do I need an air compressor?

[greatmaul]

Hi, I really want to give my bike a tune up but so many of the things (minus the valve adjustment which I'm really just not ready for) seem to involve compressed air. I'm thinking mainly of cleaning the air filter, of course, and blowing out the area around the spark plug because with my luck a big lump of dirt or a dead dragonfly is sure to drop in that hole as soon as I get the plug out.

Does everyone just have an air compressor lying around? If so, is it a big one? because I've looked at them and they're a bit pricey but you can get the tiny ones that can't even run an air ratchet for about $99 on sale. I know the tiny ones would blow the air filter out and the spark plug area, but I'm just wondering how other people do it.

I don't think the ones at the gas station actually blow air out unless they're hooked to a tire.

[JWR]

Where do you get the air for your tires now??

An air compressor is usually a one time investment, figure how many years you will use it, and it comes out really cheap.

[alantf]

Where do you get the air for your tires now??



My 50 year old footpump, that still works perfectly. :roll:

[jonathan180iq]

This price, even with shipping, is better than the one you can get from Wal-Mart for $75.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-3-hp-3-g ... 97080.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/1-3-hp-3-gallon-100-psi-oilless-air-compressor-97080.html)

Not EVERYONE has one in their garage. But if you plan on doing work on your bike on your own, or on any of your cars, or to help with lawnmower maintenance, then I highly recommend one.

There will be long periods where you probably don't use it at all. But when you need it, and you actually have it, they are priceless.

[JWR]

Where do you get the air for your tires now??



My 50 year old footpump, that still works perfectly. :roll:



See, a good investment in being cheap.




:hide:

[jonathan180iq]

Where do you get the air for your tires now??



My 50 year old footpump, that still works perfectly. :roll:

They certainly don't make things like they used to.

[Jvacustoms]

http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00916762000-1

I BOUGHT THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE BEST INVESTMENT EVER !

I am also a person that would rather fix his own stuff to see how it works or pay outrageous amounts of money for repair bills so, I am not the typical person.

also a piece of information from my experiences... I bought an air compressor at walmart and lost the receipt so i could only exchange it. I exchanged it 2 times before they gave me a full refund. The first one never even turned on there was a wiring issue, the second one had a big chunk of the cylinder head missing from the motor, and the third one had a split in half engine sitting on top of it. Not saying that is the normal condition of them just saying that it doesn't look good when you get three compressors from walmart and all three of the are inoperable from the get go!

[greatmaul]

Ok, I'm convinced. Now starting the search process. I like that little one at Harbor Freight but that really huge Craftsman would probably be able to run air wrenches and the like. That's always fun.

Also, point taken about cheap compressors at Walmart. I'll avoid those. Much better to invest a moderate amount of money once than throwing a smaller amount of money away repeatedly. :2tup:

[Jvacustoms]

just an fyi harbor freight sells goodyear rubber hoses for air compressors for the cheapest price i have seen anywhere as well as hangers and accessories. and air compressors dont always come with tools but most of them that i looked at come with some and the tools can help absorb some of the blow from the initial investment as well. Mine came with a air ratchet, impact, air hammer/chisel and 90 degree angle grinder. as well as a 25ft hose and couplings for everything and a air blowing nozzle for cleaning things up before exposing the insides of a combustion engine...

[Gz Rider]

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[blaine]

Comes in real handy,for doing the front sprocket mod. :biggrin: :)

[Water Warrior 2]

You could just buy an air tank(cheap) and fill it at a gas station. Take the pressurized air home for a quick blast at the plug etc. Being an apartment dweller leaves me with no storage space so that might apply to you as well. Although I do have a couple 12 volt compressors that work well aboard the bike and truck but that is just for pumping up tires. Small enough to be stored virtually anywhere.

[greatmaul]

What else do you need it for?

Cleaning the air filter is pretty much what I was worried about. I can't really think of any place where you can just get compressed air except for those little cans you use to blow crud out of your keyboards. Since you don't really change the air filter, it seems kind of necessary-ish?

I did see a couple for $30 or $40 on craigslist, and they're pretty flattish, so I'm not sure if the air tank by itself is a better deal. It would be kinda cool to run an air ratchet or an impact wrench too, but I know the tiny ones can't do that.

[jonathan180iq]

I don't think we are necessarily recommending an air compressor strictly because he has a GZ250.
It's something that any reputable shade tree mechanic will eventually need to own anyway. AND, it has some uses on the Gz.
Win. Win.

[Jvacustoms]

I don't think we are necessarily recommending an air compressor strictly because he has a GZ250.
It's something that any reputable shade tree mechanic will eventually need to own anyway. AND, it has some uses on the Gz.
Win. Win.

+1 :cool:

[jonathan180iq]

What else do you need it for?

Cleaning the air filter is pretty much what I was worried about. I can't really think of any place where you can just get compressed air except for those little cans you use to blow crud out of your keyboards. Since you don't really change the air filter, it seems kind of necessary-ish?

I did see a couple for $30 or $40 on craigslist, and they're pretty flattish, so I'm not sure if the air tank by itself is a better deal. It would be kinda cool to run an air ratchet or an impact wrench too, but I know the tiny ones can't do that.

For what it's worth, I tried to get by with 2 left over air tanks from our racing days. I would fill them up at the gas station down the street and use them as I needed for topping off tires or whatever.
The way it worked out, even when I tried to stay on top of it, was that over the course of usage or whatever, on the day that I really NEEDED a good supply of air, I wouldn't have enough or the tanks would be too low to inflate tires.

The thing with a reserve tank, is that once the pressure drops below a certain point, it just won't do you any good. 30 psi in the tank is pointless if you need 40 psi in the tires.

And for only a few more dollars, you get your own compressor attached to the top of a tank of equal size. You can top off a spare tank if you have one, for quick and less-noisy use, and then you have the compressor plus tank for larger jobs.

Honestly, it's totally worth the one-time investment.

[Gz Rider]

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[Gz Rider]

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[Gz Rider]

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[Gz Rider]

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[jonathan180iq]

I don't think we are necessarily recommending an air compressor strictly because he has a GZ250.
It's something that any reputable shade tree mechanic will eventually need to own anyway. AND, it has some uses on the Gz.
Win. Win.


Prior to my air conditioning work, I'd never used one. Some day I hope to be reputable though! :)

;)
You're getting there.

[Way]

I guess it all depends on how much space you have, how many DIY projects a person plans on. For me, I get by with an air tank with a air nozzle on the end. I mainly use it for when I change spark plugs etc. It's very handy for me as I'm lucky enough to have a store down the road that has free air.

For me, though I do want one, a full size compressor just isn't practical for me... yet.

[Water Warrior 2]

I noticed yesterday that Canadian tire has a cute little compressor on sale. An oiless pump with a 2 gal(U.S.) tank and an air hose. It would be ideal for smaller jobs and all for $40 Can.