Customer Reviews

Campbell Hausfeld VT6271 26 Gallon ASME Oil-Lubricated 240V Horizontal Air Compressor

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I received this unit last week and am in the process of disassembling it, moving it into the garage attic as my floor space is limited. The ONLY reason I purchased this unit was the compact size and the fact it was $300 less than in Ingersoll Rand 3HP wheelbarrow compressor. I purchased this unit site unseen as it is hard to find this config in the local big box stores.

The compressor is relocated but not running yet but my first impressions are memorable.
1) The pressure switch on this unit is CHEAP, CHEAP plastic. Also, the phillips screw that holds down the cover to the pressure switch was thoroughly gauged by the hacks at CHPower before the unit shipped from their factory. I'll probably end up making a flat head screw out of it by taking the hacksaw to the head after it strips out completely as it seems to be cheap white metal.
2) The main pressure outlet on this unit is 1/4", not 3/8" on this "10+" cfm @90 psi machine ! Without doing the math to see what kind of velocity is screaming thru that 1/4" heavy hex fitting they have screwed into the pressure port of the vessel, let's just agree it should be at least 3/8" compared to other compressors of this size I've seen. Most likely, I'll end up replacing the main pressure tap port on the pressure vessel with something larger. It appears to be a screw-in hex fitting, but I'll just use it as-is for the time being.

Again, not impressed with the unit is CHEAP and POORLY engineered. Would I purchase this unit again, NO if money was no object. Was I expecting for more. DEFINITELY.

A friend of mine wanted a Campbell Hausfeld compressor as a gift to replace her husbands's very old CH compressor that had served well. I recommended buying through Amazon which she did. We agreed that the packaging problems surely had been corrected since they originated several years ago.

The first compressor arrived damaged, just as other purchasers described years ago. The replacement also arrived with the same damage. I am embarassed at having suggested this product and am angry that a company such as CH is so stupid to have not fixed a simple problem.

Buy another brand of compressor.

AWFUL! Campbell Hausefield is a piece of junk. If you want a compressor that is not designed to break in little more than a year go with an Ingersal Rand. I bought a brand new C.H. and 2 months in the set screw for the pulley fell out and rattled around then got lost. The pulley is not close to being true. It is lop-sided and wobbles badly. 8 months after the purchase the compressor slows down to almost nothing after 60 psi. They will not sell me a replacement start or run capacitor only a $200 motor. Found capacitors for it somewhere else but still have problem. Also changed the check vavle and nothing is better. Customer support is awful. can not even tighten the screws at factory, can't make a true pulley, can not say one good thing about it. If you are going to use it 2 or 3 times a year it might last for 3-5 years. maybe. absolute junk IMO!

This is a great compressor for a home shop or even a small business. With a 240V motor, the compressor is able to put out over 10 SCFM at 90 PSI. I am able to run my 6" random orbital sander at 98% duty without any drop-outs. Granted, the motor will pump the whole time, but it certainly provides enough air. Same story with die grinders, cutoff tools, air ratchets, impact wrenches, etc.

I was concerned about the noise level before I purchased it. Those concerns proved to be unfounded. Compared to the tiny (~2-6 gal) oil-free compressors, this thing is super quiet!

The physical size is perfect for sitting under my workbench. Maintenance is a breeze, too. I am certainly the envy of my neighbors now!

This appears to be a nice compressor for a homeowner. The specifications are superior to anything you can buy from a brick-and-mortar store. Unfortunately, my experience was less than pleasant.
I ordered the compressor on August 10. It was delivered by an 18-wheeler (freight) on August 19 even though I was promised it would be delivered by a delivery truck. I had to meet the 18-wheeler at the local Airport in a borrowed truck to take delivery. That wasn't too hard though, I can get through this.
The shipping container the compressor came in was basically a cardboard box (this thing weighs 200 pounds) which offered no protection whatsoever. The large plastic belt guard was broken. I assume every one of these compressors arrives damaged like this. I called Amazon and they gave me a refund to cover the cost of repairs. Excellent customer service. The belt guard could be ordered on-line and it was held on with only a few screws. That wasn't too hard. I can do this.
A further inspection of the compressor revealed that one of the two bolt holes that attach the air-cleaner to the pump had no threads. That was easy enough to fix. Just tap the hole. That wasn't too hard. I can do this.
After using this compressor for a couple of days, I noticed that the tank was slowly losing pressure. I discovered a pinhole leak in one of the tanks welds. That's too hard. I can't fix that. I called Campbell Hausfeld for help. They gave me the name of a repair facility located about thirty miles away through the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. I took the compressor to them on August 24. The round trip takes two hours along winding mountain roads. When I called them on September 7 to find out what was taking so long, I was told they had ordered the wrong size tank and they had to reorder the tank. On September 13, I was told the compressor was ready to pick up but that they couldn't test their repairs because they didn't have the correct 240 volt plug to run the compressor. I picked it up anyway. When I got it home, I went to test it and noticed that the motor pulley and the pump pulley were grossly misaligned. If they had tried to run the compressor, they would have torn up the belt. I ran the compressor after the pulleys were aligned and discovered two massive leaks at two different fittings. Much worse than the original problem. I called the repair shop and asked them to come to my house to repair the compressor since they gambled by not testing their repairs and lost. I wasn't going to trek though the mountains again for an hour (twice) with a 200 pound compressor rattling around in the back of my SUV. Obviously he refused so I fixed the leaks myself. (First I called Campbell Hausfeld for guidance before attempting the repairs. They were very helpful. They even sent me a free gift when they found out the problems I was having.) One of the leaks was caused by the installation of the incorrect fitting. Apparently the repair shop had destroyed one of the production fittings and replaced it with a similar fitting that would never seal. It wasn't long enough.
Anyway, NOW I think I have a nice compressor.

I purchased this compressor in the plans to paint my car. It arrived in good condition (comes in a flimsy cardboard box, but the shipping company was easy to deal with and handled it well. It is quieter then my neighbors craftsman of similar spec, but it does get hotter and seem to accumulate water quickly when you use for long periods of time then my neighbors (make sure you have a decent water separator). I used this compressor daily for close to 12 hours a day for 6 weeks and it performed well each and every day. It did have some difficulty keeping with my DA, but you could easily buy a DA that didn't need and use as much air as mine. The compressor kept up well and held the proper amount of line pressure while I sprayed my car with an HVLP sprayer (paint turned out great). My biggest complaint is the compressor needs a longer power cord which of course I made longer. I think for the price this may easily be the best compressor in the price range.

First of all, let me start by saying I did a lot of work researching other air compressors on-line reading customer reviews like the one I am writing. That said, here it goes. For me, I was seeking an air compressor I would use with my father in-law to build a 16'x18' deck on the back of my house, so I needed one with a lot of power and reserve. The first air compressor came damaged to me. I found the damage after the shipper left. The damage was a broken pump wheel. The entire wheel was broken off the spokes. I called Campbell Hausfeld. They explained to me that Amazon would prefer that I call them because the product was damaged upon arrival. So, I called them and they handled everything perfectly. The customer representative gave me the option of exchanging the product or returning it for a complete refund. I opted for an exchange. I received the second one no more than 5 days later (I pressed Amazon for that because I was taking vacation the following week to start my project and needed it then, not the following week).

The second one arrived in perfect condition. I used the compressor; I worked it very hard and am completely satisfied with its performance. However, after three and a half months (purchased last week of July 2009) I noticed the paint flaking off the tank and rust underneath the paint. I know this might not seem like a big deal, but I was looking at it from the view point that the tank may be leaking air and the moisture from the condensed air may be causing the paint to flake. Anyhow, after I spent $[...] I expect it to still look like new after just a few months. Besides, in the rare event I decided to sell it, would anyone be interested in purchasing a rusty air compressor even though the owner states "works great even though it looks bad"? I think NOT considering a rusty tank is typically a sign of a leaky tank. Furthermore, how is that my father in-law's compressor looks great after building his 2,800 sqft home himself nearly 20 years ago? In the end, I just want mine to look like the rest of my tools - in great condition from taking care of them properly.

Moving on, I called Campbell Hausfeld and they said tank paint is covered. The only problem is they want to replace my shiny blue tank with a crummy, dull, grey primer colored tank. I know some of you might be thinking no big deal, but again I paid $519.99 and I expect $519.99. I bought this product for two reasons. First, it was made in the United States of America [I only buy American made (a product manufactured by an American company headquartered in America and not just assembled here like those cheap foreign cars). Second, I purchased it because I knew it could handle the demands I would require of it while building the deck and working on my vehicles as a hobby (no I am not a union laborer - I am a professional, 4 year degreed individual).

Anyhow, to conclude this review, I am very happy with the compressors performance; however, I am and dissatisfied with Campbell Hausfeld's cheap fix/replacement option for my rusting tank. I am still in the process of convincing Campbell Hausfeld of replacing my tank with painted one. I will keep you posted as to what comes of all of this.

I hope my review was helpful? My intention was to inform future purchasers not to dissuade or persuade.

Regards,
Mark, Ohio

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