Which Make

[Christmas Jones]

Hi all

Can someone help me, I do apologies if this has already been asked.

I’m looking for a replacement compressor for home use. After my 18 month old 3HP Sealey has die a death (really not happy about it).

I’m looking for a 3HP belt driven machine instead of the direct drive that the Sealey was, it needs to have a minimum of 14CFM and I’m really struggling to know which make machine to go for. I could do with some help deciding which make machine I should be looking at. My budget is about £400.

Do I go for a Clarke, Wolf, Sip, Shiremoor or an Abac. They all have similar spec machines but I can’t find any information as to which make would be the best machine to go for. After the experience of my Seeley, then good backup and availability of spares is important.

 

[RA Dunk]

Clarke seem quite highly rated on here, I bought mine based on that.

 

[Spark plug]

At the last place I worked we had a shiremoor it ran and ran on the hottest days non stop for without a problem. now I have one in my garage and in the last 3 years I haven't had any problems.

I would really recommend shiremoor compressors the only other make on your list I would consider would be abac

 

[rtbcomp]

I've had a Clarke for about 10 years with no problems (apart from a couple of minor manufacturing faults). Go for one with cast iron cylinders.

 

[lshigham]

Shiremoor or ABAC

 

[the snooper]

you say your old machine died, but what exactly died on it there really isn't that much to repairing them

 

[Christmas Jones]

Hi


Thanks for all your comments. I was looking at an Abac or Shiremoor machine but they are a bit outside of my budget.


Hi Snooper, I think the startup capacitor has failed, when you turn the machine on the motor shudders and then the fuse blows. Seems that this isn’t the first thing that has failed on it and I’m struggling to find a replacement part, then I have decided to replace the machine instead. The other benefit is that I can get a bigger more capable machine as the Sealey does struggle to keep up.

 

[the snooper]

start caps are easy to come by you could get it tested, not an expensive fix

 

[mike k]

My belt drive 3hp sealey has proved very reliable. Did it fail when starting in the cold? Mine is plugged into a continental plug and on cold days I preheat the motor with a hair dryer otherwise it would trip.

 

[the snooper]

My belt drive 3hp sealey has proved very reliable. Did it fail when starting in the cold? Mine is plugged into a continental plug and on cold days I preheat the motor with a hair dryer otherwise it would trip.

you could have hit the nail on the head there mike, there have been a few discussions on here about this

 

[Christmas Jones]

No it failed mid use. It was a cold day but I turned it on and charged properly. when the pressure was full it shut off and released the pressure as normal. Blow up some tyres on the car and it wouldn’t start again.


I’ve stripped it down so I have just the motor on the bench, changed the fuse and tried again. The motor shudders and then the fuse blows. Spun the motor by hand and everything is free and turns lovely.