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Instal air compressor regulator in a tight spot

I am replacing the broken air regulator on my compressor. Unforutnately, there isn't enough room between the top of the tank and the plane of the manifold outlet to rotate the new regulator onto the pipe nipple extending out of the manifold.

Is there an elegant way to install this?

I could get a longer nipple, but then the regulator would be extending beyond the tank, and would inevitably be hit and abused by all manner of things (especially me).

If I screw the nipple way too far into the regulator, then I would have some room to screw the nipple into the manifold, but that wouldn't have the fittings anywhere as tight as I would like them to be.

I could remove the pump cylinders, remove the manifold, install the regulator on the manifold, reinstall the manifold, then reinstall the pump cylinders, but there is no way I want to even think about removing those pump cylinders.

Right now, I am strongly considering dismantling the regulator itself, as the body (without the gauge or knob/guts) will rotate onto the nipple without hitting the tank.

Anyone got a better idea?

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken
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Pipe union?

i

Reply to
Ignoramus21287

Thanks, Iggy. If you mean the ones where either side turns independently of the other (with a stationary center hex), I've seen the bigger ones for galvanized water pipe, but not for 1/4" NPT stuff (which is the size of the fittings on this compressor/regulator).

Do they have these for 1/4" NPT?

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

How about using regular air QC fittings? Same idea as a union, more or less.

Reply to
Pete C.

Bolted flanges... Two disks with centre holes tapped 1/4 NPT and screwed, one onto the regulator and one onto the manifold/outlet... gasket goo on each facing surface... bolt together.

These flanges could be round with say 3 bolts, square with 4 bolts, or diamond shaped (fancy!!!!) with 2 bolts.

Wolfgang

Reply to
wolfgang

Yes.

Reply to
Don Foreman

McMaster Carr part number 7739K172

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Reply to
Don Foreman

Thanks Don, I'll dig around for those.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

Ah, thanks Pete, hadn't thought of those. Maybe one of the "higher flow" ones wouldn't be so restricting as the old ones.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

Ah, looky, there it is, thanks Don!

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

of course, right at home depot

i
Reply to
Ignoramus21287

my local OSH has unions like you mention for 1/4 NPT

Reply to
Bill Noble

Probably. Also when it's on the HP side of the regulator it's less of an issue.

Reply to
Pete C.

On Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:23:51 -0700, the infamous "Jon Danniken" scrawled the following:

I've seen cast 45- and 90-degree nipples work in some cases.

-- The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man. -- Euripides

Reply to
Larry Jaques

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