Hit or miss engine from air compressor?

[Tenn_blue59]

I have a LeRoi 2 stage air compressor (440A) that has TWO broken connecting rods. One let go and took the other one out with it. Case, pistons, cylinder and crank are ok, just the rods are done - broke at big ends and middle section. Small end and piston pins are ok.

This was an extra compressor (I use a Kellog American 2 stage in the shop and have another 2 stage on the shelf...), and am looking for something to do with it. Can't see spending $3-400 for another compressor to sit on the shelf. But if I spent $$$ to makes something else, that might be cool!!!

I had heard/read somewhere about making a hit or miss engine from an air compressor. Guessing I would use the low pressure (bigger cylinder) side and would have to make a head with valves and valvetrain (and make a new rod as well.....). Put a spacer on the crank and plate over the high pressure jug hole.

Anybody ever tried this?

Both pistons were on the same crank journal, so I could make a heavier con rod and/or drill the counterweight to reballance the reciprocating mass?

What do you think?

 

[cfellows]

Don't know if there's any others exactly like yours, but there are a number of hit n miss engines on youtube made from single stage compressors...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfJRa6XllbM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfJRa6XllbM[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLftEdMqnk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLftEdMqnk[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Az8bVfRrpU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Az8bVfRrpU[/ame]

Lots more out there...

Chuck

 

[Tenn_blue59]

Thanks Chuck. I had seen some of these (or these types) on youtube, but never one based on a vee type compressor. I need to do some research on what I would have to fabricate and if this is too big a jump for my skills. Have been looking at some hit or miss plans to see if I can adapt to what I have.

I really love some of the models folks on here make from scratch, and on such small scale!! I thought this would be a good starting project for me. If I can use the existing compressor parts, the amount of stuff I have to build is less intimidating. And it being a larger scale (the big jug has about a 4" diameter), its more what I am used to working on size wise.

And we will be working on a steam engine as well. The wife got one of those steam engine kits with raw materials for her birthday, so we will be building that together so she can learn (me too!!!) how to use the tools in the shop.