Air Compressor for a Noob

[sirgilbert357]

I'm doing my research on PCP and I've settled on the Benjamin Marauder in .177 for my rifle. Now I need to figure out the compressor/air dryer/SCBA tank issue.

Right now I'm leaning towards getting a Yong Heng compressor. I'm doing this on a budget and can't get anything high end, but I don't want to use a hand pump. I've heard that gets old real fast. I'll try to find the Yong Heng from a vendor that offers an extended warranty (if anyone knows of a source, please feel free to add that to this thread). If there are better options for a first compressor at the same price point, please let me know. I'm not dead set on getting the Yong Heng.

Questions:

- Should I get the simple version of the Yong Heng or go for the auto shut off version? I'll probably be filling my gun directly at first, so I'll be watching it like a hawk in the beginning - not sure the auto shut off is necessary.

- Air dryer: I'm considering the Tuxxing version with the three different media types, or should I get something else? How do you dry the desiccant between uses? Do I just need to buy extra desiccant to swap it out? Either way, I plan to make a tube type predryer for the air inlet. Can't hurt. If anyone has any comments on how to DIY this part, it would be appreciated. I've heard you can get all the parts from Amazon, but haven't seen a list of what is recommended.

- I'm planning to replace the oil in the Yong Heng with Mobil 827 Rarus before I even run it once. I'll plan to change it a few times as it breaks in and the oil gets dirty. Comments on this plan? Is this overkill?

- I've heard you can't always trust the gauges on these cheaper compressors. Should I just go by what my Marauder shows on the manometer then?

- I'll have to buy whatever SCBA tank I get used, as I can't afford a new one right now. What are some good sources for used ones?

- From what I can tell, I won't need any other fittings to fill my Marauder with the Yong Heng, right? As long as the Yong Heng comes with the BPS fitting, I'm good to go?

- Anything else I'm missing that I would want to add to my "Getting Started" Compressor buy list?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[biohazardman]

Here is my standard post to all things Yong Heng hope it is helpful.

The Yong Heng "Simple" version least expensive does not have a water separator you definitely need one.

The "Auto Stop" version shuts off near 3000psi. Probly not a good thing for most people.

So you likely want the "Hardcover" or "Set Pressure" versions your choice on the 110V or 220V.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32824234795.html?spm=a2g0o.store_home.productList_13760454.subject_2

Keep them cool and the oil, ISO 46 or the equivalent, topped off to the red circle in the sight glass, and don't fill past their spec which is 4350psi. A little less is better than the max, and the Yong Heng should last for years unless you get a bad one. I did my first oil change at about an hour, it was extremely dark colored. I went far longer, between changes, after that.

I have two YH compressors. Bought the second as a backup for the first as I fergot to turn on the coolant pump several times and overheated it until it smoked. It did not like it but it runs fine. Still I did not trust it after that. I added a switched outlet, to the system, so it turns the pump on before the compressor will power up to keep me from doing that from now on.

The second one, my back up unit, died in about two months bad QC from the factory. Cost me $12, for a new second stage piston, and an hours time to replace it. Then to add insult to injury I fergot to put oil in, the latest unit, after I put it back together, and ran it for a couple of minutes without any. So I filled it with oil and it fired up and somehow still werqs fine. The #1 unit, that I was worried about cuz I overheated it so many times, just kept on filling my guns and tanks till I got #2 repaired and retired it.

I do not fill past 4200psi as when I do, all too often, I blow a burst disc. This does not happen on the first or second fill but soon thereafter.

The temperature sensor only measures head temperature so running it much over 20-30 minutes can overheat the motor and other parts even if ice is used in the coolant. Ice or a container of it, in the coolant, is a good idea especially if you are like me and do not use the full five gallons of water as suggested in the manual.

Keep your water supply level with the compressor to be kind to the pump and assure a good supply of coolant goes through the compressor.

I recently started using this Red Line water treatment after I noticed algae growth in my 2.5 gallon water bucket every few months. It seems to have stopped the algae growth problem.

https://www.autozone.com/antifreeze-radiator-additives-and-windshield-wash-fluid/coolant-water-wetter-additive/red-line-water-wetter-super-coolant-12oz/486218_0_0 

Keep your moisture filters, guns and tanks being filled above the compressor to help keep the moisture out.

Purge the system of moisture, using the screw valves on both sides of the compressor, for a couple of seconds every five minutes while in use.

Change out your small YH filter every twenty minutes and set the old one out to dry and use later.

Add a better filter if needed to be sure more moisture and any oil smell is removed from the system. Many of us use this Tuxing three media filter although, if you feel the need, you can change media types at any time.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32891898253.html

A smaller one will probly do for many.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000960926898.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.2a034c4dL0nrJU

Bleed the pressure before you turn the unit off and let it run a few seconds to get the better part of the moisture out of the system. I have found that I blow less burst discs if I bleed before shutting down so I do this religiously.

Let the coolant pump run for a few minutes after shutdown to cool things off.



Here is a video on how to fill a SCBA tank.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=157&v=_grx5p_R8D4&feature=emb_title

 

[GeneT]

Research your Marauder more. I don't own one, but I'm pretty sure it has a male Foster fitting, in which case you need a female for your YH compressor. (Unless YH comes with a female Foster, I don't own one of those either.) 

You can get a new steel SCUBA tank (3000psi) for under $100 - I'd recommend that route before going used. The Marauder tops out at 3000psi, IIRC, and probably shoots best at something below a max fill in any case (this is common). If you go this route, you'll need a SCUBA to Foster fill station, probably $30 or so on Amazon.

Or you can skip the tank and go compressor to gun, if that's practical for your shooting.

I trust the gauges on my guns. I wouldn't trust them to be accurate to 10psi, but they don't have to be. 

Oh, and listen to BiohazardMan - he has the scoop on the YHs...

GsT

 

[bubblerboy64]

A lot of good information there biohazard man. Some of it learned the hard way. Setting up these compressors ? Well if you do it right you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Best advice don’t push them to their limit and cool them down after filling.

 

[biohazardman]

A lot of good information there biohazard man. Some of it learned the hard way. Setting up these compressors ? Well if you do it right you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Best advice don’t push them to their limit and cool them down after filling.

Yup, lots of info mostly learned the hard way so others do not have to learn it that way.

 

[Humdinger]

You are totally wasting money if you buy Mobil Rarus oil. It is outrageously overpriced. Don't use cheap big box store compressor oils that are made for low pressure compressors. Don't use motor oil. There are lots of quality compressor oils that will work in your Yong Heng that cost from $15-20 a quart which will last you 3 oil changes. Rarus is $60 a quart if you pay $20 for 12 ounces. OVERKILL. Here is what I use. I buy a gallon of Secolube 500 from Filtertechs.com. You can buy it by the quart. Royal Purple Synfilm 100 is also good and readily available at auto parts stores or online. https://filtertechs.com/shop/oil-media/compressor-oil/cl-581815-lq/

A gold filter is good, a Water Separator tower is better. It removes the residual water that your Yong Heng misses and has no cartridges to replace. Your Yong Heng will quickly saturate a Gold filter cartridge. Cartridge filter housings are made to catch the last 1% that the compressor water separator misses. Yong Hengs have tiny water separators that miss half the moisture it creates. https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Water-Oil-Separator-Filtration-Compressor/dp/B077SX5G9V/ref=sr_1_24?dchild=1&keywords=PCP+water+oil+cyclone+separator&qid=1614635629&sr=8-24

 

[Fatmike]

Dont waste money on a scuba 3000 tank. You will want a 4500 scba tank. 

 

[Fatmike]

Walmart has the compressor for 270$ then 45$ for a 4 yr warranty 

 

[lancehenley1]

If you are just filling up a rifle, I would go with one of the portable comp. If you plan on filling gun and/or a scba tank, Then I would do the YH or a bigger comp.

 

[Ranchibi]

I got this one Sunday from amazon....all electric, auto shutoff, small, light, built in converter for car charging, 12”x9x5 12 lbs about, spare parts (delrin washers, o’rings, burst disks, tube sponges, bleed valve) fill hose with gold filter, 1 year warranty and was 365 to my door with promo code. Filled my PRod from 1500 psi to 2800 psi in one minute. Looks to be a clone of the GX series. Just for gun filling, no large bottles like a tank. Just an FYI. Seller is out of orange ones but black and carbon color ones are available I believe.

 

[bltefft]

I have a new Benjamin Marauder in .177 I picked up a little while ago.. It's my only .177 and I'm enjoying it, but then again, m-rods are known for being great air guns.

I bought an Air Venturi Nomad II 4500 air compressor for airing it up and it works great. I don't know your budget, but this thing is nice.

Here's the video I watched that convinced me to buy it.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjZH3qC7JZw

 

[Longrange2]

This thread is helpful si Fe I am new to PCPs as well and will need to be able to top off my 100 cu ft tank.

 

[bltefft]

This thread is helpful si Fe I am new to PCPs as well and will need to be able to top off my 100 cu ft tank.

For my big cf tank I use an Air Venturi 4500 HPA compressor, not the Nomad II.

 

[biohazardman]

Watch out with the water-less oil-less compressors they are not meant to last and are meant to be rebuilt every 20 hours or less of use. Disposable compressors they are meant to be.

 

[sirgilbert357]

You are totally wasting money if you buy Mobil Rarus oil. It is outrageously overpriced. Don't use cheap big box store compressor oils that are made for low pressure compressors. Don't use motor oil. There are lots of quality compressor oils that will work in your Yong Heng that cost from $15-20 a quart which will last you 3 oil changes. Rarus is $60 a quart if you pay $20 for 12 ounces. OVERKILL. Here is what I use. I buy a gallon of Secolube 500 from Filtertechs.com. You can buy it by the quart. Royal Purple Synfilm 100 is also good and readily available at auto parts stores or online. https://filtertechs.com/shop/oil-media/compressor-oil/cl-581815-lq/

A gold filter is good, a Water Separator tower is better. It removes the residual water that your Yong Heng misses and has no cartridges to replace. Your Yong Heng will quickly saturate a Gold filter cartridge. Cartridge filter housings are made to catch the last 1% that the compressor water separator misses. Yong Hengs have tiny water separators that miss half the moisture it creates. https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Water-Oil-Separator-Filtration-Compressor/dp/B077SX5G9V/ref=sr_1_24?dchild=1&keywords=PCP+water+oil+cyclone+separator&qid=1614635629&sr=8-24

Yeah, I considered that kind of filter, but I read that it only works as long as it is cooler than the air going into it. After it warms up, the moisture stops condensing out of the air.

If I was rolling in cash, I'd just get both kinds of filters. But that isn't very practical.

 

[sirgilbert357]

Walmart has the compressor for 270$ then 45$ for a 4 yr warranty

I looked while back and they were out of stock. I'll check again. That's not much more than getting one off eBay. I'd be willing to pay more to have that warranty, but who knows how much they'll cover if it breaks.

 

[sirgilbert357]

Watch out with the water-less oil-less compressors they are not meant to last and are meant to be rebuilt every 20 hours or less of use. Disposable compressors they are meant to be.

Yeah, I have no intention of getting one of those, despite how good the warranties might be on various makes and models. They are all more expensive too, from what I have seen.

 

[sirgilbert357]

I have a new Benjamin Marauder in .177 I picked up a little while ago.. It's my only .177 and I'm enjoying it, but then again, m-rods are known for being great air guns.

I bought an Air Venturi Nomad II 4500 air compressor for airing it up and it works great. I don't know your budget, but this thing is nice.

Here's the video I watched that convinced me to buy it.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjZH3qC7JZw

I've looked at the Nomad and it is well beyond what I'm willing to spend. I'm looking for something 300 or less that will fill a gun directly...and eventually a SCBA tank. I won't get one right away, but I hope to snag a used one within 6 months or so.

 

[bltefft]

Watch out with the water-less oil-less compressors they are not meant to last and are meant to be rebuilt every 20 hours or less of use. Disposable compressors they are meant to be.

The Nomad II is water-less, but it does take a few drops of oil into a port every few fills

The Big HPA compressor has oil and water.

 

[Odoyle]

Main thing be sure it has the much needed 4 year warranty protection plan b4 buying and you be sure to pay with a credit card that effectively doubles the warranty if it's one of those disposable (non Yong Heng) throw away compressors.

Good news AFTER they break outside of warranty they can probably be used as a decent boat anchor.