Looks like Shoebox is calling it quits

The brown spot on the rear wall of the compressor housing right over the first piston's exhaust port is silica gel?

That spot was caused when the desiccant filter bursted. My guess it was some of the desiccant hitting the case at high pressure.

I was actually able to clean that off the case. I am glad I always had the cover closed when I was operating it.

I ask because it looks to me like detonation products, in fact all the damage looks like the result of a donation. And it fits too. There is no way an o-ring in the solenoid failing could cause all that pattern and severity of damage for about a dozen different reasons. 

Here's what I can tell you that I know . The solenoid controls the operation of the unit. When this happened I had been using the unit almost 2 years filling or topping off 2 SCBA tanks every week. When this happened there had been no changes in the way I filled the tanks and nothing had been done to the unit since I received it from the factory other than changing desiccant. I sent pictures to them when this happened and they diagnosed the cause as the o-ring in the control box not me. As I said that black mark was desiccant being blasted against the case at high pressure when the desiccant tube ruptured. And as I said I was able to clean that mark off. The unit started cycling again after I changed the o-ring but it would not build pressure. What else may have failed I do not know. That is why I wanted to send it back to them for repair.

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Water in the line is one thing I can guarantee it wasn’t. I have 4 large desiccant filters and 3 moisture traps in that line before it even gets to the booster.

Also another way you can tell moisture wasn’t the problem is by looking at the picture of the desiccant tube. The desiccant left in the tube is bright orange, if water or moisture was the problem the desiccant would have turned dark green..

I have the plastic box version, but they are the same. Mine stopped building pressure after about 40-50 hours which is probably a lot less than yours has on it. It turned out to be the high pressure piston seal was worn, I suspect that it was not sufficiently lubricated when assembled. If yours is cycling normally and not able to build pressure, it sounds like it could be the same problem. It is an easy fix. They sent me a couple of the seals, no charge. If you don't want to deal with them anymore, you might want to take your old seal to a bearing or hydraulic place and see if you can find one the same size. There doesn't seem to be anything special about them. Smear the piston with silicone grease before reassembly and you may be up and running again. 

I had a rebuild kit for it but got tired of wasting time with it and bought a compressor then gave the Altros to a friend who wanted to screw with it.

Sorry to hear about Shoebox. I love mine. Works great with no issues. The speed of the fill never bothered me, I just plan ahead. I wish them well.

I don't mind the speed either, not really in a rush. Connects easily to my PCP air rifle. I actually like the design, the compact size. Most people own oilless compressors already, like I do. So that was not an added expense.


Got to order some spares before they stop making them.

Now what to do with my Shoebox? I get it being hard to compete w/ China but feeling a bit let down. When I spoke to Tom years ago he said I would always be able to get parts, buy with confidence he said. Now if parts are available they will be higher priced? If I can find the parts I need am i throwing good money after bad? Same end result as buying Chinese junk with no ongoing available support. Ok, pity party over. Maybe the new Hill EC-3000 will fit the bill.

My shoebox has never been rebuilt and still working great 8 yrs later ....maybe I will rebuild it eventually 

My shoebox has never been rebuilt and still working great 8 yrs later ....maybe I will rebuild it eventually

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That's great to hear. What model is it? How many hours do you estimate you have on the unit? 

I have an F8 and an F10. Just started up the F10 for the first time this year. My F8 doesn’t have a lot of hours on it and I am expecting to offer it up for sale when I get around to it. I never did any maintenance on it other than required lubing. It never gave me any problems. I bought the F10 just to speed up fill times. I have dedicated small Rolair shop compressor as the slave. Super quiet. Love the Shoebox. Set it and forget it. 

I’ve had my Freedom 8 since 2013 and fill 4 guys tanks plus mine. Only have had to rebuild three times. When I heard about Shoebox going out of buisness, I too ordered a supply that should last for years to come.

Zonk

Zonk(or anyone with years of shoebox use),

I have a F10 that's about a year old. I have oring kits, a belt, some bushings, a connecting rod, a crank shaft and a few other misc parts. Since you have much more shoebox experience, what other parts would you recommend to have on hand?

Thanks

I too would also be interested in what someone would consider a good rebuild supply of parts.

Orings, bushing and what not?

Thanks

I just ordered a belt and the maintenance kit for hardened cylinders that come with o rings. They have the bushings we will need every 3 rebuild . 



It would be great if shoebox kept making spares just incase someone needs them down the road.