HELP: 30 Gallon Kobalt Air Compressor not starting

[tonyvlx]

My 30 gallon Kobalt air compressor will not turn on. I hear the motor make noise but the belt and pully wont rotate. I tried to turn the pully by hand(piston) and it takes lots of force to slightly move the pully. Is the motor seized?? Its a 120Volt 15 amp motor and keeps tripping the breaker. any help would be appreciated. thanks

 

[kams1973]

Take the belt off and try to roll both the pump and motor again by hand.

 

[tonyvlx]

Both the pump and motor should rotate freely by hand force alone, correct??

 

[SGKent]

Is there pressure in the tank?

 

[trboxman]

Both the pump and motor should rotate freely by hand force alone, correct??

With very little effort.

 

[tonyvlx]

No pressure in the tank

 

[trboxman]

The unloader my not be working so it's trying to start under pressure. As was suggested earlier, take the belt off and see whether it's the motor or the pump that's hard to turn.

 

[tonyvlx]

took the belt off and the motor is seized. can these motors be rebuilt??? if so what the average cost to rebuild?? thanks

 

[Steevo]

The motor that comes with that compressor is a throw-away. You'd be money ahead to buy a new replacement in a quality brand of equal HP / RPM and call it good.

 

[brownbagg]

capactors bad

 

[Knuckle Buster]

capactors bad

That wouldn't lock a bearing up.

 

[Dale B]

Might be a real good time to learn how to change the motor bearings . They are likely under $20 ea. at Grainger or MSC. That motor will be in the $250 range. About the only special tool you might need is a bearing separater. That's how I learned......

 

[Davefr]

took the belt off and the motor is seized. can these motors be rebuilt??? if so what the average cost to rebuild?? thanks

How many hours on the compressor?

Unless it's been heavily used it's probably something simple. (maybe the centrifical switch or some debris between the stator and armature or the cooling fan.)

It could also be loose housing bolts causing the armature to lock up against the stator.

I've also seen pulley keys get loose and jam between the pulley and motor housing.

It's definitely not a capacitor issue and I doubt it's bearings unless it's had a lot of use.

Just take it apart and see what's going on.

 

[Mandres]

and please post pics when you do so the noobs like me can learn from your experience!

 

[tonyvlx]

Ill take it apart tmr and post what i find. thanks

 

[jhelrey]

It's under warranty isn't it?

 

[Ben Buck]

I hope you didn't use any type of extension cord ? Remember to take the air to your work, not the compressor, just sayin' .

 

[PRH44]

Be sure the the rotor is or damaged. Items get handled rough in shipping. The motor could have been hit hard. Sometimes the rotor gets shove end to end. This results in bearing damage and some times in extreme cases the rotor comes in contact with the stator although rare.
Steevo is correct I have one of these compressors and the motors are low end. If its not under warranty its worth pulling apart and see if it is a cheap fix,at least see if you can some hours out of it. The motor is not worth taking to a shop in my opinion.

 

[Davefr]

Items get handled rough in shipping. The motor could have been hit hard.

He could be right. This compressor is very top heavy. It could have easily been knocked over while in the store or during shipping/handling. I've seen display models in Lowes that were damaged. (bent cages and broken cooling fins).

Let us know what you find. I think I have the same compressor if it was from the Lowe's killer deal closeout last year. You should also double check the warranty. Some of these units had a decent 3 year warranty. (I'd still take it apart though in case it is something simple).