valve, so an unloading pressure switch won"t work until you do the check valve install. Remove all the flyweights and levers, you won"t need them anymore.
 
I have a 1938 Curtis 2 stage 2 cylinder and the unloader was off it when I bought it 35 years ago and still starts and works fine with out it.
 
Thanks guys. I will switch it over to the more modern style of dump system. The trouble with the old system is that it does not always work. So when you need air you are fooling with the compressor rather than working.
 

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