Hive help: craftsman air compressor

Alright I need some help from the hive. Wife picked up a "trash" 25 gallon 4hp craftsman compressor. It's identical to the one my dad has used for 20+years. She wanted to turn it in for scrap. I said " all hell nah ". So today I plugged it in and the motley works like a charm it's a one piece electric motor with oil free compressor. Pulled the plastics off and found it blowing back out the intake. Took the head off to find a smashed seal on the compressor side. Flipped the seal, put the head back on and boom. Pressure. Sorta.

Found the outlet pipe had lost its compression ring so I pulled the pipe, used a large eye screw to swedge the edges out to make a tight seal. Boom.

Now it won't build pressure. I feel around for leaks and realize the drain bolt is missing. No prob. Got that in a bin around here somewhere. Teflon tape and its all sealed. Still no pressure.

Hook it up to my 60gal home compressor, put 60 psi and it holds pressure in the tank. The first problem is the regulator assembly is crap. It leaks. It's broken. But why isn't the compressor making any pressure on the tank?

I'm looking for ano old leaky regulator / water separator I had and going to see if I can hook that in and make pressure that way first.

Is it possible to compressor doesnt make any pressure with restriction? Is it just bad gauges? It's an odd setup that I've never dealt with before but it was free and could make someone a nice compressor cheap.

I'm sorry I can't help you out Bob. I just wanted to state that my wife won't even let me stop to pick up E36 M3 on the side of the road. You sir have a keeper!

Id verify if the compressor head is actually making pressure and then go from there.

Have you got a compression tester? Is there a way you can attach it to the compressor head outlet? Id be expecting a minimum of 120psi if the compressor pump is not toast.

There's usually a pilot valve that hooks into a pressure switch which cuts the compressor once it hits Max/shut off pressure. It could be sticky or failed. This seems unlikely given you noticed air leaking from the drain though.

Provided the compressor head is Putting out reasonable pressure, its likely the regulator and gauge combo is at fault. Does the compressor also have an unregulated outlet? Try it and see what happens. If not, remove the Reg and put a coupler on it and hook up an air tool or pressure gauge, it should work fine.

I often ignore my wife's advice and then find out the hard way that she was right. Fortunately, she doesn't do the "told you" thing. Much.

I think you get my drift...

Basil Exposition wrote: I often ignore my wife's advice and then find out the hard way that she was right. Fortunately, she doesn't do the "told you" thing. Much. I think you get my drift...

When I explained that it would make $50 instead of the $5 in scrap she was all on board.

Maybe scrap the motor and just convert the tank to extra air capacity for your current unit?

sachilles wrote: Maybe scrap the motor and just convert the tank to extra air capacity for your current unit?

This, the less ear splitting direct drive oilless compressors in the world, the better.

sachilles wrote: Maybe scrap the motor and just convert the tank to extra air capacity for your current unit?

That or as a large "mother tank" for long weekends. either way, it's not getting scrapped.

If it has or can have nice wheels and is heavy enough not to tip over, I'd be inclined to strip the motor and compressor off and mount a retractable hose reel to the top instead. Keep the pressure relief valve, pressure gauge, and add a 90* ball valve with a male air hose quick connect fittings for filling it from your other compressor.

My dad had a couple of 100# propane tanks mounted into jogging strollers for the same thing. Enough air to get a car rolling without having to drag the compressor out, running long hoses, or making several trips.

Funny thing about the wheels... it has none. But my father has the same compressor (has for 20+ years) and he put pneumatic tires on it years ago but kept the originals. SO I too will have wheels.

Have you removed the air filter? They get clogged and block off the inlet. Otherwise I'd say the valve assy and or rings are probably shot.

yeah, the filter assembly (piece of foam on a plastic tube) was nasty and already broken, so I removed it. I wiped down the "cylinder" wall with a little fresh oil on hte finger.

Here's some diagrams of what I'm dealing with: http://www.ereplacementparts.com/craftsman-919152920-air-compressor-parts-c-158286_158287_158555.html

Just an update on this. I worked on it this afternoon. Got a gauge on the output of the compressor and it barely makes 9psi. So the answer was to pull all the crap off, but a new fitting and make a 20 gallon air tank out of it.

9PSI is good. You could do beach balls with it.