Under bonnet Air Compressor

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 13:18

ThreadID: 71256 Views:5236 Replies:8 FollowUps:8

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unko

Our under bonnet air compressor has just died on the Simpson. It was a tomas dynavac the brass one. we have been looking around the web and the forum for a all metal air compressor, and we have found Tomas big red and boss (from the pics it looks all metal) or blue tongue single piston the double one is a bit out of our price range. what eles is our there we would like to keep it under the bonnet as we have limited room in the sc hilux. We just need the air compressor not any parts. The abr air compressors sound like they are really meant for lockers and secondly tyres.

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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 13:58

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 13:58

Hmmm....... have had the ARB Mk1 compressor for years now - have not used it a lot, but when required in the scrub it has been up to 'egg frying temperatures" at times doing multiple wheels and it's still going strong - now in it's second vehicle - the engine bay in the Jackaroo - rear of the Landcuiser now - I guess they are of course, much happier out of the engine bay's heat zones.

AnswerID: 377802

Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 14:10

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 14:10

I use / carry 2 compressors, one is the single Blue Tongue as you mentioned, and the other is an Ox , made in USA , the Bluey is now carried as a spare and the Ox is mounted behind on the floor behind the passenger seat,
I also carry and adapter to connect the spare tyre valve stem to the stem on the road wheel , By carrying 2 spare tyres I add the maximum pressure as stated on the side walls and can then transfer air into the deflated drive tyres and use the compressor for the steer tyres when it's time to reinflate,

.

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AnswerID: 377803

Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 15:37

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 15:37

I have a big red and it is not that fast, its similar to the ARB i believe. But any of the good brands are reliable, thats most important. Michael

AnswerID: 377808

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 16:14

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 16:14

Unko,

I've been saying for years to anyone who will listen , that under the bonnet is not the ideal place to mount a compressor (IMHO). It's too hot and too much dust/water....but each to their own I suppose.

Now, as for your dead pump...... have you have a tinker with it to see if it can be fixed? It may just be a set of brushes required or something similar.

Roachie

AnswerID: 377809

Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 16:33

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 16:33

I am with Roachie again,

Nice clean, cool air from under the front passenger seat helps the little pumps last longer and work better. When I first got the ARB in the GU it was under the bonnett, jsut above the turbo, nice and hot. It was for ever cutting out so I went back to the guy who fitted it and said "Stick it under the seat please." Hey presto it works faultlessly and is quicker than a Blue Tongue when pumping up 4 tyres.

That said, if they have had a lot of use sometimes they die, use by date and all that.

The guy who moved mine was so impressed by the improvement that he now fits them under the seat as standard.

Duncs

FollowupID: 645201

Follow Up By: unko - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:40

Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 10:40

I went to one auto place they said that its a early 90's model dynavac tomas. it would be discontunide model, going to another auto place just to cheak it right. if i get a new one ill but it in the cab theres not much room under the seat behind the seat is the inverter and the jack and tyre changing stuff

FollowupID: 645303

Reply By: Crackles - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 17:06

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 17:06

If you have the space the Boss compressors are one of the best value for money units available giving sufficient cfm for reseating beads & inflating oversized tyres. They have a cooling fan so are continuously rated making them ideal for permanently mounting under the bonnat. I have one of the early versions & has been very reliable (& fast). The problem with many compressors is they have little or no filtration making them unsuitable for mounting in dusty locations.
If space is tight the larger ARB unit is a good alternative suitable for tyre inflation.
Cheers Craig................

AnswerID: 377819

Reply By: warfer69 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 18:31

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 18:31

Read on another forum how a guy has the ARB CKMA12,His mates had chewed through various other models and his is still going with no issues,i can attest to this..

AnswerID: 377830

Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:08

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:08

Yeah they are great....mine lasted a whole 14 months before it self destructed:-(

Cheers
Glenn

FollowupID: 645228

Follow Up By: warfer69 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:44

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:44

Hiya Glenn

Did you try and take it back ????,They should hav fixed or replaced it under a fair use policy !

Cheers

FollowupID: 645261

Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 23:28

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 23:28

Yeah, they will fix it under warranty, but I haven't got around to taking it in there yet.
But I imagine they will just replace the damaged parts, and I can see it failing again due to what I reckon is a design fault.

I have now lost confidence in the compressor, and won't be going offroad without a backup.

Cheers
Glenn

FollowupID: 645265

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:18

Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 12:18

Hi Glenn
Whats the design fault in these units?

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FollowupID: 645325

Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 18:41

Friday, Aug 07, 2009 at 18:41

John, the eccentric crank axle on these compressors are held on with one tiny little M4 screw. This screw snapped on mine....so no more drive to the conrod/piston.

Image Could Not Be Found
The screw in question is no. 32 in this exploded view.

Cheers
Glenn

FollowupID: 645385

Reply By: Ianw - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 18:39

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 18:39

I recently picked up a Magnum double cylinder compressor designed to be mounted on the engine and powered from a fan belt. Are these things any good? I have a Nissan 3 litre and it only has a flat serpentine type belt, so I cannot mount it to try it out.

Ian

AnswerID: 377832

Follow Up By: Crackles - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:15

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:15

" Are these things any good?"
An excellent high capacity compressor. With the engine revs up I doubt any electric compressor could keep up. Their main fault is they are very difficult to mount on many modern engines. I had alot of trouble finding belts that would last much longer than 6 months due to the tentioning system. (75 series Troopy)
Cheers Craig..........

FollowupID: 645230