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What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:18 pm
by rhwestfall
Barn find... Builds pressure quickly. Seems around 2.5 CFM. 3000- ish...

Bauer:

Model? Manual? Parts (future)?

I have a real nice filter stack for it, so that shouldn't be an issue...

What else should I know?

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:22 pm
by rhwestfall
bigger pics:

(yes, it is sitting on a MAKO skid....)

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:19 pm
by antique diver
Looks like a Bauer block from 60's or 70's. Mako imported Bauer blocks from Germany, and built the rest of the package in Florida. Might be similar to a later model of Utilus or Purus.

Is there any name or model number on the data plate? Let me know and I'll see if I can find something close in parts schematics. There is a medium chance of head valves and some pistons being available.

The moisture separator on left, with rounded top, may be steel, I hope. If so, a good internal inspection is definitely in order, as it would be with any pressure vessel. Remember this one gets water in it all the time during use. The cylinder on right appears to be aluminum, and is probably the filter tower for a tiny filter. Could be a combination separator and filter. May have a manual moisture drain on bottom end. Aluminum of that age is suspect for pitting, cracking and/or metal fatigue, so maybe bypassing it to go to your better filter array would be a good idea. Shouldn't be that difficult to do.

The tubing fittings are likely metric, but are available. Be cautious of confusing 6mm tubing with 1/4" if you revise some plumbing.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:46 pm
by rhwestfall
The plate on the skid:

MAKO
K-18
2.1 cfm
2200 psi
750 rpm
SN: 4652

Motor is a GE
1.5 HP, 120/240 single phase w/ 220 plug
1725 RPM

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:50 pm
by antique diver
That might be similar to what was later called a "Purus" by Bauer. I'll see if I can find any info that old.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:52 pm
by rhwestfall
Just found a twin listed in Germany - 1962 Bauer Utilis...

https://picclick.de/Bauer-Utilus-Tauchk ... 62609.html

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:17 pm
by antique diver
I didn't find a schematic or manual on one that old, but it's still a good bet some newer parts are interchangeable or still available. Maybe you won't even need any internal parts. I'm mostly concerned about your separator and filter.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:56 pm
by Bryan
SCORE......The only thing I find in barns here are abandoned meth labs.... :shock:

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:01 am
by SurfLung
rhwestfall wrote:
Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:46 pm
The plate on the skid:

MAKO
K-18
2.1 cfm
2200 psi
750 rpm
SN: 4652

Motor is a GE
1.5 HP, 120/240 single phase w/ 220 plug
1725 RPM
Wow, that's a heck of a nice find. Low RPMs, probably quiet and will last forever. Then I was looking at the specs above and wondering if it could go higher than 2200 psi. The plate on the identical compressor in the link says 225 atu... I looked up atu units and it is either atmospheres or BAR in modern measurements... Which puts it in the 3,000 + psi capability. Bill, on this grade of compressor, is there an acceptable way to pump higher 2200 psi pressures? On the other hand, I dive steel tanks marked from 1800-2250... This compressor will pump up everything I dive just fine! Congrats on a heck of a nice compressor! :)

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:30 am
by captain
Back when the main diving tank was the 2250psi 72 that is what compressors for filling them were rated for. It is likely the only difference between it pumping 2200 and 3000 is the relief valve setting. My 1968 USD Cyclone was rated at 2400, 2800 maximum. 2800 was the relief valve setting. I upped the setting to 3200 so I could pump to 3000.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 11:06 am
by antique diver
3000 should be fine if the machine is working properly.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:06 pm
by rhwestfall
Thanks for the replies and thoughts!



Just an update on my progress...

I has taken me a bit of time to get rolling...

New Electrical feed for it was run (10/2 wiring and a 30A dryer receptacle plug and box).

Building a cabinet (contactor, on/off keyed switch, hour meter, wiring bus, and an outlet to plug into)

Awaiting delivery of the one missing filter from my filter stack

Have to come up with how I want to plumb between compressor and filter set.

Need to get a new fill whip

Trying to incorporate my CO detector into the fill loop.

Need to arrange with Trace Analytics for sample analysis....

MUCH TO DO!

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:08 pm
by rhwestfall
The guy who checked it out for me pumped a 50 to 3000 with it successfully, and in a time frame that validated the 2.xx CFM rate...

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:13 am
by rhwestfall
Wiring & controls completed and it is up and running, Filter stack plumbing is next (need fittings). New SS fill whip(s) due any day now. Been a fun project.

Control cabinet is a main bus, contactor, neutral bar, hour meter, and a keyed on/off switch. I may put start and stop buttons on it in the future, but for now the keyed switch handles it fine.

I am pleasantly surprised how quiet it is.

Re: What do I have?

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 8:30 am
by antique diver
Good job, Bob.

If you need 1/4" SS tubing fittings I have a pretty good supply of Swagelok 6000 psi stuff available at reasonable cost or trade. They are usually pretty costly from most sources.