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Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 4:59 pm
by MikeAlan
USD-Luchard-ALIZE-1.JPG
Well, with the help of the very good people on this forum, I am proud to be the only guy in the world* who has a complete, properly functioning ALIZE compressor, made by Luchard in France, paired with a U.S. made Clinton engine, and sold by U.S.Divers from 1958 to 1965! :D

Let me emphasize "with the help of the very good people on this forum".

I had done some of the restoration myself, rebuilding the engine and the compressor, but without Bill and Tom, and Bryan, this wouldn't be both running AND pumping air! :!:

Yes, it's old school, and it's slow as hell. There's better technology in the engineering of every facet of modern compressors.

But this thing is so cool...I love it. At 65 pounds, I can pick it up and haul it by myself. The exhaust is routed up high, on a 4 foot vertical pipe, to keep nasty exhaust away from the compressor intake. There's barely any muffling, like my old mini-bikes and go-karts. There's no "safety guard" around the flywheel/fan, and it would be easy to get hurt...I'm glad I grew up in a time when you were expected to KNOW not to stick your hand into a moving blade... :wink:

Captain, was the one who pointed out the missing o-ring in the relief valve, and without that information, I could have never figured out that thing.

Antique Diver, sent me an assortment of tiny o-rings that I could sort through, and has offered help with valve rebuilding and generously sends parts out at no charge, just because he's a darn good guy.

Bryan, obviously has the VDH website, where all this came together, and has all the parts a vintage diving enthusiast could normally need.

The amount of information accumulated here; the combined knowledge of the members here, and the willingness to share that, is just amazing. I cannot think of a single thing I've wanted or needed to know that I can't (eventually) find the answer to somewhere within these pages.

Thanks to the entire VDH community! :)

* That I know of... :wink:

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 5:03 pm
by Bryan
It's a fantastic piece of equipment and diving history. Congratulations and thanks for the positive comments.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:22 pm
by captain
Just like my Cyclone the Luchard compressors are practically indestructible. I may also own the only running Cyclone.

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:22 am
by timbo
I have a cyclone project laying around in the attic.
So in the future there could be two.

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 12:31 am
by SeaHuntJerry
Way to Cool Us divers Congrats on this find

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 12:48 am
by antique diver
That's a great job to get one of these old beasts up and running! A nice addition to anyone's vintage equipment collection.:D

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:34 am
by captain
timbo wrote:
Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:22 am
I have a cyclone project laying around in the attic.
So in the future there could be two.
If you need a copy of the original manual I can copy mine.

Re: My new (to me) compressor

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 1:22 pm
by timbo
Yes please,that would be great.