He Built His Own Pto-Driven Air Compressor
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Jack Dyck, Richmond, B.C.: "I built my own pto-driven air compressor by mounting a right angle gearbox and pulley unit - salvaged from an old tractor- on a steel bracket that I bolted onto a 200-gal. air tank. I also mounted a used compressor equipped with its own pulley on the bracket. I use a tractor to pto-drive the gearbox which belt-drives the compressor. The compressor blows air through a copper tube that goes through the bracket and into the tank. The original pulley on the gearbox was designed for a flat belt. I replaced it with a bigger 2-groove pulley, using an adapter to install it.
"I work part time for a construction business and got the idea while working at a place that had no electricity. I was given the compressor and found the tank alongside a road. I made an adjuster that lets me move the bracket back and forth to tighten the belt.
"I also made my own pressure washer that's powered by the engine off a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle car. I removed the clutch plate from the flywheel and filled in the center of the clutch with a small steel plate, then drilled holes into the plate and bolted on a 3-groove pulley. The pulley, covered for safety, belt-drives a Giant pump that I bolted onto a steel bracket. I bolted half of a VW transmission case to the engine block (the early VW transmissions were built in two pieces) and bolted an 8-in. channel iron bracket onto the transmission in order to mount the pump. Water travels from the pump through steel hydraulic hoses and into a wand (not shown). I knocked the valves out of the connectors on the hoses so that they're totally open.
"The original VW fan housing is still used to cool the engine. I didn't change anything on the housing except to close some ducts in order to get more air to the engine. I mounted a pair of switches on the housing. One is the ignition switch (the transmission contains the engine's starter mounting) and the other activates an automatic throttle that I made. The throttle is a flow switch that's activated by flowing water - it closes a relay which energizes an electromagnet on the throttle. It al-ways keeps the engine running at idle until I pull a trigger on the wand - then it will rev up the engine to its pre-set maximum. As soon as I let go of the throttle switch the engine returns to idle.
"The pump bracket has slotted holes for adjusting belt tension. I just loosen a bolt to adjust the tension.
"The fuel tank is from an outboard motor. I use an automotive electric fuel pump to supply the carburetor with fuel. The pump is wired into the ignition switch so that when-ever the ignition is on, the pump is working.
"I'm semi-retired but have started a pressure washing business. I use my homemade pressure washer to clean houses, driveways, sidewalks, etc. I even use it to wash restaurants. It mounts in the back of my pickup."
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He Built His Own Pto-Driven Air Compressor FARM SHOP Tools 22-3-30 Jack Dyck, Richmond, B.C.: "I built my own pto-driven air compressor by mounting a right angle gearbox and pulley unit - salvaged from an old tractor- on a steel bracket that I bolted onto a 200-gal. air tank. I also mounted a used compressor equipped with its own pulley on the bracket. I use a tractor to pto-drive the gearbox which belt-drives the compressor. The compressor blows air through a copper tube that goes through the bracket and into the tank. The original pulley on the gearbox was designed for a flat belt. I replaced it with a bigger 2-groove pulley, using an adapter to install it.
"I work part time for a construction business and got the idea while working at a place that had no electricity. I was given the compressor and found the tank alongside a road. I made an adjuster that lets me move the bracket back and forth to tighten the belt.
"I also made my own pressure washer that's powered by the engine off a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle car. I removed the clutch plate from the flywheel and filled in the center of the clutch with a small steel plate, then drilled holes into the plate and bolted on a 3-groove pulley. The pulley, covered for safety, belt-drives a Giant pump that I bolted onto a steel bracket. I bolted half of a VW transmission case to the engine block (the early VW transmissions were built in two pieces) and bolted an 8-in. channel iron bracket onto the transmission in order to mount the pump. Water travels from the pump through steel hydraulic hoses and into a wand (not shown). I knocked the valves out of the connectors on the hoses so that they're totally open.
"The original VW fan housing is still used to cool the engine. I didn't change anything on the housing except to close some ducts in order to get more air to the engine. I mounted a pair of switches on the housing. One is the ignition switch (the transmission contains the engine's starter mounting) and the other activates an automatic throttle that I made. The throttle is a flow switch that's activated by flowing water - it closes a relay which energizes an electromagnet on the throttle. It al-ways keeps the engine running at idle until I pull a trigger on the wand - then it will rev up the engine to its pre-set maximum. As soon as I let go of the throttle switch the engine returns to idle.
"The pump bracket has slotted holes for adjusting belt tension. I just loosen a bolt to adjust the tension.
"The fuel tank is from an outboard motor. I use an automotive electric fuel pump to supply the carburetor with fuel. The pump is wired into the ignition switch so that when-ever the ignition is on, the pump is working.
"I'm semi-retired but have started a pressure washing business. I use my homemade pressure washer to clean houses, driveways, sidewalks, etc. I even use it to wash restaurants. It mounts in the back of my pickup."
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