air compressor engine: electric to gas

[xsbchevy]

i was given a 80 gal tank with the pump from work. the down side is the motor fried after 8 months of use. the motor was roughly a 5hp century ac. i have a 2hp gas engine i can install with a few mods.
the pulley on the gas engine is about 1" smaller than the electric so i know that helps. less work on the motor to turn the pump. size i would say is 2-2.5" on motor and about 15" on pump.

what do i need to keep the motor from wearing out? thought about setting up some kinda wire on either the throttle or to the kill lever on the pop off valve. this will be a quick fix till i can afford a new motor and have it wired in to the pole.

[retired wrench]

I doubt that a gas engine that small will replace a 5 HP electric. RW

[88k25004by]

yes that 5hp electric motor will have alot more torque than even a 5hp gas motor will have. u might be able to "gear" it down a little more and get away with it. are you planing on going back to a electric motor ever or do you just want a gas compressor?

[xsbchevy]

i plan to get an electric soon. it just the motor will cost around $300. i have the gas engine laying around.

[xsbchevy]

i plan to get an electric soon. it just the motor will cost around $300. i have the gas engine laying around.

[jmack91z28]

I'm in the exact situation that your in. But I don't have a gas engine for it. I've talked to a guy who owns a local scrap yard and worked out a deal to buy one of his single phase 240v motors from him. Hes got anywere from 1 HP to 17 HP motors to choose from. Have you thought about going that route and talking to a local scrap yard close to you. You can get one for very cheap there and if you look hard, you'll find the one that was used the least.

After you figure a way to rig it to your compressor and all those modifications, plus that 2 HP motor will be very weak and slow to build psi, you'll come out probably the same if you were to go with an electric from the start.

Once you put an electric motor on there, you can go to Tractor Supply or somewere similar and order a Pressure Switch to control the motor. Easy to do. This is what i'm going to do.

Just save the gas engine and put it on a tiller or something.