Awl--

Posted a while ago on my Home Despot/Husky 26 gal half-price ditty--single
stage, belt driven, cast iron, oil lube.
Pretty happy w/ it. Perty quiet...
Husky appears to be a Campbell Hausfeld spinoff, altho no one at Husky/CH
seems quite clear about various corporate entities and their relations...

Q1:
What are the signs of over-filling w/ oil?? Consequences??

Q2:
The oil dipstick is a friction-fit jobby, in plastic. To measure the oil
level, do I shove it all the way in, or just rest on the fill lip?

Q3:
The dipstick appears to be vented! Why? And is this important? I haven't
noticed this on other compressors.

Q4:
I would like to take advantage of this venting, and make an external
"boiler-tube" like sight glass, by running clear plastic hose from the drain
plug. Thread is unknown as yet--if there's a god, it will be 1/8 npt.
Anyone know for sure, before I spill oil all over the place?
Since the 'stick seems vented, if I somehow kluge a connection to the hose
top to the 'stick top, a viable sight-glass type reading should be had--ie,
the venting eliminates internal pressures/air pockets, which might give
anomalous readings thru the tube.
Sound reasonable?
Speedaire's version of this in fact has a built-in sight glass.

Comments:

As I think I might have mentioned, the pump on the 26 gal Husky is quite
similar to those found on Speedaire single stages, and others. Husky/CH in
fact confirmed that they make a lot of Speedaire's stuff.
Altho single stage, it puts out 145 w/ no problem whatsoever, and is much
quieter than other compressors, incl. 2 stage, that I've heard.
They claim 5,000 hours for the pump, double that of other mfr's, if it's for
real.
They also recommend synthetic oil. Doesn't hold much oil, mebbe 1/2 qt.
Removing the belt/pulley guard improves air flow around the pump head.

The overall quality is B/B-, but more than adequate for most shop's needs,
imo, if the cfm is acceptable--about 6 or so at 90 psi.
I've re-plumbed virtually everything, which is not a quick task on these
types of units, which make no provisions for mods. Was sort of necessary,
given the location in a fairly inaccessible nook.

But, the tech help people were actually quite helpful in correcting my
misunderstanding of the 120 to 230 V conversion, which really helps in terms
of current draw. At 120 V, it draws a full 15 A.
----------------------------
Mr. P.V.'d
formerly Droll Troll