Did I mention I like old stuff? Test for Rust Reaper Degreaser

Jeff · April 11, 2005, 05:58:28 PM

Something old followed me home again this weekend.

This is a 1940 Lauson gas engine of unknown HP, cant track that down, on a 1940 Campbell-Hausted Compressor turns out, that is the first year that company made compressors.
Found it at an old barn/flea market type deal. It was old and greasy and grimey but I found out two things real quick, I grabed it with one hand on it as I turned the motor with the other checking for compression and found out at the same time that my first hand was on the spark plug and boy oh boy did it have spark. I have been looking for an old gas engine to run my Barker cable drive rimsaw. I seen this and thought maybe.... But actually the engine is probably to small. After puttering with it yesterday I got it to run and the compressor works very very well. Guess I needed a compressor for blowing off the drag and chainsaws when we go to old engine shows and this will be just the ticket.

This is a 1940 Lauson gas engine of unknown HP, cant track that down, on a 1940 Campbell-Hausted Compressor turns out, that is the first year that company made compressors. Its only a little guy, less then 30 inches total in length

I used Rust Reaper Degreaser of varying strengths and application times to get it clean. I was trying to conserve as much of the original paint as I could and it looks like I didnt lose any during the cleansing process. Here are some before and after photos of my newest old thing.

( also a short video to to prove I got it running. ;)

VIDEO CLIP

ElectricAl · April 11, 2005, 06:21:55 PM

Jeff,

You are getting pretty good at Antiquing ;D

Great video 8)

Danny_S · April 11, 2005, 06:33:07 PM

That's a great find! I have a old compressor head that looks like that one in dad's old barn. Must go and check it out sometime. As for the video, well, I have an awful lot of popcorn left and I only got one drink out of my pop...... :D

tnlogger · April 11, 2005, 06:33:46 PM

8) now i guess it can be said that the rustreaper degreaser works just fine.

Fla._Deadheader · April 11, 2005, 06:51:33 PM

In the beginning of my Boating Career (I was 11 years old) I had a 1 cylinder, 4 cycle, aircooled, Lauson Outboard Motor. It was 3 HP. I later upgraded to a 2 cylinder, 6 HP model, installed on the same old base housing. Duck Hunters on the Barnegat Bay, loved them old engines. No water pump and straight gas. ;) ;)

Corley5 · April 11, 2005, 07:10:58 PM

Watch yer fingers around them belts and pulleys ;). OSHA'd have a fit ;D Cool machine!!!!

Jeff · April 11, 2005, 08:13:52 PM

Figued out how it regulates air a little while ago, actually more like why it Wouldn't regulate air. Mud dobber :D little spring valve on that center condensation tower.

asy · April 12, 2005, 04:09:07 AM

Sheesh Jeff...

You'll do just about anything to win the next rust reaper competition!!! :D

asy :D

Roxie · April 12, 2005, 05:18:53 PM

Wow!

I can't wait until my Rust Reaper order arrives!

That looks great Jeff! Isn't it amazing how well it runs for being 65 years old. I just love old machines.

Jeff · April 12, 2005, 07:05:41 PM

Never had an air compressor around the house other then the little 12 volt kind. It was nice not to have to run to the mill today as I did some seasonal preping on the lawn tractor. Blowed all the leafy debri and dirt off so I could put rust reaper on mower deck slide. Blew out the air cleaner. Had the compressor running the better part of an hour with out a problem. Its nice when toys are tools. ;D

slowzuki · April 12, 2005, 07:09:39 PM

Jeff, ya may want to be careful and limit the pressure that thing runs up too... Condensation in compressor tanks causes them to rust and weaken. I don't know the exact length of time but I think at 25 years or something they are supposed to be hydrostatically tested. Basicly filled with water and pumped up to double the operating pressure to see if they burst. Water doesn't compress so it doesn't explode the tank.

Fellow here got his face busted open with an old propane tank converted to air pig use.

Jeff · April 12, 2005, 07:14:51 PM

We fixed that last night. limit set at 100lbs

Not saying that he tank could not corrode from the inside out, but it looks pretty good and IS HEAVY! the compressor has a water trap, or condensor, also a tank drain. After running the compressor, I cracked open both, got a little greasy feel to the air expelled but nothing rusty looking.

OneWithWood · April 13, 2005, 09:27:05 AM

I think I see air tools in the future . . . :

Dan_Shade · April 13, 2005, 09:34:38 AM

do be careful with old compressed air tanks.

A guy on a car site that I used to frequent had a compressor blow up in his garage, luckily he was on the other side of the car, it was a compressor with two wheels to cart it around, when the tank went, it blew one wheel into his rear quarter panel, completely hosed up that side of the car....

I had a York air conditioning compressor rigged up under the hood on my old '80 GMC as an air compressor, I put a tank on the frame, and had a coupler run out through a spare gas door. THAT was CONVENIENT. I'm still trying to figure out where to put it on my '04 F250 with a 5.4L.

shopteacher · April 13, 2005, 09:41:39 AM

Didn't Lawson turn in to Clinton or was bought out by them? You like old things huh. Harold you better watch out you'll be living out in his shed with the drag saw. I recently seen a old small Wisconsin engine with a water pump attached. Don't know if it's still there, but might make a good engine for the saw. I'll stop and check on it on the wa home and let you know if it's still there.

Jeff · April 13, 2005, 10:07:33 AM

Cool! Best engine would be something with a 3/4 inch shaft. That way I dont have to fabricate any kind of coupler. Noble said that a 4hp kohler was typical on the rim saws but they may have ran anything.

QuoteI think I see air tools in the future . . .

Nah, it's not got the volumn for anything like that, and besides, its really more of a novelty tool to go with the rest of the novelty tools.

chet · April 13, 2005, 10:22:50 AM

Quote from: shopteacher on April 13, 2005, 09:41:39 AM
Didn't Lawson turn in to Clinton or was bought out by them? You like old things huh. Harold you better watch out you'll be living out in his shed with the drag saw. I recently seen a old small Wisconsin engine with a water pump attached. Don't know if it's still there, but might make a good engine for the saw. I'll stop and check on it on the wa home and let you know if it's still there.

Lawson was bought out by Tecumseh.

shopteacher · April 13, 2005, 11:01:18 AM

Oh well, knew somebody bought them up? Who took over Clinton? Never was to good a trivia pursuit.

Buzz-sawyer · April 13, 2005, 11:45:04 AM

Dan
I did the same with an old dump truck.those yorks really put out! I got 180 psi out of an old worn out pump!

Corley5 · April 13, 2005, 02:22:48 PM

Quote from: shopteacher on April 13, 2005, 11:01:18 AM
Oh well, knew somebody bought them up? Who took over Clinton? Never was to good a trivia pursuit.

George W. Bush ;) ;D ;D

Patty · April 13, 2005, 03:02:40 PM

Corley took my answer. :D

shopteacher · April 14, 2005, 10:00:07 AM

Went by to check on the engine last night Jeff. Wish I'd known a week earlier, could ave had it for a song & dance, but someone else tok a liking to it. I'll keep an eye out for ya though.

CHARLIE · April 14, 2005, 10:54:42 AM

That's a nice buy Jeff! When you said it was really greasy at the flea market you weren't kidding. Your before and after picture really shows that. I bet it's been years since that green and red paint saw daylight. When you found that mud dobbers nest, it reminded me of the neighbor I had when I lived in Dover, Minnesota. He bought engines at garage sales for a song....like $5......take them home, clean up the carburation and usually it would run like a dream. Then he'd sell them for $50 or more. ;D