clean88
Member
Hey guy's. Just wanted to share my story to hopefully help someone else...
My compressor started slowing down a few months back. Seemed to slow down around 100 psi or so but not all the time and sometimes would even start up slow,as low as 50 psi... So i tried tightening the belt with no real change. Then had the run capacitor checked and it tested good. So then i figured maybe the contacts on the pressure switch were burnt/corroded but after looking at the switch there was no real way to access them so i figured time for a new switch. Then i though,it's only one of those cheap lowes compressors,maybe the pump is starting to wear out. Been putting it off ever since...
Well the other day it was finally kinda nice out so i started cleaning up the garage a bit. I moved the compressor out from the wall and noticed my problem... My compressor has a safety cage around the belt. There are long bolts that go thru the motor to hold it together and they stick out a bit. Well you've probable guessed where i'm going with this... The bolts from the motor were going into the rungs on the cage and stopped me from tightening the belt enough. So i made some clearance between the cage and the bolts,tightened the belt up again and viola! new machine... It starts up stronger than it ever did and runs fine all the way up to cut off at 155 psi. The bolts only stick out about 1/4" but the cage was practically right against the motor. Glad i stumbled on the problem,knowing me i would have replaced the switch,torn the motor apart to check that,then the pump... Maybe i should go play some numbers...
Doug
My compressor started slowing down a few months back. Seemed to slow down around 100 psi or so but not all the time and sometimes would even start up slow,as low as 50 psi... So i tried tightening the belt with no real change. Then had the run capacitor checked and it tested good. So then i figured maybe the contacts on the pressure switch were burnt/corroded but after looking at the switch there was no real way to access them so i figured time for a new switch. Then i though,it's only one of those cheap lowes compressors,maybe the pump is starting to wear out. Been putting it off ever since...
Well the other day it was finally kinda nice out so i started cleaning up the garage a bit. I moved the compressor out from the wall and noticed my problem... My compressor has a safety cage around the belt. There are long bolts that go thru the motor to hold it together and they stick out a bit. Well you've probable guessed where i'm going with this... The bolts from the motor were going into the rungs on the cage and stopped me from tightening the belt enough. So i made some clearance between the cage and the bolts,tightened the belt up again and viola! new machine... It starts up stronger than it ever did and runs fine all the way up to cut off at 155 psi. The bolts only stick out about 1/4" but the cage was practically right against the motor. Glad i stumbled on the problem,knowing me i would have replaced the switch,torn the motor apart to check that,then the pump... Maybe i should go play some numbers...
Doug
