So, I close up shop, go in and start looking for a replacement motor. What a shock that was. The direct Baldor was almost $1,000
I'm thinking, I only paid $900 for the whole compressor !So I start looking for a less expensive alternative. I found them for $250 to 450 but they all have aluminum wires in the windings and are very prone to early failure when used for near constant run time, which mine had done hundreds of times, so I didn't pursue that direction.
I started looking at complete replacements, since the compressor is 24 years old too and found another Ingersol Rand, like mine is, at Tractor Supply on closeout. 5hp 2 stage 80 gallon tank, for $1150. Seemed like a no-brainer, so Sunday I went and got it and got it all wired and plumbed it by that evening. Started it up and it vibrated so bad, I couldn't read the labels on the tank and it walked across the floor until the wire cable stopped it. That was all for Sunday. Monday morning I call IR customer service to have a tech come out and diagnose it for warranty replacement/repair. The don't send techs to private homes, only a business...really ??? why do I have a warranty, if you aren't going to honor it ? She said I could bring the entire machine to the nearest service center for diagnosis and repair, IF it is a warranty issue, or return it to the dealer and they will handle the warranty, whether replace or repair. I called Tractor Supply and they said just bring it back and they will send it to IR under warranty and refund my money. OK, that's all fine and dandy but after 3 hours of removing it from my set up and returning it, now I'm back to square 1....
I came home and started looking for something to get me back up and running and remembered there is a manufacturer right here in MN. I looked up Castair, in Spicer, MN and called about a complete unit but then asked if they sold only replacement motors. Much to my relief, the salesman came up with a motor that wasn't a direct replacement, but had all the same power and running specs as the correct one and it was made by Baldor with copper windings. It was a motor they had made for them to their specs for a single stage compressor, but would work just as well on my 2 stage. He even cut me a discount that paid for the shipping and a pulley, as the shaft size is smaller, at a total cost of $400. There is a local shipping company called Speedee Delivery and they had it here by noon the next day !!! It did take a while to adapt it to my mounting plate and get it dialed in so I didn't use it yesterday, but I did today and it was just like having my old friend back...
