Smith Motor Compressor

[Dick Webber]

Does any one have a Gordon Smith Co Model A air compressor conversion?

I recently bought one barn fresh, rough, stuck, but complete. I belong to Smith Motor Compressor region of MARC but would welcome correspondence with other owners.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Mine is not pretty, but it has done 40 hours of work several times, now it waits for the next sandblasting session.

 

[Joe K]

You can see my Avatar.

I also have another one as parts. Including the ASME coded air tank which is actually made up of two 100 lb LP gas cylinders with the bottoms cut off and welded together at the seam.

Joe K

 

[Marvin/TN]

Just a question about the fan blade, The one on my 30 Model A is like that one. Is it Model A maybe off a truck or something like the compressor. I have had my Model A for about 55 years

 

[Joe K]

Just a question about the fan blade, The one on my 30 Model A is like that one. Is it Model A maybe off a truck or something like the compressor. I have had my Model A for about 55 years

If you mean the pressed steel 4 blade fan of the original post - my GS compressor (made on a "B" engine) has this sort of fan.

I have heard that these were used with Model B trucks (for increased airflow to match a thicker radiator.)

Some have called these "riveted" fans. The model is very similar to aftermarket Model A fans which have a turned hub/pulley with the fan blade held with 4 bolts (either two blade or 4 blade)

There have been some discussion of the rivet fans failing due to cracking between rivet holes. But if one were to look at the bolted fan blades in detail, one might find a similar failure mechanism there?

Joe K

 

[Dick Webber]

I will take a closer look at my fan. The Smith head uses a B water pump

 

[CarlG]

...There have been some discussion of the rivet fans failing due to cracking between rivet holes. ...

On mine (and also my friend), it was the rivets themselves that failed, not the fan blades. We replaced the rivets with aircraft grade bolts and they have worked fine for about a year now. (FYI, I still plan on replacing my fan with the plastic fan I got from Bill Stipe.)

 

[Joe K]

On mine (and also my friend), it was the rivets themselves that failed, not the fan blades. We replaced the rivets with aircraft grade bolts and they have worked fine for about a year now. (FYI, I still plan on replacing my fan with the plastic fan I got from Bill Stipe.)

What I took away from the previous description was "failure" and not the modus.

You may be correct.

 

[Joe K]

Some pix of a Gordon-Smith Unit from Vince Falter's site. Further down the page (still an interesting look see - don't you just love to poke through other people's 'stuff'?)

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/michalek.2010.06.26.htm

Also A German Air compressor of similar to Gordon Smith (except the power cylinders are 1 and 2 and the compressor three and four. )

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/germancompressor.htm

Vince has "copy" on the pix disabled, so you'll have to go there yourself to see the pix.

Joe K

 

[Ted Duke]

I bought a Smith air compressor head at AACA Hershey, and recently bought a governor. I have a Model A engine (condition unknown) and will have my eye open for whatsoever else I need, and WHEN I get my 29 RDSTR PU on the road I want to make one.
I need to hunt the number on that compressor head and send it in to add to the list of Model A Smith compressors. I need a ROUNDTUIT.

Ted

 

[Joe K]

I bought a Smith air compressor head at AACA Hershey, and recently bought a governor. I have a Model A engine (condition unknown) and will have my eye open for whatsoever else I need, and WHEN I get my 29 RDSTR PU on the road I want to make one.
I need to hunt the number on that compressor head and send it in to add to the list of Model A Smith compressors. I need a ROUNDTUIT.

Ted

The big challenge for you (like me on the second GS unit) is to find the "unloader cylinder" which does the "set-down" of speed on unloading of the compressor.

IIRC, this has a pneumatic cylinder identical to the piston unloaders on the head. Instead of the little plunger hitting the reed valves as on the head, the little plunger hits the backside of the bell crank which normally acts to move the throttle under action of the governor. The pneumatic cylinder "overrides" the position of the bell crank lever as set by the governor and pushes the carburetor throttle plate back to "idle."

I think I remember seeing a pix of this device on vince's pix of the GS compressor.

Interesting to listen to the GS compressor when idling - it gives a sort of "woosha-woosha" sound as the cylinders are unloaded and the air inlet valves are held open. And the lowered speed and dynamic unbalance of a 1-4 combustion cycle sort of makes the unit "hop" up and down on the springs of the trailer.


Joe K

 

[Gold Digger]

I've got a real nice Gordon-Smith compressor that runs good but I never use it. I would consider selling it if I new what to ask for it. Also have the sand blaster with it.

 

[SteveB31]

I have one as well. Have it hooked to the trailer hitch on my Model A powered airplane tug.

 

[Marvin/TN]

Yes it is made of pressed steel as in the first PIC. I know my pump is Model A because I replace it many years ago because it was broken. I had heard blades like these were on trucks for better cooling but didn't know that for sure. I have never had an over heating problem with my A. Thanks for replying to my question.

 

[1wonton]

I will say that my Smith air compressor has more than enough air to run my three-sack sandblast pot, used it many times.

 

[Ted Duke]

The big challenge for you (like me on the second GS unit) is to find the "unloader cylinder" which does the "set-down" of speed on unloading of the compressor.

IIRC, this has a pneumatic cylinder identical to the piston unloaders on the head. Instead of the little plunger hitting the reed valves as on the head, the little plunger hits the backside of the bell crank which normally acts to move the throttle under action of the governor. The pneumatic cylinder "overrides" the position of the bell crank lever as set by the governor and pushes the carburetor throttle plate back to "idle."

I think I remember seeing a pix of this device on vince's pix of the GS compressor.

Interesting to listen to the GS compressor when idling - it gives a sort of "woosha-woosha" sound as the cylinders are unloaded and the air inlet valves are held open. And the lowered speed and dynamic unbalance of a 1-4 combustion cycle sort of makes the unit "hop" up and down on the springs of the trailer.


Joe K

Joe K,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Somehow I LOST this thread and didn't know you had made a comment. Is there a schematic or something that tells all of the things I need? I have been busy on my 29 RDSTR PU restoration, but I am EVENTUALLY going to make a Smith air compressor. I joined the Smith Air Compressor Club, guess I should ask for help there, but not a high priority now.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Vince has "copy" on the pix disabled, so you'll have to go there yourself to see the pix.

Joe K

Took a screen shot of it...

Interesting about the German G28T engine, an improved "B" motor built in the 40's and 50's.

 

[Joe K]

I joined the Smith Air Compressor Club, guess I should ask for help there, but not a high priority now.

I have turned over my scanned materials to the SACC.

There is a way to use the compressor WITHOUT the air controls - they set it up as a "manual" control IIRC. I think this is covered in the GS literature. I seem to remember a manual valve that is closed or opened to cause the machine to unload - but wouldn't that be simply taking the place of the Conrader Valve - which is still available new? And not for large money?

See http://conrader.com/products_pilotedunloader.php for their constant speed unloader.

Best you get a download showing the GS information. That will describe all. The club has this.

Joe K

 

[Ted Duke]

I have turned over my scanned materials to the SACC.

There is a way to use the compressor WITHOUT the air controls - they set it up as a "manual" control IIRC. I think this is covered in the GS literature. I seem to remember a manual valve that is closed or opened to cause the machine to unload - but wouldn't that be simply taking the place of the Conrader Valve - which is still available new? And not for large money?

See http://conrader.com/products_pilotedunloader.php for their constant speed unloader.

Best you get a download showing the GS information. That will describe all. The club has this.

Joe K

Joe,

Where do I get that download?

Ted