RIX Compressor questions

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akdeepdiver

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Messages
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Location
Iowa Park, TX
# of dives
200 - 499
Well, I was blessed with great luck and wonderful friends. Some friends of mine moved out of state, and were trying to slim down thier dive gear. They use to own a couple dive shops and they had a lot, including a few compressors. Because I have known them for quite a while and have helped out many times, I was given one of thier compressors. It is a RIX 6A oilless compressor. Does anyone have any experiance with this type/model, or have a instruction manual on PDF? I am waiting for a call back from the factory, but just wanted to see if anyone had one on here first. Plus if anyone has any advice on the operations of this model, it would be apprecaited.
Myles
 
The SA-6A is the older variant (current model is a 6B) operates with
4Kw 5HP 1500RPM and delivers 5.5 acfm to 5000psig charging rate 6 acfm
and is continuous rated.

Not knowing how long it last ran I would first off run up a quick trial of pressure.
1. Remove the shroud (single bolt a base 6 o clock position)
2. Clean any stray grease around the three rod end bearings, tube coils etc and inside shroud
3. Re grease (5 pumps) on industrial grease gun zerk nipple until fresh grease showing around
rod end base, wipe away any excess new grease you can see
4. Check air intake filter is clean (on end of 1"OD PVC tube)
5. Check rotation by hand, check belt tension (1 on the 6A or 2 belts if changed)
6. Check all cooling tube connections for tightness
7. Replace shroud by hand (and hold in place while running)
8. Jog test to check rotation (anti clockwise) at the drive end
8. Run up pressure with dive cylinder valve closed until 2000psi takes approx 40 seconds to 1min,
If taking longer, check for leaks or replace discharge valve o rings
9. Remove shroud quickly when stopped and check for leaks, soapy water spray
10. Replace shroud and open cylinder fill until 3000psi check filling rate by timing the filling time of a known size cylinder.
11. When cylinder full, switch off power, turn off cylinder

Then the interesting detail.

12. First. Drain completely the second stage moisture separator, pure distilled water should come out.
Close drain valve and wait 10 seconds, open again, if no or little air is drained your 3rd stage inlet valve is good,
if it fills back with pressure, it's leaking and your 3rd stage head 0-rings will need replacing.
13. Drain 3rd stage separator again pure clean water discharge.

Just a couple of points make sure you have a back pressure regulator BPR or priority valve and a chemical dehydrating filter tower.

The SA series were primarily used by the US Navy for filling twin 80 aluminium cylinders and they never used chemical filters, as the SA series cannot produce anything other than compressed ambient air. They neither add nor subtract from the purity of the ambient air.
For steel cylinders a small dehydrating chemical filter tower is a must.

Also as most of these are ex government I am never sure you have all the correct parts or if they have been assembled or serviced correctly, most cases not.
This simple test will check charging rate, filling rate, static head pressure, 3rd stage valve condition and rotation.
If you need the manual I have it in PDF you can email. Iain Middlebrook
 
I have it thanks, pdf on it's way later.
Better to have sent your email to me by private post
You should IMHO also remove your email address from a public forum
No point giving spam bots a ready target,
 
Iain,
I received the email with its attachements. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. This will give me some reading material before I call RIX with any questions.
V/R
Myles
 
This will give me some reading material before I call RIX with any questions.

While there are a couple of people at RIX that are helpful, in general, you will find that Ian is a LOT more responsive and helpful. At least that is the experience of some of my RIX owners.
 
contact airspeed press and ask for info in rix sompressors. airspeed press puts out hte oxygen hackers book. make sure you use the right greese for the rod ends and not auto stuff

Well, I was blessed with great luck and wonderful friends. Some friends of mine moved out of state, and were trying to slim down thier dive gear. They use to own a couple dive shops and they had a lot, including a few compressors. Because I have known them for quite a while and have helped out many times, I was given one of thier compressors. It is a RIX 6A oilless compressor. Does anyone have any experiance with this type/model, or have a instruction manual on PDF? I am waiting for a call back from the factory, but just wanted to see if anyone had one on here first. Plus if anyone has any advice on the operations of this model, it would be apprecaited.
Myles
 

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