How to change the oil on a 29 gallon Harbor Freight air compressor

Here I’ll show you how to change the oil on the 29 gallon Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic air compressor. I’ll also show you why it’s so important to flush the oil after the initial break in.
These same steps will also work for many other brands of oiled, belt-drive air compressors.

[@danhartman9087]

I've had this same compressor now for about 7 or so years. I always HATE changing the oil in it for the same reason, but use a very similar system to change it,and it does work. I really prop up the back of the compressor (a block made of 2x4 and a piece of 3/4" plywood) to cause all the oil to "spill forward" and like you, send the foil as far back as I can with a lip on the very back, and as much of a curve (not much room under there for it but it seems to help). I've seen a couple DIY vids where a couple owners put a threaded (M6x1) brass pipe with a ball valve in there and extend that drain hole where it is much more easily accessible. At some point, I'll get motivated and try that myself. Good video for others (.....and myself) who have this compressor. This technique DOES help make it no-so-messy. Thumbs up!

[@gregnorvell9730]

Ive had mine for over 10 years. Use it regularly and never once changed the oil. Actually didn't expect it to last this long. This video makes me want to do it this weekend!

[@MountainSalsa]

Thank you

[@mich75el]

I just bought the same air compressor & completed the 30 min. continuous run for break in that is stated in instruction manual. When I realized where the drain plug was I came straight to google to see if anyone had a way to drain the oil without making a mess. Thanks for the tips. Good video. Subscribed.

[@johnharty5757]

The location of the drain plug is ridiculous on this air compressor I too have thought about as one other person mentioned adding an M6-1.0 tube with a drain plug or valve but have not gotten around to it I disagree with the synthetic being better the central pneumatic oild has zinc phosphorus in it a much needed friction modifier my compressor has 208.2 hours on it now and still builds pressure as well as it did after break in I understand your concern about temperature I can asure you that the friction modifier sticks to parts even after long periods of sitting I have an old chevy with on old school 350 flat tappet engine runing zinc additive with and starting it at times on single digit temps from time to time after sitting for over a week and currently have over 100'000 on the build and it is still healthy

[@DKSE123]

Hey Thanks , For Letting Me Know What Oil Capacity Is !!!

[@ryanhawkins1235]

When I was researching for my generator I saw some using form a funnel a flexible funnel that lets you do what you did with the foil but it stiffer for sliding it under and control.

[@brandonk8897]

where did you get that gauge telling you how many hours it has on it?

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant video thank u 👍

[@pospc2]

I have one like it. Been running great. It's been used for a DA sander,painting cars, air impact and ratchet, air hammer. I change the oil frequently. I use a funnel under the drain plug. One that has an open side. Slip the raised side under the plug area with a hose on the funnel going into a bottle. Works very well. My compressor has been running strong for about a year so far. Have only used conventional 30wt non detergent oil.

[@DYLANTRIES]

So sythetic oil doesnt offer protection necessarily unless it has additives like zinc or phosphorus in it but I would look for a certified oil which means they have to disclose what is in the oil. Synthetic oils usually doesnt break down as fast but isn't much of a difference to pay the extra cost. Just change the oil often to keep it clean and free of contaminants but love this channel great job

[@ToolTeardowns]

I'm mostly interested in the better performance at low temperatures. It's often cold in my garage, and the synthetic will make it easier for the compressor to start.

[@Tops1212]

How much oil does this compressor take pls?

[@alk5749]

I just bought one a couple of weeks ago for $128.00 at their parking lot sale. Guy bought it on Saturday and returned it while I was there Sunday. Said he changed his mind. It was still in the box unopened. I asked the manager what kind of deal he’d give me if I bought it, said he wasn’t sure maybe 25% off. I told him I’d give $125.00 for it and he said no so I continued shopping, just as I was walking out he said if you want that compressor I’ll let you have it for $128. I bought it. 👍

[@cardo1111]

As always a well-done and helpful vid. God forbid they include a $2. oil drain tube that would clear the tank.

[@Likeclubmusik]

is the Kobalt oil from Lowes work for air comp?

[@kirktitgen6395]

My Honda engined pressure washer also had metal shards and I was glad I replaced the engine oil only after 30 mins. Small engines are not like car engines and are made with loose tolerances.

[@RoloisRight]

I tried looking for a solution to the oil changing problem on HF compressors a couple years ago, but I think I gave up because the adapters seemed overpriced. Sadly, I don't have much of that info anymore, but I did find one of the adapters still on one of my amazon wish lists. Search Trico FA-1025 on amazon. You can also google '1/8" NPT Female x M8 x 1.25 Male' for adapters that are slightly less expensive. My wish list note on the item is 'adapter for oil drain on hf compressors. check ebay for metric fittings to npt' which possibly means I found them cheaper on ebay. The plan was to use the adapter with whatever length nipple needed for that particular compressor. I don't remember if both the 21gal and 29gal have the same size drain, but based on my note, I believe I came to the conclusion that they were... you might want to confirm.

[@amp12345amp]

@RoloisRight.....did this adapter work for this purpose? Did you find it on eBay or Amazon?

[@PastPreserver]

Cool that stinks the first one messed up for you. I have about 4 hours on mine. The instructions said to wait 100 hours before changing the oil lol. Now I am going to change mine. Thanks for the video. I look forward to your review of it. So far I haven't had any issues with mine. It does a lot better job than the oil less Craftsman I was using. I actually hooked up that tank to it as well so I have 55 gallons on hand. Good video 👍

[@wildbill23c]

I changed mine after 10 hours of use, and once a year since then...I've had mine for about 4 years now no issues with it at all. It works great.

[@abibodlogistics]

Thanks for the video,what is the model number or the sku for this compressor because I called different Harbor Freight stores and so sad nobody there seems to know what I am talking about because they all just keep asking me about the model number and I don't want to end up buying the model that does not come with the hour meter .Thanks once again and I look forward to hearing from you.

[@ToolTeardowns]

Mine is 61489.

[@abibodlogistics]

@@ToolTeardowns Thanks,all way leads to Harbor Freight store to pick up mine.

[@JoshKilen]

very nice job, you know you could try adding an extension with brass pipe and a ball valve.

[@Dragonuv2002]

Between the string filings and the piss poor design of the oil drain, the manufacturer sure didn’t put much effort into this machine when it comes to quality and ease of maintenance. Another good video, thank you.

[@lanceb940]

I have the same compressor. Take a look at the wiring schematic on the motor. Does yours have a L1 & L2 input? Could you rewire for 220V? I know the tag says 120v. I found the tag on the motor to contradict itself that way. What do you think? Had mine since June 2018. Has 9 hours on it. No issues yet. Quiet and decent recovery speed. Even ran an hvlp spray gun on it a few times without any problems. I love it.

[@ToolTeardowns]

I believe mine says 120 only, but I don't have it here to check. I wanted dual voltage, because I have 240 in my garage, but I gave that up buying this one. I'll check that tonight.

[@ToolTeardowns]

At least the older versions had dual voltage motors. Thr display model at a local store has a dual voltage motor. Mine doesn't.

[@wildbill23c]

Its a 110V motor only, you could of course replace that motor with one that will run on 220V quite easily though.

[@ninjatechauto655]

For future oil change ease you can install a pipe with an elbow or two and a ball valve. That way you can route it where you want to drain and instead of unscrewing a screw or bolt, you can just turn a lever to drain.

[@ToolTeardowns]

It's a good suggestion, but the plug is tiny. It's way smaller than 1/4" NPT and I'm not sure it's something I could find too easily.

[@csnr355]

Can you help me on how to change oil on a rolair air compressor?

[@fastbusiness]

It's a good idea to flush the oil like you did. A few years ago I completely disassembled one of the HF compressor pumps ( 5 HP 145 PSI Twin Cylinder Air Compressor Pump ) as part of an industrial maintenance classroom project. Considering that it was a new pump, I was surprised to find fine particles of metal scattered throughout the inside of the pump. These particles were leftover from the machining/grinding process during manufacture, I assume. Obviously, they should have been cleaned out before assembly but weren't. I imagine the debris flowing along with the oil throughout the pump would soon damage the bearing surfaces, piston rings, and cylinder walls and result in shortened pump life and reduced performance. In my experience with HF products, I'm not surprised that the pump was sold in this condition as their quality control seems erratic on most of their products and this one was no exception.

[@wildbill23c]

They should have a pipe that connects to the bottom of the pump housing with a cap on it for draining the oil, dumb design, and seems many other brands are similar.

[@amp12345amp]

@Tool Teardowns......any luck on finding adapters to that tiny oil drain port to pipe it out further from the tank to make the oil change easier?

[@ToolTeardowns]

I haven't really looked. Since I won't be changing the oil that often I'm not too concerned about it.

[@rickspriggs2176]

There's a video where a guy did that. I think he used an M 5 1/4 adapter plug and it screwed in and he added a ball valve. Unless you're using it every day I'm not sure it's worth it. The water drain valve though is a different matter

[@wildbill23c]

@@rickspriggs2176 Water drain valve is just a simple butterfly twist plug in the bottom of the tank, very simple to drain. The pump drain on the other hand is a mess. Not sure what size of threads & hole that drain is but I'm sure with some work you could easily fabricate a pipe to screw into it with either a plug in it or a shut off ball valve on the end....either way it would be much easier to drain and far less messy...at least with how it is from the factory you can keep the side of the compressor rust free and well lubricated LOL.

[@codycheney3401]

you know I changed the oil before I ever pet the hose on it. After I smelled it you could tell it wasnt oil and more like diesel than oil ! So asfter an oil change and decided to pu;; the water plug out of the tank and good thing I did because I had to have help from someone because the painted it shut. After 4 hours I drained the oil and it looked new but never let that stop you ! I havent ever had a problem with it and it has 250 hours on it ! Every now and then the blow off valve kicks off but that is it ......

[@ToolTeardowns]

Flushing it before running it would not be a bad idea, but I think running the factory oil for the break in is also a pretty decent plan.

[@mr.toliver2717]

How about you put an Earth magnet 🧲 on the drain plug

[@ToolTeardowns]

It's a good idea, but the drain plug is a tiny screw. I don't have any magnets that tiny. I'd have to cut a tiny piece off a magnet and try to glue it on there.

[@VIPSTYLEUSA]

So do yall recommend this compressor?Im thinking about buying one

[@ToolTeardowns]

I have mixed feelings. If you wait for a sale you can get a name brand for the same price or slightly more. If you have a HF gift card already, the HF one might be a good deal.

[@VIPSTYLEUSA]

I might get the Dewalt DCMX301 then. They have at tractor supply for 430

[@ToolTeardowns]

The one at Tractor Supply was on sale for $329 on Black Friday. It's the same model sold as a Husky, Sanborn and others. It was also on sale at Menards for $329 and frequently goes on sale there. If you have time to wait, you might be able to get a better price than $430.

[@ToolTeardowns]

I know this because that's the other model I was considering before I bought the HF one. It was between the HF, DeWalt and Sanborn.

[@wildbill23c]

I've had mine for about 4 years now, no issues at all with it. I did an initial oil change on it at 10 hours, and then change it once a year afterwards. It runs everything I need.

[@the_fomoco_man5160]

Great info, looking forward to your review of this air compressor, subscribed!

[@MustangGuru]

I would just install a small ball valve there. Attach a hose to it to drain the oil.

[@ToolTeardowns]

The problem is finding a valve or fittings small enough. The drain plug is tiny.

[@Thomasjcolbert82]

I love your videos! Have you taken apart the Husky 3/8 Impact air ratchet yet?

[@ToolTeardowns]

That's not a tool I own, but I am familiar with it and I've considered buying one.

[@Thomasjcolbert82]

​@@ToolTeardowns I got it on ebay for 40.00 or so, instead of 80-90 at home depot. It's pretty nice. Problem is , its not strong enough for some bolts but too powerfull for others. It's a tool I don't reach for alot, but I have it in case. Nice thing, is that, it impacts when it tightens so you don't break your hands. Another tool to look at is the 1/2 Husky mini impact. That thing is awsome. I got that also for 25-30 on ebay. I have a lot of tools for you to take apart lol.

[@Oneill5491]

I have this same model compressor and had the exact same problem with draining the oil despite also thinking of and attempted using foil as a form-a-funnel. Pretty stupid design for sure, but otherwise I've been pretty happy with this compressor. Strongly suggest stepping up to this 29 gallon model over the frequently advertised $150 21 gallon one. Much quieter, better components that will likely last longer, and of course more airflow, capacity, and pressure. It's just a shame you have to spend over twice as much for this model with no oiled models between the 21 gal and this 29 gal.

[@ChrisGilliamOffGrid]

I've been considering this one too. A lot cheaper than the Dewalt I fantasize about.

[@tighthams]

My 21 gal HF Central Pneumatic is five years old now. Never changed the oil. Never had to add any oil. It still compresses air! It's kind of loud though. For the price, I don't care. It's maintenance free for me!

[@joserodriguez122]

Very useful I never thought of doing that Thanks

[@DKSE123]

What is oil capacity ?

[@officialmysteriousrider6327]

I drain mine from the sight glass with a cut milk carton works fine

[@petermescher332]

Just thought I'd point out that there's actually a good reason they don't bother calling for the first oil change until a whopping 100 hours... While changing early won't hurt anything, compressor oil is specifically of the non-detergent type, so metal shavings have a tendency to simply settle out and sit in the bottom of the crankcase, which I believe has some small baffles specifically to prevent the splash-lube system from whipping them into the vital bits. The shavings will just sit down there, the same place as any moisture that the oil picks up. On another note, I wonder if you can get a long screw (or, better yet, a brake bleeder) the same thread as the drain plug, drill out the center, and slip some tubing over the head.

[@ToolTeardowns]

I see your point. However, I don't see any baffles in the parts diagram for the pump, so I suspect this debris would have been disturbed when the pump runs and mixed in the oil.

[@wildbill23c]

There aren't any baffles, if you pull the pump off and take the base plate off it is just completely open.

[@wildbill23c]

They don't want you to change the oil for 100 hours because they want you to buy a new compressor every few years. I change oil in my compressor once a year regardless of hours it has ran, and I drain the air tank after every use as well. I've had my compressor for about 4 years, 1st oil change I did was at 10 hours, then once a year sense. Haven't had any problems with mine and currently has roughly 30 hours of use on it. The oil drain issue is my only complaint but next time I'll find out what size the drain port is and find a way to attach a pipe and plug on it to resolve the drain mess.

[@type2523]

Do a tear down on it

[@loumonte658]

great idea to double flush the oil with cheap oil first👍

[@johngibson3594]

Why not put a drain pipe in where the plug goes and cap the pipe will be better the next time

[@ToolTeardowns]

That's a good suggestion, but the plug is tiny and I'm not sure I could find a pipe that small very easily. I'll look into it.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Very intresting look forward to the whole review great tips

[@yojoebananas]

my Sanford 15 gallon compressor is still running on the factory oil from 12 years ago

[@zjty233]

that's dumb

[@garysheridan3308]

It seems extremely quiet in the video. Is it really that quiet

[@ToolTeardowns]

No. I turned down the volume in those parts so it wouldn't blast loud noise in the video.

[@ToolTeardowns]

It's way quieter than direct drive or oil free compressors, though.

[@wildbill23c]

Its quite a bit quieter than a direct drive oil-less compressor but they're still somewhat loud.

[@realdeal189]

Just by the 5 dollar hf red hand pump

[@ToolTeardowns]

That's not a bad idea, but I don't think that would flush out the metal particles like a traditional drain.

[@wildbill23c]

Except that would leave all the debris in the base of the pump forever...those pumps are really useless if you want your equipment to last as it doesn't get everything out like actually pulling the drain plug.

[@DYLANTRIES]

Sadly they don't clean stuff very well.. Predator engines are worthy of dissembly before adding oil to them.

[@jonathanandlisafewins2075]

Really cool

[@ToolTeardowns]

It wasn't really cool when I had to clean up all the oil I spilled, but live and learn, I guess.

[@toolinhand]

Good review. The only failure would be for you to not learn from your mistakes.

[@RudeMcNasty]

You ask us to believe you that there are problems with Harbor freight products...You really don't have to emphasize that. Harbor freight sells problems and tools

[@raabsand]

Man your voice is made for videos. Keep it up!

[@georgespangler1517]

Not harbor freight,,,,kobalt at Lowes is Campbell husfield,,,and 60 gallon oil compressor is only 500 dollars,,,,last compressor you will ever buy or need

[@wildbill23c]

Sadly they all use the same pump. The pump on the Harbor Freight is actually a Campbell Hausfeld pump.

[@HoneyGlzedHam]

First!

[@ApexIXMR]

How to do proper maintenance on a Horrible Freight Air Compressor. 1. Disconnect power cable 2. Hoist onto handcart 3. Push off edge of high cliff 4. Avoid future purchase of anymore garbage sold from them

[@misterhat5823]

Bleh.

[@pospc2]

Have you actually used harbor freight products and a wide range of them? If so have you used them properly? I have used a lot of products sold by them. I can't say I have never had problems but, overall things have been good and most have exceeded my expectations.

[@bob1tattoo]

I have their same air compressor......and have used it daily for 4 years. My biggest complaint with it it that it’s so noisy....other than that it’s been a very good and reliable compressor. A lot of people curse harbor freight stuff for good reason, however a lot of the things that they sell are pretty good quality and hold up pretty well against popular truck brand tools in a professional setting.

[@pospc2]

@@bob1tattoo you are right about it being noisy. It makes more noise then my "name brand" one of similar specs. I got my HF one for really cheap from my brother. Didn't need it but I figured it would be a good beater.

[@rosadocrew]

Never had any problems with their products.

[@soundretarded]

Thank you!