Air Compressor - 1/4” Pressure Switch Tubing

[Dan in Pasadena]

See pictures.

I started up my bought-used HF 60 gal vertical compressor and it was running fine up to pressure when suddenly I heard a big pop and air rushing. I wasn’t looking at the gauge but i think it was at about 50+psi.

The little plastic tubing that runs from the tank to the pressure switch split just above the tank. You can kind of see it just above the pipe clamp on the tank.

It strikes me that this tubing is Mickey Mouse as is the pipe clamp but I’m wondering what to use instead? Copper tubing? I know nothing about how to properly clamp copper so any help, photos, etc would be helpful.

If I’ve got this wrong and I should just replace the plastic tubing, well...ok, if you say so.

 

[lakeroadster]

My Craftsman has a copper tube... that being said, if I were you I'd just replace the tube with another tube rated for the pressure capacity stamped on the tank.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yes, copper tubing would be what 99% out there use. Compression fittings and I think it's 1/8" tubing. Shouldn't cost much and the big box stores stock it.

 

[The Cobbler]

that has been tampered with , no way that's original. 1/4 copper tubing with compression fittings would fit . , unless it's metric.

 

[Shadowdog500]

My Ingersoll Rand compressor uses copper tubing as well!

A handful of years ago the 60 gallon HF compressors were made in the USA by BelAire. If yours is a BelAire I couldn't imagine it having a plastic hose, but you may want to look on the tank data plate to see if you got the Made in USA tank. Chris

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My Ingersoll Rand compressor uses copper tubing as well!

A handful of years ago the 60 gallon HF compressors were made in the USA by BelAire. If yours is a BelAire I couldn't imagine it having a plastic hose, but you may want to look on the tank data plate to see if you got the Made in USA tank. Chris

I doubt I’ll be so lucky as to have gotten a USA made tank, but I’ll check.

After I posted this (should have been before, sorry) I checked online and apparently there IS plastic tubing rated for high enough pressure to be used for this purpose. But I agree copper would be the correct one-time-only fix. And as for that pipe clamp - cheesy! Ok guys, thanks for the input. I’ll take it apart, see what I’ve got and make the fix. Hopefully it won’t be a big deal. Compressor other wise works great. Is a big improvement over my ancient Campbell Hausfield 20 gallon diaphragm compressor and only cost me $250 used.

 

[The Cobbler]

to clarify, my post was meant to reference the hose clamp, not the fact that it's plastic line.

 

[Garageguy65]

See pictures.

I started up my bought-used HF 60 gal vertical compressor and it was running fine up to pressure when suddenly I heard a big pop and air rushing. I wasn’t looking at the gauge but i think it was at about 50+psi.

The little plastic tubing that runs from the tank to the pressure switch split just above the tank. You can kind of see it just above the pipe clamp on the tank.

It strikes me that this tubing is Mickey Mouse as is the pipe clamp but I’m wondering what to use instead? Copper tubing? I know nothing about how to properly clamp copper so any help, photos, etc would be helpful.

If I’ve got this wrong and I should just replace the plastic tubing, well...ok, if you say so.

PVC.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

PVC.

HAD to be said, I suppose!

 

[EOC_Jason]

I've seen a few over the years with a plastic unloader line. I think all of the cases were like yours though where they split and people were asking for help.

Lowes sells copper tubing in different lengths in the plumbing section, along with all the fittings you will need. Just be careful bending as the small tubing will like to kink so take it slow.

 

[ishiboo]

My horizontal portable compressor has the HF automatic drain plumbed with the plastic tubing it came with and has for several years... no issues. A lot of unloader lines seem to be plastic without major issues. 1/4" copper is the way to go if that doesn't work for ya.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've seen a few over the years with a plastic unloader line. I think all of the cases were like yours though where they split and people were asking for help.

Lowes sells copper tubing in different lengths in the plumbing section, along with all the fittings you will need. Just be careful bending as the small tubing will like to kink so take it slow.

I suppose just hand bending? I do have an automotive brake line bender that I’ve never used. If it works for this diameter I guess this will give it a shot

 

[joe_padavano]

It's not PVC, it's HDPE (high density polyethylene). The 1/4" OD tubing normally comes in one of two wall thicknesses - 0.040" or 0.062". Burst pressures are 200 psi and 450 psi respectively. Most air compressors are limited to 125 psi, so the HDPE tubing is fine with the proper end fittings. Obviously some clown incorrectly used a hose clamp.

 

[redmondjp]

I suppose just hand bending? I do have an automotive brake line bender that I’ve never used. If it works for this diameter I guess this will give it a shot

Yes, just remember that tubing (copper and steel) hardens when you bend it, so it is much harder to undo a bend than it is to take it really slow and not make any mistakes. I just did some 1/4" steel tube bending last week - I used a pair of vice-grips, with some 1/4" rubber fuel line split open, to grip onto the tube (I was bending a pretty tight radius) without damaging it.

I like to use something curved that is in the vice, as a stationary object to bend the tubing around (if i'm not using a bender).

It's also good to think ahead and figure out the order in which to do the bends, so that you have leverage on the right parts of the tube and can get to those. For your situation, that's probably not a big deal. Also, sometimes you can put a loop or two in the middle of the line, and that gives you some flexibility with exactly where the two ends are. GM did this for decades on the steel brake lines connected to the master cylinder, which allows for some relative motion between the two ends as well.

Believe it or not, lots of compressor manufacturers used that stupid plastic air line for the unloader - I know it came on one of my compressors and of course it failed as well. Then some manufacturers switched to aluminum tubing, as it is less expensive (although not as available on the consumer market).

 

[jubilee]

Joe is correct. Air brake vehicles trucks,buses, construction equipment, all have hundreds of feet of plastic air line running 120-135 lbs. of pressure in all kinds of conditions. Heat, cold, salt, vibration, you name it. Nothing wrong with plastic air line.

 

[blair683]

I just pieced a compressor together the other day. I ran a 1/4” copper pipe with compression fittings at each end. My local hardware sells the 1/4” pipe for $1.00 a foot. Below is a picture of mine. My compressor was built with parts I had laying around and by no means is it pretty.

 

[lakeroadster]

....Below is a picture of mine....

 

[iagsxr]

Every semi on the road is counting on plastic lines to stop them.

I'd use air brake tubing and proper fittings before box store copper.

If I were dead set on metal I'd use a cupro nickel brake line.

 

[raffaelli]

I have the same compressor. The unloader line heats, weakens and pops. Change it to copper.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Joe is correct. Air brake vehicles trucks,buses, construction equipment, all have hundreds of feet of plastic air line running 120-135 lbs. of pressure in all kinds of conditions. Heat, cold, salt, vibration, you name it. Nothing wrong with plastic air line.

There is plastic and then there is plastic. Trucks and factories use nylon or a urethane (like PEX) It is the fittings that leak and fail. That looks like a spiral reinforced vinyl.

 

[mds5951]

I have that plastic kind on my HF 60 as well. Been on my list to change from day one...... 9 years ago. Haha


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[Dan in Pasadena]

I have that plastic kind on my HF 60 as well. Been on my list to change from day one...... 9 years ago. Haha


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Ha, well your post kind of makes me feel better. I need to take mine apart and examine it closely. If it’s easier to just replace the plastic with a correct, high pressure capable “plastic” I might consider it.