Leo air compressor

[MattF]

Another little compressor, (or specifically, a small piece of, just at the moment), which I've come across which I've stashed:

Top shot of cylinder cover/shroud:

Side shot:

The insignia is a lion laid/sat atop a plinth, with the name LEO underneath. That's the cover which goes on top of the cylinder of a small, single cylinder compressor. I'll dig the actual unit itself out tomorrow and get a picture of that. It's only a small piece of kit, approx. 12" in height overall with probably a 2" or 3" max cylinder bore. Just wondered if anyone had come across this one before?

 

[rtbcomp]

That brass cap thing is actually sat on your Westinghouse compressor for photographic purposes?

 

[MattF]

That brass cap thing is actually sat on your Westinghouse compressor for photographic purposes?

Yup. Going to dig the rest of the thing out shortly, but have found an old pic of the unit, with the cap actually where it should be:

That frame that it's on is a handmade affair. The compressor unit itself appear to be a flange mount affair, (on the pulley/driveshaft side of the unit).


p.s: Does anyone else have a bit of a weakness for appropriating unusual looking compressor units?

 

[rtbcomp]

If the compressor was off a bigger machine, "Leo" might refer to that rather than the compressor itself.

 

[MattF]

Call me thick, but that thought had ne'er crossed my mind. (That's said truthfully and not sarcastically, btw. Realised how that could be interpreted either way as I was typing it, so just thought I'd clarify ). That's a very plausible explanation. I'll pop up another pic or two in a bit. Might be easier to guess/recognise the specific compressor make from sideshots rather than the weird angle in that pic above.

 

[MattF]

Some pics of the thing now it's removed from that frame.

 

[rtbcomp]

It's geared which is a bit strange. If it's geared down it may be a high pressure pump, perhaps from a refrigerator (cold room size).

The Leo logo is cast on the crankcase, so the unit will be a Leo, not as I suggested in post #4.

How big is it? A photo with a ruler alongside would help.

 

[tigler]

I reckon thats another vehicle compressor, quite an old one.

 

[MattF]

Apologies for forgetting the measurement. It's 9" high.

 

[MattF]

I reckon thats another vehicle compressor, quite an old one.

Quite possibly. No idea what it might be from though. I've tried no end of different search terms on Google to see if I could find any info, but absolutely naff all luck so far. The only type of compressor I've seen which bears even a vague resemblance upto just, (and it is only a very vague resemblance), is the old compressor for the Merlin engines, but with this having an oil filler neck, it's obviously one orientation only, so that rules anything like that application out.

 

[tigler]

I have a couple of those Merlin onboard compressors. Yours looks like a road vehicle unit to me.

 

[MattF]

I have a couple of those Merlin onboard compressors. Yours looks like a road vehicle unit to me.

I'm inclined to agree. Ain't it irksome when you just can't find even a whiff of info on something though? It's like an itch one can't scratch.

 

[rtbcomp]

I couldn't even find the trademark in the trademarks database!

 

[tigler]

Might not be British.

 

[MattF]

Glad I'm not the only one it's being elusive with. Just popped a thread over one of the stationary engines forums in the US to see if it might be from over their way.

One day I'll learn not to get tempted by the weird stuff. It always tends to lead to frustration. Whilst I was over there, I did find a pic I thought I'd lost of an old Homelite generator which I mostly restored years ago. Six years or so on, and it's still sat to one side waiting for a few last bolts and odds and ends to go on.

 

[tigler]

Your in good company here !! I have an Onan W2C generator which I've had for 10 years, still haven't touched it ! I will eventually though.

 

[MattF]

Makes one feel so much better knowing you're not alone. I've started referring to stuff as retirement projects nowadays. Removes all expectancy of them being done anytime soon.

 

[rtbcomp]

That's my excuse too!

 

[MattF]

What are the odds on us ever actually spending a moment on any of them though, in reality? I can oft envisage my lads cursing me for all of the stuff they have to shift when I pop my clogs. Likely going to be a similar affair for a lot of us, by the sounds of it.

 

[MattF]

Finally done a bit of work on this one.

The head nuts have been used as is for the moment, with the slightly patchy chrome, just so that I can get it reassembled to test and make sure everything's okay. One thing I can't decide on is whether to fit a paper gasket between that front plate and the housing or not. It didn't have one originally, as far as I recall, (and I don't have any remnants of one with the other original gaskets for the cylinder head, so I'm assuming my memory isn't completely shot as yet ), but it isn't quite oil tight there. I'm guessing that may have been an intentional thing though, with there being no drain plug for the sump, so should I whip that front plate/bearing housing back off and fit a gasket, or leave as was and just make sure it has a catch tray underneath to catch the oil and keep it frequently checked for level?

I'm not going to refit the oil filler neck either, as it can be filled via the level plug, and the filler neck is quite open to dust and crap ingress, so that'll likely be getting blanked off. Also not decided on whether to sort the front gear housing out and refit that, or whether to just put a large diameter pulley on there instead, to slow it down with regards to the motor speed. The gear setup in the front housing was taking it down quite a bit on spindle to crank speed.

Last thing to sort will be trying to filter the inlet somewhat. As you can see, that's quite open to anything and everything getting sucked in too.