one more small air compressor story

This may cover old ground, so to speak, but anyway, I have a Sears electric one HP, two cylinder air compressor. A few days ago, I turned it on, and after running fine for about a minute it started clattering or sort of hammering. This unit has never made a noise like that in 30 years. I wanted to see if I can get parts and gaskets before I take it apart. Local Sears store can not get owners manual, but helped me with parts book printout via computer. Has anyone had a small unit similar to this (1 HP, belt drive, 2 cylinder) that made a clattering or knocking noise? Any advice?
Thanks much!

Dennis in W. Tenn.

Sears did not build it, they only bought it from a manufacturer and have their name on it. try some of the other
brands like Campbell-Hausfield, Speed-Air and Dayton brand from Grainger. Your compressor probably chewed up the
reed valves and stops.

Thanks for quick reply, Gene!
The model number starts with 106, then a decimal point. Do you know what supplier the "106" indicates? Thanks for any help.

Dennis in W. Tenn.

Pull the head and check the reed valves.
Like Gene said, I bet you broke a valve.
I think those old Sears were made by Campbell Hausfeld.
They were good compressors.

Steve A W

According to this list it is Campbell Hausfeld
List

30 year old compressor fails. I would get rid of it, my concern would be the tank. If it hasn't rusted thru it will. Old tanks are like a grenade, do you really want to take that chance. I know someone will start talking about a tank that's 50 years old, and never leaked. Make a BBQ grill out of it.

A hammering noise I would look to the pistons or connecting rods. The last time I had one make a hammering noise one of the flapper valves had the screws come out and fall down on top of the piston.

My uncle was terribly hard on stuff. He did no maintenance on anything. He had a 1 hp 2 cylinder belt drive air compressor on a 15-20 gallon tank. Sat in the corner of his 2-car garage by and external garage wall and common internal wall with the living room on the other side. He left the compressor plugged in and pumped up all the time. He comes home from town one day and the house looks "Funny". HE pushes the button on the garage door opener.

Sitting in the middle of the garage is what's left of his compressor. The Tank is turned inside-out, pump is O-K, motor O-K. But the external garage wall was blown off the foundation, window was blown out. The common wall with the living room was also blown off the foundation, about 6-8 feet of it was just hanging in air in the basement.

Uncle didn't even know you were supposed to drain water out of compressor tanks. Inside of tank was in good shape except the bottom. Had flaky rust. Tank was made out of really thin steel. Not an ASME tank. Ticking time bomb for sure.

Son has a 1964 vintage Quincy air compressor on an 80 gallon tank. 2-stage, pumps up to 160-170 psi. He's shopping for a new ASME tank. I never thought ASME made any difference until I worked at a place that was ASME certified. The AE paid us a visit 2-3 times a week. But we watched quality like a hawk every day.

I've got an old CH compressor.

It got so it took forever to pump up.

Took the head off, the reeds are held in with some tiny pan head screws. Some of the screws had come out, were stuck in the top of the piston, the reeds had turned so they were not sealing. I picked the screws out of the piston, appeared to not have hurt it. Put some new oversized screws in with red Locktite, new head gasket, good to go!

Last one I saw that developed a hammering noise for no apparent reason simply had a loose pulley on the motor shaft, it was hammering against the square key. I have an old Craftsman compressor that sort-of matches your description, the compressor head is made by DeVilbiss if I spelled it right. Could you post a pic? I have seen that same head spin out a rod bearing, but not when driven with a 1hp motor. Occasional oil changes are mandatory for crankcase-style compressors, but the "oil-less" ones wear out in about the time it takes the oil to need changing.

IT'S FIXED NOW! I took the cylinder head with all the reed or flapper valves still in it to gentleman at local compressor shop. He said no damage, no mechanical problems evident regarding the head.

When I had removed the head, I did find part of an acorn shell sitting on top of one of the intake flappers. Also, field mice had made a nest in the belt guard using wads of pink fiberglass insulation from the garage wall. Lots of acorns and other junk under and around the belt and pulleys. Mice also had chewed up or removed the foam filters from the intake valve flappers so acorns and other stuff could get into the cylinders. I replaced the foam parts of the little filters, also attached some window screen material tightly over the whole head. It seems the mice caused my compressor's clattering problem; I think it is mouse-proof now. I am glad nothing critical was broken! (BTW, I also put in a new head gasket.)
Thanks for the several thoughtful and constructive replies. Great and helpful forum.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.