“Best Buy” Portable Compressor

“Best Buy” Portable Compressor FARM SHOP Miscellaneous “Engine-powered air pressure may not be the number one accessory on our farm but it’s darn close ” says FARM SHOW contributing editor Lorn Manthey For the past few years Manthey and his farming partner have used a portable 30-gal gas-powered air compressor to clean the daily grit grime and dust off their combine air up large equipment tires and run powerful air tools “I looked at several different models and settled on a unit from Northern Tool www northerntool com; ph 800 221-0516 because it has a dependable Honda GSX engine ” says Manthey “I have that engine on liquid transfer pumps and they seem to always start with one pull of the cord We also have that engine on our seed tender and it starts with just a quick turn of the key You let them idle for 30 seconds or so to warm up and they’re ready to work ” Manthey says the compressor engine is no different even though its being used on cool damp mornings in the spring and fall “I just open the relief valve on the tank slide the choke open pull the cord and it fires right up ” says Manthey “The GX390 OHV motor runs a heavy-duty cast iron pump with dual crankshaft bearings using low vibration technology It takes about 60 seconds to fill the tank with 140 lbs of pressure which is more than adequate to blow off a dusty and dirty combine We have a 100-ft hose on a recoil reel with a 5-ft copper wand and can clean the whole combine in about 15 min ” Manthey says Another feature Manthey likes about the compressor is the automatic idle when tank pressure reaches a pre-set level The machine delivers 24 4 cfm @ 90 psi with the pump running at 1 300 rpm’s The cast iron flywheel provides extra momentum to pressurize the tank At 380 lbs the machine isn’t easy to move in or out of a vehicle or trailer so they mounted the compressor on a 1/2-in thick steel plate with metal stake pockets That way they can lift the unit which now weighs 450 lbs on and off a trailer with their skid steer “We clean off the combine and blow out the filters every morning sometimes twice a day if conditions are really dusty ” says Manthey “Having the portable compressor lets us do the cleaning in the field when we’re refueling saving time by not having to drive into the yard to the electric compressor in the shed ” Manthey says he has about $1 400 invested in the compressor the mounting frame the retractable reel and the custom-made wand An optional electric start is available for the machine but since the engine starts with one pull of the cord he’s never seen a need to add that option “This rig is a very worthwhile investment that should last a long time ” he adds Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lorn Manthey Northfield Minn 55057 redoakridge@mac com

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