I have a Ingersoll Rand SS-3 single cylinder compressor pump. It has been run hard lately and is taking forever to build pressure and won't keep up with my work . It has been working good until today , I pulled the air filter it seemed plugged but even with it off, same problem, Head gets very hot . It is sucking air I can tell if I put fingers over intake . I don't hear any leaks when shut down . Could it need new rings ? are they available I haven't found them online ? If I need a new pump could I replace it with a SS-5 [ 5hp instead of SS-3 3 hp ] ?

 

I have found when an air compressor makes more heat and less air than normal that "usually" it is a valve problem, either carbon or broken springs.. I have worked on a lot of Kellog 20-25 HP 4cyl 2 stage, in an Industrial setting (one plant had 12 of these) and it was valves 95% of the time..

If the rings are bad it will most likely be pushing oil out around seals, and gaskets.. Just like an engine (blow by)

 

I agree, when the leaf-type valves get too hot, they quickly warp and lose seal. Rings do wear out; have you checked the oil level?

BTW the pump appears to be single stage, 2-cyl, INGERSOLL-RAND Air Compressor Pump,1 Stage - Air Compressor Pumps - 1WF72|SS3 Bare - Grainger Industrial Supply

Grainger usually has internal parts for these, a valve kit was all I found, and it just doesn't seem possible it could cost this much?! GRAINGER APPROVED VENDOR Kit,Valve - Parts - 26CV14|97338107 - Grainger Industrial Supply

another place:

Ingersoll Rand air compressor valve kit - 32012957

Damn, I would have guessed $25 for a kit?!?!

 

Thanks Ross I ordered the kit . And yes a lot of $ for what you get . I just bought a head gasket for a 2 cyl diesel 23 hp tractor it was $ 146.00 . When you need some of this oddball stuff they have you right by the ***** .

 

Makes flatheads look like a cheap powerplant?!

 

Yep.... You're right Ross, they have a hand full of nuts when it comes to air compressors.

That 4 cyl (Kellogg v462) I referred to earlier, uses 8 replacement valves, and it doesn't include the head/valve plate.. It's right at $500-$550 for a set.. You can buy parts to rebuild the valves, but if the valves are in bad shape it is usually cheaper to just replace the whole set.