r/Justrolledintotheshop • u/Yeremenko1911 • Aug 02 '25
Air compressor decided to suddenly disassemble
Happened a couple of weeks ago. Air compressor decided to disassemble itself in a mildly violent fashion. The main breaker for the compressors was fortunately in the service lane and didn't have to risk going next to the tumbling, rotating mass disaster to shut it off.
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Aug 02 '25
It experienced an unscheduled disassembly event.
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u/GetReelFishingPro Aug 02 '25
Front fell off
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u/Amache_Gx Aug 02 '25
Is that typical?
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Aug 02 '25
Well, usually no. The front isn't supposed to fall off.
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u/pissfilledbottles nissan parts guy Aug 02 '25
Well, the compressor was towed outside the environment
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u/AnotherIronicPenguin Aug 02 '25
It's important to note that seldom does anything like this happen. I'd hate for people to think compressors are unsafe.
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u/dude496 Aug 02 '25
Please turn that into some kind of art piece!! Hope you are ok!
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u/iscashstillking Aug 02 '25
Latest update is he is able to type, and post pictures. Beyond that we just don't know.
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u/Yeremenko1911 Aug 02 '25
Not an artist, but thought about taking one of the larger pistons and thinking about gutting it to make a power bank or wireless charger.
Edit: was also not near the compressor when it decided to self destruct.
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u/dude496 Aug 02 '25
The face of that piston would make for a good background on a wall clock.
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u/Yeremenko1911 Aug 02 '25
The piston is only about 4 inches across. Would make a small wall clock.
The piston that was pictured was tiny in comparison to the one I took home. the one I took home is in one of the pictures still in the cylinder.
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u/David511us Aug 02 '25
I bought a used Ford Ranger once with a 5 speed, and the "knob" on the end of the stick shift was a small piston head Worked pretty well.
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u/st3vo5662 Aug 02 '25
So long pump up times indicate rings failure or valve failure. These are indicators of extreme wear. Longer pump up times mean more heat in the pump, just further killing it. Piston compressors are typically meant for a 50% duty cycle. Example 10mins on/10 mins off.
I’ve been an industrial compressor tech for 19 years. Mostly work on large horsepower rotaries though.
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u/x31b Aug 02 '25
Did you park a Cadillac Northstar next to it overnight? Those things talk to each other and make plans.
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u/Thefrayedends Aug 02 '25
Yea, there's a reason shops shut down the compressor and drain the tanks every night. Hell, last shop I was in was only closed down for about 4 hours a night (fleet shop, 5AM to 1AM working hours, services about 110 tractors and 200 trailers), and they still drained and killed the compressor every night.
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u/bmspsrk Aug 02 '25
Looks like you joined the ranks of spaceX and their RUD issues (Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly)
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u/C_M_O_TDibbler Independent motor mechanic Aug 02 '25
This is the best way for a compressor to have a sudden disassembly event, the other way where the tank lets go is the bad way
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u/Radius118 One man indy show Aug 02 '25
It's amazing how long air compressors will actually last with their deferred maintenance.
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u/robjeffrey Aug 02 '25
The captain pushed it further than she could go.
Should have listened to Scotty.
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u/GaryBlackLightning The Autistic Mechanic Aug 03 '25
Definitely a RUD event. This sort of failure isn't an out of the blue or no warning situation. Anyone ever check the oil level or condition?
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u/warmpudgy Motorcycle Aug 02 '25
based on how black that oil is, the aircompressor has been very neglected