Short airpack rebuild, looking for replacement canister

[Johny5]

Hey guys,
I'm in the process of redoing the breaks in my M35A2. I tore done the short airpack in hopes of rebuilding it to find out there was some serious pitting on the canister. I am wondering if anyone has this part they would be willing to sell me. I don't need the full airpack as everything else is in good shape, as far as I can tell so far.

 

[rustystud]

Hey guys,
I'm in the process of redoing the breaks in my M35A2. I tore done the short airpack in hopes of rebuilding it to find out there was some serious pitting on the canister. I am wondering if anyone has this part they would be willing to sell me. I don't need the full airpack as everything else is in good shape, as far as I can tell so far.

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Well that's the problem. Pitting in the canisters is the number one problem with all the air-packs ! So everyone who has bad canisters is also out there looking for them. I personally went through seven "long style" air-packs to find just one that had a good canister ! There is a special oil that is supposed to be used in the air chamber that lubricates the seal and also prevents rust from developing, but no one uses it. I never bought any as it is only sold in 5 gallon buckets and costs over $500.00 . A few years ago I invited any local Steel Soldiers members to go in on buying a bucket but I got no takers. So I have been using "Silicone Grease" and it seems to work OK.
The "long and short" of it is you will have to buy a complete air-pack from someone unless you get real lucky.

 

[gimpyrobb]

ANy chance of sleeving it?

 

[Floridianson]

I will look for one and if so you can have it. Yea Rusty like you adding an air dryer the Deuce should have had one from the start.

 

[USMC 00-08]

There is a special oil that is supposed to be used in the air chamber that lubricates the seal and also prevents rust from developing, but no one uses it. I never bought any as it is only sold in 5 gallon buckets and costs over $500.00 . A few years ago I invited any local Steel Soldiers members to go in on buying a bucket but I got no takers. So I have been using "Silicone Grease" and it seems to work OK.

Would air tool oil work in there instead of the expensive oil? Has rust inhibitors etc.

 

[clinto]

I've never opened an airpack that had what I would consider a good canister.

 

[Floridianson]

Would air tool oil work in there instead of the expensive oil? Has rust inhibitors etc.

That's what I use. They also have air tool oil/cleaner oil.

 

[rustystud]

ANy chance of sleeving it?

I looked into that a few years ago. The cost was over $300.00 . For a little more money you could buy an NOS unit. I tried to find a place that could just fab up a stainless steel unit. Again the cost was way to much. I found the silicone grease works well. It stays in place and doesn't drip out and it leaves a small film of grease on the canister walls to prevent rust. It's not that "special oil/grease" the military recommends but it is a whole lot cheaper, and along with the "Bendix" air-dryer I installed it should last pretty good.