The Monkey
Registered
Tried this query on another forum, but not much of a response so far. Hoping for better luck here:
I’ve had a Poseidon P190 compressor for many years (powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard petrol engine) giving good service. Probably not maintained nearly as well as it should have been but that’s another story. Anyway, recently I decided to remove the engine and replaced it with an electric motor (so that I can run it indoors). As the motor was smaller (3HP) than required to drive the compressor at full tilt (manual says compressor demand is 4.7HP), I had to use a smaller pulley on the motor than the engine had and now the rpm is 800 (calculated then checked with tacho once running) against the manual’s stated max of 1300. Obviously flowrate is down but I can live with that as I’m only topping up 3L CCR and 1.5L suit inflate bottles these days. All seems to be running fine and I’ve filled a few small cylinders already. However, I’m a bit nervous about the internal lubrication at the lower rpm. The manual states that it’s a splash lube with oil extractor pin on con rod of 3rd stage. HP stage lubricated by oil vapour. Can anyone tell me how much of an issue the lower rpm will be for the splash lube?
A couple of other related queries while I’m on:
1. I changed the rotation (via motor wiring) as the flywheel on the compressor was spinning the wrong way when using the (non-reversible) petrol engine, and the fins were pushing the coolant air away from the compressor rather than across it. Again manual seems to indicate 2 different flywheels available, depending on prime mover rotation direction, and I’m assuming when the engine was put on either the direction of rotation and the angle of the fins on the flywheel wasn’t noted or they couldn’t be bothered to change the flywheel. Is it OK to reverse the direction (again I'm thinking mainly about lube here and if the splash is via some 'paddle' that relies on the correct direction to work properly)?
2. Manual states Shell Ensis oil but I’d like to change out to Anderol 555. Would this cause any issues? Change out/flush procedure would be basically; run till warm, drain, fill with 555, run 15mins, drain, then fill with 555. Would Shell Corena P68 be another option?
I’ve had a Poseidon P190 compressor for many years (powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard petrol engine) giving good service. Probably not maintained nearly as well as it should have been but that’s another story. Anyway, recently I decided to remove the engine and replaced it with an electric motor (so that I can run it indoors). As the motor was smaller (3HP) than required to drive the compressor at full tilt (manual says compressor demand is 4.7HP), I had to use a smaller pulley on the motor than the engine had and now the rpm is 800 (calculated then checked with tacho once running) against the manual’s stated max of 1300. Obviously flowrate is down but I can live with that as I’m only topping up 3L CCR and 1.5L suit inflate bottles these days. All seems to be running fine and I’ve filled a few small cylinders already. However, I’m a bit nervous about the internal lubrication at the lower rpm. The manual states that it’s a splash lube with oil extractor pin on con rod of 3rd stage. HP stage lubricated by oil vapour. Can anyone tell me how much of an issue the lower rpm will be for the splash lube?
A couple of other related queries while I’m on:
1. I changed the rotation (via motor wiring) as the flywheel on the compressor was spinning the wrong way when using the (non-reversible) petrol engine, and the fins were pushing the coolant air away from the compressor rather than across it. Again manual seems to indicate 2 different flywheels available, depending on prime mover rotation direction, and I’m assuming when the engine was put on either the direction of rotation and the angle of the fins on the flywheel wasn’t noted or they couldn’t be bothered to change the flywheel. Is it OK to reverse the direction (again I'm thinking mainly about lube here and if the splash is via some 'paddle' that relies on the correct direction to work properly)?
2. Manual states Shell Ensis oil but I’d like to change out to Anderol 555. Would this cause any issues? Change out/flush procedure would be basically; run till warm, drain, fill with 555, run 15mins, drain, then fill with 555. Would Shell Corena P68 be another option?