ABAC Tamdem Compressor servicing and restoration

[JOEPRO]

I just got this home today. 2007 year ABAC 270 litre single phase tandem air compressor.

It works 100% I seen it charge up at the guys house. It was in his domestic garage for about 8 years. He bought it from a small garage in the area at the time and it was missing one motor and the control board. So he fitted one new motor and got another control board at the time.

You can switch on either compressor or both at the same time etc.

Why do I "need" this? I diy restore Mercedes cars as a hobby. And have a sandblast cabinet and also a small sealey blast pot so it will be put to work on occasion. I also got it cheap.



I would like to clean it up and service it etc so I'll share that on this thread and will probably need some advice from you all too!

It's not going to be a full nut and bolt restoration with respray etc BTW. Just a good clean up, touch in any rust, rewire it, oil change and service kits etc.

 

[JOEPRO]

It's on castor wheels at present which proved essential for me moving it on my own.

They are very tall though and leaning. Looks like someone welded on bolts to make them fit and either it bent them or they were welded wonky.

I had a great moving dolly until the timber rotted away. But I kept the wheels behind They are heavy duty and tight wheels. With a M10 stud on them too. Perfect for this application until I get it into its permanent location.





I'm off work tomorrow so first mission is to give it a Degrease and scrub down. Then fit these upcycled wheels which will be miles better than the bent ones it currently has.

 

[brightspark]

i got a simlar clarke one for 75 quid . needed rewiring and one new 3hp motor fitted. its perfect for running my small blast pot using a 3mm jet at a constant 90 psi. and even produces more air than needed and cuts out under load

 

[JOEPRO]

i got a simlar clarke one for 75 quid . needed rewiring and one new 3hp motor fitted. its perfect for running my small blast pot using a 3mm jet at a constant 90 psi. and even produces more air than needed and cuts out under load

Wow that was cheap! I thought I was doing well at £1.629 per litre

 

[brightspark]

Wow that was cheap! I thought I was doing well at £1.629 per litre

the guy at the car scrapyard and garage wanted it fixing and couldnt work it out i said i couldnt fix it so they chucked it on a pile of scrap a week later i asked him how much and he sold me it. rewired it and put the motor on it and its fine bought a road tow comp of him for 150 quid and got that running fine as well i think they were a bit choked when they found out

 

[JOEPRO]

Has anyone had decent quality stickers or decals made for an application like this?

The original big decal is probably going to crumble at the edges when I clean it.

It would be great if I could get a new one made something simpler like the newer ones. (Not a large clear sticker but a white cut out)

 

[AVI_8]

First thing to do, remove the drain plugs and drain the oil, then put new oil in, that’s pretty much it, put a couple of new air filters in then take it from there, if any problems arise it’ll be pretty obvious.

 

[mtt.tr]

First thing to do, remove the drain plugs and drain the oil, then put new oil in, that’s pretty much it, put a couple of new air filters in then take it from there, if any problems arise it’ll be pretty obvious.

This, these Italian pumps don't have any real issues.

 

[Mick Annick]

Has anyone had decent quality stickers or decals made for an application like this?

The original big decal is probably going to crumble at the edges when I clean it.

It would be great if I could get a new one made something simpler like the newer ones. (Not a large clear sticker but a white cut out)

View attachment 398045

Worth an email to Abac, I’ve blagged stickers for free off manufacturers before, most are happy to keep having the brand promoted.

 

[Seadog]

Has anyone had decent quality stickers or decals made for an application like this?

The original big decal is probably going to crumble at the edges when I clean it.

It would be great if I could get a new one made something simpler like the newer ones. (Not a large clear sticker but a white cut out)

If you a blank with ABAC, have a word with Titch at https://www.machinerydecals.co.uk/

He's very helpful.

 

[JOEPRO]

It cleaned up quite well this morning:



I'll order up oil and air filters now.

And new black cables and glands. Plus the motor capacitor housings. One is cracked and I would like both to match. I'll also spray the original left motor with a light coat of satin black to match the new motor it has.

Other than that I don't think it needs much else

 

[vw1]

Good work. I assume you got your water oil separators and drop out filters etc to plum in ?

 

[JOEPRO]

Good work. I assume you got your water oil separators and drop out filters etc to plum in ?

Yes it came with a large PCL water trap.

This compressor will take the place of my MAC tools one in my garage loft. I will need to strip it down then lift the bare tank up first and install 50x50 steel props from below. So the joists are very well supported below where the compressor sits and a light frame with anti vibration rubber mounts to secure it.

Control panel will be accessible high up on my garage wall.

For anyone wondering I have an electric hoist rigged up in my garage loft Used responsibility it makes it very easy and safe to move items like this.

 

[steve t]

What sort of oil do you put in a compressor. I've got this ones little brother single motor 200litre. Been a good machine

 

[JOEPRO]

It's on castor wheels at present which proved essential for me moving it on my own.

They are very tall though and leaning. Looks like someone welded on bolts to make them fit and either it bent them or they were welded wonky.

I had a great moving dolly until the timber rotted away. But I kept the wheels behind They are heavy duty and tight wheels. With a M10 stud on them too. Perfect for this application until I get it into its permanent location.

View attachment 398014
View attachment 398016
View attachment 398013

I'm off work tomorrow so first mission is to give it a Degrease and scrub down. Then fit these upcycled wheels which will be miles better than the bent ones it currently has.

Yep the old wheels were bodged



This is also why it was very hard to move around as it had a total mind of its own!

Much better on its upcycled dolly wheels which are perfect.

 

[steve t]

Here's mine

 

[JOEPRO]

What sort of oil do you put in a compressor. I've got this ones little brother single motor 200litre. Been a good machine

I'm looking up the best oil for it at the moment I'll share a link shortly

 

[vw1]

Sae 30 ?

 

[JOEPRO]

What sort of oil do you put in a compressor. I've got this ones little brother single motor 200litre. Been a good machine

Sae 30 ?

View attachment 398197

From what I can tell this is the original oil for these ABAC compressors so I'll be buying 2L of this for my Tamdem one.

Home page

www.air-compressorsdirect.co.uk

I did take the air filters off mine too. They are clean and a sponge type material anyway. Black course sponge. So I'll wash them gently anyway since they are out and leave them days to fully dry out. I have some K&N filter oil I might give them just a tiny spray of that too.

 

[vw1]

I would probably go with the Pacific oil for your compressor above .