My 2 Year Old $2500 Compressor Just Died

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YY1 said:
This is NOT the consumer's fault.

This is Corporate America's fault.
the consumer is basically powerless.
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Yup on all counts. I am so damn tired of going to store after store after store, and finding exactly the same thing at each, basically no options for anything of better quality. Sometimes I can find an earlier version of what I want from some dusty warehouse via eBay, and if so that's what I buy. I find myself buying used parts out of the junkyard that 5 years ago I said it's not worth getting used, but I seem to get the same life out of used original parts plucked from the yard as I get on new parts from the parts house any more. Especially things like starters alternators and sometimes even water pumps.
 
volaredon said:
Yup on all counts. I am so damn tired of going to store after store after store, and finding exactly the same thing at each, basically no options for anything of better quality. Sometimes I can find an earlier version of what I want from some dusty warehouse via eBay, and if so that's what I buy. I find myself buying used parts out of the junkyard that 5 years ago I said it's not worth getting used, but I seem to get the same life out of used original parts plucked from the yard as I get on new parts from the parts house any more. Especially things like starters alternators and sometimes even water pumps.
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So you have no power to go buy used?
 
I have three Curtis compressors one after three years a pressure switch quit. I called them to fix it they came out put a new one on-no problem. I buy some Harbor Freight tools but you can’t expect the same quality from them. They do have a good replacement policy. And”corporate America” follows the will of the customer. You want good-they got them-but you want to pay less?? They got that too!! You expect both??? Obviously you jest!!!
 
harrisonm said:
My last compressor was a North Star 230V 5HP 2 Stage 80 gallon tank unit I bought from Northern Toos, and it lasted 15 years. I replaced it 2 years ago with a Champion compressor from TP Tools. I have a friend who has one, at it has worked well for many years. My new one is also 230V 5HP 2 Stage 80 gallon tank. Well, on Sunday, the motor shot out some sparks and smoked, and that was it. I called TP Tools and found out that the pump has a 5 year warranty, but the motor is only one year. I requested a supervisor and I told him how unhappy I was. I was very polite. I asked him how he would feel if he was in my shoes, and he agreed he would not like it. I told him that I had spent thousands of dollars there; tools, sand blasting cabinet, body work supplies, compressor..... I said I realized they would not warranty it out, but I expected that SOMETHING could be done. He said he would contact the supplier to see what they could do. The supplier said they would not warranty it out. I reminded the guy I expected that, but based on the amount of stuff I have purchased from TP Tools, and the fact the compressor was only 2 years old that something could surely be done. I am waiting for them to call me back. I'll keep you all advised. I will be very disappointed if they do nothing. I see no reason why they couldn't at least sell me a new motor for 50% off.
I took the motor to a well known repair shop, and was told the windings literally fried. The guy said that all the 230V motors on all the compressors being sold were garbage. The Chinese are slopping together motors that won't last. He said it was primarily due to how they do the windings. Something about the windings only being dipped in a minimum amount of resin and not being properly baked or cured.
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Not saying that you did any of these, but there are several causes of electric motor failures that have nothing to do with the motor:
* poor ventilation , high heat
* high humidity
* dusty environment
* power surges, low voltage

For you the motor failed, not the pump, so its not all bad.
A motor is a motor is a motor, no one gets dealt nothing but aces.
pick up and move on, if the supplier did not stand behind their warranty, that is one thing.
To expect kingly treatment just because you buy their product, probably won't go far unless you are a commercial account and have a corporate purchasing relationship.
As mentioned in a previous post, I would go as far as verifying that the motor that came with the unit was sized properly and should have been a match to the load of the pump. If the compressor was not built properly, then you have something to go with. If the motor was the right one, just buy a replacement motor and the extended warranty.
 
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Oldiron440 said:
When the compressor was sold new it was sold with a warranty, it was agreed to bye the seller and the buyer or it would not have been sold.
When I bought my home compressor a 220volt 5hp 80 gallon tank unit I bought the extended warranty, turns out that I didn’t need it.
Seams like expecting something you didn’t pay for is the way the consumer thinks nowadays.
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I see that in Construction ALOT!
 
YY1 said:
"Motor rewinder" is VERY highly paid labor position.

I wonder what the hourly rate is, or what the bill to rewind the OP's motor would be.

My guess is about twice the cost of a new motor.
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Armature winder is a trade, just like any other trade. We had two armature winders and a complete motor rewinding shop including a oven that had a cart on rails going into it for bigger motors in the maintenance facility.
When these guys retired for whatever reason they weren't replaced
Motors that needed work or rebuilding were sent out to shops that got the bid to do the work. As far as I know, smaller motors when they went bad were tossed in the metal dumpster but anything bigger was repaired.
I would think it would be cheaper to buy a good make motor like a Baldor instead of rewinding the old one.
Ive never seen Champion compressors used in industrial settings. I don't think they are made for constant demanding work loads
 
Oldiron440 said:
So you have no power to go buy used?
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Not what I said. But since you brought it up yeah I have that "power" but when it comes to buying new and everyone sells the same unit your "choices" on options are zip.
 
YAY. The Guy I talked to at TP Tools on Monday called, and Champion is going to send me a new motor. A "Good Will, after warranty" gesture. My faith in TP Tools is restored. I think Cody at TP Tools had something to do with that.
 
Some motors are not worth fixing. The. Baldor motors w aluminum end bells will ruin the bore with a bad bearing. Better to toss and get a heavier unit.
 
Quantity vs quality. U.S.and Canada should have minimum standards for offshore products.

like buying products with a military spec like i used to see listed on cole-hersee products.

i guess if consumers demanded quality products things would change.
But the market is driven by volume,so now we are stuck with cheap crap.
All these engineers and advancements in technology, products should be getting better, not worse.

prime example,replacing a 30 year old washing machine that will fail in 5 years, and parts are obsolete. Total BS!
 
my68barracuda said:
Not saying that you did any of these, but there are several causes of electric motor failures that have nothing to do with the motor:
* poor ventilation , high heat
* high humidity
* dusty environment
* power surges, low voltage

For you the motor failed, not the pump, so its not all bad.
A motor is a motor is a motor, no one gets dealt nothing but aces.
pick up and move on, if the supplier did not stand behind their warranty, that is one thing.
To expect kingly treatment just because you buy their product, probably won't go far unless you are a commercial account and have a corporate purchasing relationship.
As mentioned in a previous post, I would go as far as verifying that the motor that came with the unit was sized properly and should have been a match to the load of the pump. If the compressor was not built properly, then you have something to go with. If the motor was the right one, just buy a replacement motor and the extended warranty.
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What about when you buy many cars from the same dealer? They automatically treat you better......at least down here they do. I've seen regular customers get deals new customers would never get. It's called good business. I guess that kinda thing is waning these days.
 
harrisonm said:
YAY. The Guy I talked to at TP Tools on Monday called, and Champion is going to send me a new motor. A "Good Will, after warranty" gesture. My faith in TP Tools is restored. I think Cody at TP Tools had something to do with that.
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Well hot dang! I am glad to hear that. Happy motoring. LOL
 
RustyRatRod said:
What about when you buy many cars from the same dealer? They automatically treat you better......at least down here they do. I've seen regular customers get deals new customers would never get. It's called good business. I guess that kinda thing is waning these days.
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Anyone getting a good deal on a car these days, new or used is doing something right.
Glad that things worked out for the OP.
That’s doing something right.
 
my68barracuda said:
Anyone getting a good deal on a car these days, new or used is doing something right.
Glad that thinks worked out for the OP.
That’s doing something right.
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You got that right......ESPECIALLY with Dodge trucks. I remember shopping for a new truck in 2003. I looked at the Dodges and they wouldn't MOVE on the price. They were chasing after us as we drove out of the parking lot. They didn't think I was serious enough to get up from the table and leave.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Sounds about right. I've never, ever understood why people cannot just step up and "goodwill" warranty something like this. You know DAMN WELL they make WAY more than enough profit to absorb it. All this "let me contact my supplier" bullshit is just that. Bullshit. You bought it from THEM, not their supplier. To keep a customer happy that's done a lot of business, they should just make it good and eat it. It's not good business otherwise.
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When I posted #1, I was really upset that TP Tools didn't agree to do something. I would have been temporarily appeased if they had said, "We'll try to get Champion to do something, and if they don't, we will do something. I don't know what, but we will do something." Instead they left it with they would contact Champion. As it turned out, They were able to convince Champion to do the right thing.

Phreakish said:
More accurately, the beef is with people who shop only based on price (about 90%+ of shoppers).
Aint that the truth.

I can personally attest that overseas producers don't build what you tell them to - they build what they build, and you're going to pay for it one way or another. If a domestic dealer finds out there's non-conforming material, they're now stuck with paying the bill regardless (under penalty of having to compete directly with the overseas supplier who WILL bring your exact item to market if you refuse or return parts) and not having any supplies with which to complete their production. So the choice is buy again and hope for better, or discontinue that item and try to re-vamp with new sourcing which can take years to establish. In the meantime, every retailer and dealer is demanding their shipments and if the manufacturer fails to deliver they can basically kiss their company goodbye.

The root cause is of course the off-shoring of procurement, but walmart-itis in customers is the motivation.
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Truer words were never spoken.

mopowers said:
Did you try contacting Champion??
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I was going to if TP Tools had failed.

JDMopar said:
I wonder if the motor shop the OP took it to could just rewind it with good stuff? Then maybe get Champion to pay to have it repaired.
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He told me that he hasn't re-wound a motor for several years. It is very labor intensive, and few people want it done.

I am glad I stopped short of totally bad mouthing TP Tools, since they at least helped. Although I will admit that was a little harder on them than I should have been. A new motor was going to be about $550 - $600. So I will be thankful to both TP Tools and Champion. The electric motor repair guy told me that for only about a hundred dollars he could go through the new motor and do a few things that could greatly extend its longevity.
 
harrisonm said:
When I posted #1, I was really upset that TP Tools didn't agree to do something. I would have been temporarily appeased if they had said, "We'll try to get Champion to do something, and if they don't, we will do something. I don't know what, but we will do something." Instead they left it with they would contact Champion. As it turned out, They were able to convince Champion to do the right thing.


Truer words were never spoken.


I was going to if TP Tools had failed.


He told me that he hasn't re-wound a motor for several years. It is very labor intensive, and few people want it done.

I am glad I stopped short of totally bad mouthing TP Tools, since they at least helped. Although I will admit that was a little harder on them than I should have been. A new motor was going to be about $550 - $600. So I will be thankful to both TP Tools and Champion. The electric motor repair guy told me that for only about a hundred dollars he could go through the new motor and do a few things that could greatly extend its longevity.
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Might be worth asking the motor guy what kind of PM (preventative maintenance) you can do too. A cheap clamp-on meter would allow you to check amps occasionally so that you can hopefully spot a problem before the smoke comes out. A few spare motor capacitors (if so equipped) might not be a bad idea either. I'm no motor expert, but know that those two things can go a long way toward preventing downtime.
 
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