Air compressor woes

[Under Pressure]

Hi Folks,
I searched the forum but haven't found anything like the problem I'm having.
Hopefully this is very simple. I have a Craftsman 30 gallon 6 hp compressor, probably 15ish years old. I had used it for most of that time without problems. Recently, I've had problems adjusting the regulator knob. After pulling the knob out it became very difficult to increase the pressure, and got to the point that I couldn't turn it at all. I figured that I just needed a new regulator, which I got and installed. Well, out of the box, I can't budge this one either! It won't move tighter or looser. At this point, I'm thinking it must be me, but I can't imagine what I'm doing wrong. Pull knob out until you hear a click, then turn, right? What am I missing??? I got the new valve on Amazon (of course). It's a Craftsman D27253 OEM. It seems unlikely that I'm having the same problem with two regulators...
Thanks.

 

[MovingAlong]

Pictures would help...

Some additional questions to help understand your configuration:

1) Is it installed correctly?
2) What is the supply PSI vs your target PSI?
3) Do you adjust with the air static or moving?
4) Do you have steel lines in front of the regulator or brass?

When my compressor was new, replaced all the little steel lines (pipe *******) with brass. BUT - I missed one. The rust from that line killed three replacement regulators before I figured that out... Embarrassing, but shared for educational value.

And finally, you know what "NEW" stands for right? (Never Ever Worked)

 

[The Cobbler]

Pull knob out until you hear a click, then turn, right?

not all regulators have the lock feature , but sounds like both yours do .
not much help other than that .
maybe some pictures?

 

[Under Pressure]

Thanks for the replies. I believe it's installed correctly. I reproduced the original configuration. I haven't even run the compressor yet since installation. Is that part/all of the problem? Shouldn't I be able to turn the knob without it being pressurized? I figured there's no reason to if I can't control output pressure. Supply PSI is factory set 150. Looks to me like lines before regulator are steel.

 

[Beerhippie]

The regulator doesn't have a diaphragm in the picture--tell me that ain't right.

There should be a flow-direction indicator of some kind on the back of the reg--often it's just an triangle pointing at one port. That port should be your low side output.

Regulators usually come new with the pressure backed entirely off the spring. If you're trying to unscrew the knob, it won't move as it's already backed out.

As for flow/no flow, depends on if it's a relieving regulator. Does the diaphragm have a tiny hole near one edge? If so, it's relieving and you can just unscrew the knob to lower pressure.

 

[Under Pressure]

I don't know if these pictures clarify anything, but I had to take the regulator apart to be able to install it. I did check the direction of the arrow, but I don't think it has anything to do with the problem since I can't turn the adjustment knob in either direction without any compressed air in the tank.

 

[john.k]

I was at an industrial painters ,and before I gave out a regulator ,Id grease the adjuster thread with moly grease....IIRC ,the regulators were Graco ,so hardly cheap stuff.

 

[Under Pressure]

OK, here's where you get a sense of my level of understanding (or lack thereof). Are the adjuster threads around the brass piece in the center in the picture labeled Reg2?

 

[Shoreline_]

Your gauge is threaded in very crooked. Did you accidently cross thread it?

 

[Under Pressure]

Your gauge is threaded in very crooked. Did you accidently cross thread it?

I think it's the angle of the shot. It doesn't really look that way in person.

 

[The Cobbler]

so you took it apart and put it back together... my guess is you cross threaded the plastic threads, or got the diaphragm in crooked or something . easily done, no shame if that's what happened .

 

[Under Pressure]

so you took it apart and put it back together... my guess is you cross threaded the plastic threads, or got the diaphragm in crooked or something . easily done, no shame if that's what happened .

Well, two things. I wouldn't be ashamed if I had cross threaded it but I didn't. Not the gauge, not the plastic part of the regulator. In fact, I took it apart several times since the first installation, and the threads are fine. No force needed to assemble at any point. As I mentioned, the original regulator got to this point, but before I replaced it, I never messed with it at all. That's what makes me think that I'm missing something simple that I'm doing wrong. Maybe something really stupid, but cross threading isn't it.
So is the diaphragm the plastic portion of the regulator that screws onto the metal part? All I did was unscrew it to clear the tank for installation. It came off as one piece and easily screwed back on. I can't see how doing that would have changed anything.

 

[Under Pressure]

OK, not that anyone was on the edge of their seat waiting to see what the resolution of this problem was, but just for closure, here it is. My original regulator was indeed broken, and the Amazon replacement was defective out of the box. I took it to Lowes and they confirmed it. I exchanged it on Amazon and the second replacement works perfectly. I don't remember how long it has been since the original one worked that well. Thanks for the replies, especially MovingAlong who posted "And finally, you know what "NEW" stands for right? (Never Ever Worked)" for the win!