Quincy compressor “stuck”

[wrbix]

Secondary to moving/renting the old home place/etc, my Quincy air compressor Model 310 is stuck (hate to use the term seized yet) after sitting unused for about a year and a half. Motor just spins against the belt, the flywheel won’t turn by hand. There is no nut or any other purchase on the flywheel with which to apply a torque. No easily apparent way to access the crankshaft.
Anyone here with any experience/suggestions other than hauling it in for rebuild....just the compressor head itself is one heavy summagun.

[Sasquatch Jim]

Sounds like it's broke.

[RinkRat II]

    Highly unlikely anything is broken so I would pull  the head off and pour a mix of trans fluid and acetone on top of the pistons and work the flywheel back and forth by hand. Most likely some rust and corrosion has the rings stuck. Parts and gaskets are still available for these old workhorses.   

   Paul B

[wrbix]

    Highly unlikely anything is broken so I would pull  the head off and pour a mix of trans fluid and acetone on top of the pistons and work the flywheel back and forth by hand. Most likely some rust and corrosion has the rings stuck. Parts and gaskets are still available for these old workhorses.   

   Paul B

Paul, sounds like a plan, thanks.

[cliffrod]

When it's easy access to apply aft where it pools without running off, you don't necessarily need the acetone.  You may be able to do it without removing the head, especially if the gasket would need replacement.  Be patient & give the atf time to work.  Try rocking the flywheel a little each day until it starts moving.

I just soaked both decades-long frozen lift cylinder and pump on an large Uhrden shop crane/engine hoist for about a week each with straight atf that would pool on top of the frozen parts.  Now both are loose & waiting for new rebuild parts & seal kits to arrive.

Good luck.

[wirespokes]

^^^^ What Cliff said.

I think the acetone thins the ATF and helps it sneak in where it's needed. BTW, power steering fluid works better than ATF.

There should be access into the compression chamber without pulling the head.

[Rick in WNY]

Agreed. No need to pull the head just to get it turning. Find the air inlet line and remove it. Get a hose barb that will screw into the port and some clear hose to fit it. Thread hose barb into the intake port. Slide clear hose onto the hose barb and clamp in place. The support the hose, say 12 inches or so, vertically. Use wire, a 2x4, whatever is handy. The point is to hold the hose up and let gravity do the work.

Fill hose with ATF. If it runs right in, fine. If not, fill the hose to the top and let it sit. It will work it's way in, you don't need to be there to watch it, and by using clear hose, it's easy to see if it's gone into the pump.

Done this a few times over the years on the farm... works great!

[wrbix]

.....and I’m assuming I’ll be changing the oil once freed up to dump the ATF.

Thanks for everyone’s input.

[RinkRat II]

   If you pulled the head you'll only need a ounce or to of the mix to do it's job.  Iwould not recommend putting fluid in the intake as it will only lead to more problems down the road as you will not get it all out by running the compressor. It will migrate throuout the head and potentially cause sticking valves later on.  Quincy valves are designed and built as check valves and operate dry. I would go ahead and change the oil as a matter of good maintenance I believe your unit does not have a oil filter and would recommend 30wt non detergent oil.  Some later units had an oil filter and could be run on detergent oil. Hope this helps. On the nameplate it will have mod# Ser# and record of change #. If you need parts you'll need that number.

       Paul B

[wrbix]

Followup/feedback: after a few weeks of ATF/Acetone sitting on top of pistons, I finally resorted to brute force - by moving the cooling circuit slightly I was able to get a “medium” sized pipe wrench on the shaft and with a 2ft extension was able to break her loose. Woohoo!
A few rotations and all is smooth. Awaiting new gaskets for reassembly and test of function.
Thanks to y’all for suggestions/encouragement

[RinkRat II]

        Most Excellent!

            Paul B