air compressor
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,298
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
I don't think many of us have any idea how much air it takes to operate your latch. I got a 12v air pump off a Lincoln or Caddy with air assist shocks at the boneyard for $25. It will inflate tires, not fast, but it puts out enough pressure to keep a reservoir charged at 40 - 50 psi. The engine driven compressors seem like total overkill, but I really have no idea how much air the latch needs. How about a picture? Is it an air cylinder?
Edit: this is what I got, less the fancy covers
Edit: this is what I got, less the fancy covers
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
Ill have to get a picture later, but it is an air cylinder, but it is not very big. I am running 6 v though so that pump will not do it unless i buy one of those inverters which run 100 bucks and take a lot of current.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
Ok here is the truck with the bed sitting on it. I just set it on there today to see how it fits before the paint job.
Here are some pics of that air cylinder for the lock on the tail gate.
Here are some pics of that air cylinder for the lock on the tail gate.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,298
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
You need a fair amount of pressure and volume to move that, but unless you are opening and closing it often, a small compressor with a 5-gallon reservoir should do the trick. One driven off the PTO would work, like I think Wayne said, you won't need to run it all the time. If you were 12v you'd have more options.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
I was thinking about just running off the pto, because if i get a pump and then get a 5 gallon tank and run the pto long enough to fill the tank and make sure it does not leak it will be fine. I do not plan on using the truck every day, so that was my plan.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
Another idea: 6V electric motor driving an A/C compressor. Should be more straightforward to put together than coming up with brackets & pulleys to mount an A/C compressor on the engine. Maybe a 12V starter motor would work, and last better. A brief google suggests that winch motors are a good choice for driving compressors, since they're designed for higher duty cycle than starter motors.
electric york compressor?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network
electric york compressor?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 71
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From: Washington C.H., Ohio
For a dump truck, the PTO driven route would probably be great, as you're usually standing still while dumping. Does your trans already have a PTO unit? Some of the older ones are getting hard to find.
Of course the best solution would really be to convert the truck from 6v positive ground to 12v negative ground and use an electric pump. It might sound like a lot of work, but it's not. You'd need a 12v gennie (or Alt), 12v coil, 12v starter & solenoid, voltage reducer at the dash and new light bulbs. It'll make life easier down the road. If you use a '56 or later gennie and your battery is still under the floor, it'll even still look stock !!
Also, I might suggest adding a v-belt pulley to the driveshaft flanges at the trans (assuming it has trans mounted park brake). All the "new" stuff would hidden under the truck. The trans (or rear-end mounted) method is sometimes uses on hot rods and race cars to drive an alternator.
Jim
Of course the best solution would really be to convert the truck from 6v positive ground to 12v negative ground and use an electric pump. It might sound like a lot of work, but it's not. You'd need a 12v gennie (or Alt), 12v coil, 12v starter & solenoid, voltage reducer at the dash and new light bulbs. It'll make life easier down the road. If you use a '56 or later gennie and your battery is still under the floor, it'll even still look stock !!
Also, I might suggest adding a v-belt pulley to the driveshaft flanges at the trans (assuming it has trans mounted park brake). All the "new" stuff would hidden under the truck. The trans (or rear-end mounted) method is sometimes uses on hot rods and race cars to drive an alternator.
Jim
Last edited by thx1138; Jul 24, 2010 at 11:40 PM. Reason: added info
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
Starter motors draw a lot of current, at least when they're trying to turn an engine over. It's measured in hundreds of amps. The motors are not designed to survive that kind of use for more than a few seconds at a time. I suggested a 12V motor because it should draw less current at 6V, and they're also very common so burning one out is no big loss. On the other hand, maybe a 6V motor would be OK if the load is light enough.
Try it and see. Preferably with a high-current shunt ammeter to get an idea of what the motor draws. Maybe a tach so the York compressor doesn't spin too fast.
Or, go for the engine mounted York compressor. That's well-tested technology, and won't put a big load on the battery or generator. Paint the York engine colour and it may look original enough. Having a serious source of on-board air will have other uses.
Try it and see. Preferably with a high-current shunt ammeter to get an idea of what the motor draws. Maybe a tach so the York compressor doesn't spin too fast.
Or, go for the engine mounted York compressor. That's well-tested technology, and won't put a big load on the battery or generator. Paint the York engine colour and it may look original enough. Having a serious source of on-board air will have other uses.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Washington C.H., Ohio
Hey Fifty-Two-F1,
The compact electric ones shown in the picture above do, but one built from a salvaged A/C compressor would require a pressure switch like a home compressor. You could probably make a 6v oil pressure idiot light sender work or just install a pressure relief valve.
I do a little checking on this (I'm curious myself). There are 'kits' to do this in 4x4's and I know they've been used with airbag setups. I add more on what I find.
Jim
The compact electric ones shown in the picture above do, but one built from a salvaged A/C compressor would require a pressure switch like a home compressor. You could probably make a 6v oil pressure idiot light sender work or just install a pressure relief valve.
I do a little checking on this (I'm curious myself). There are 'kits' to do this in 4x4's and I know they've been used with airbag setups. I add more on what I find.
Jim
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Washington C.H., Ohio
Wow that was easy....
Enter "york compressor 4x4" or "york compressor OBA" in your favorite search engine and read, read, read.
Here's a couple I found:
-On board Air using a York Compressor | On Board Air / O.B.A. Tech Article | 4x4 Tech Articles & Off Road Locations | 4x4 Mecca
-LA 4X4 Home Page
A company called Viair (VIAIR Corporation - 12 & 24 Volt Air Compressors) sells parts and complete systems. A quick look around there site didn't list anything 6v, but, you should contact them and ask. (Didn't see 12 & 24 volt 'til I previewed
)
The first link I posted used a pressure cut-off switch for a home air compressor. Makes sense, the switch doesn't know what voltage it's switching. The Viair site had one that was about same size/shape as a brake light switch for our old trucks. I would imagine it's a normally-closed switch that opens when it reaches pressure (opposite of a brake light switch)
Hope this sends you in a good direction,
Jim
Enter "york compressor 4x4" or "york compressor OBA" in your favorite search engine and read, read, read.
Here's a couple I found:
-On board Air using a York Compressor | On Board Air / O.B.A. Tech Article | 4x4 Tech Articles & Off Road Locations | 4x4 Mecca
-LA 4X4 Home Page
A company called Viair (VIAIR Corporation - 12 & 24 Volt Air Compressors) sells parts and complete systems. A quick look around there site didn't list anything 6v, but, you should contact them and ask. (Didn't see 12 & 24 volt 'til I previewed
)The first link I posted used a pressure cut-off switch for a home air compressor. Makes sense, the switch doesn't know what voltage it's switching. The Viair site had one that was about same size/shape as a brake light switch for our old trucks. I would imagine it's a normally-closed switch that opens when it reaches pressure (opposite of a brake light switch)
Hope this sends you in a good direction,
Jim
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