Well, seven years AFTER I rescued a Jacksonville Air Products 5HP compressor from being hauled for scrap (just needed a new motor bearing!), It finally threw a rod bearing. It was about 20 years old, and had lived a hard life of lots of moisture accumulation, due to living outdoors (unsheltered) for 13 years until I got it. I was faithful about changing oil, but it had endured a lot before I got it. Noisy as hell from day-1, but not worth completely re-building, because it had a Chinese pump.
So I replaced the head with a new Eaton 2-stage 5HP 24 SCFM pump. It'll do 17 SCFM at 175psi, and I'm only running the tank at 145. We don't use a lot of air, so that's all we need. It's mostly for machine control and the occaisional blow-off or painting job.
This is SO WEIRD! I've never actually heard the electric motor running before! I've got to get used to some new sounds. You can actually carry on a normal conversation 5' away from this thing while it's running.
We used to have to run out of the shop if we were on a cell phone call when it came on. Now we can walk right by it and keep talking. I don't think I've ever heard a pump this quiet.
Man! If I'd known then...
Lloyd