Campbell Hausfeld VT0403

[JasonB.]

My compressor recently ran away due to a blown hose that was left connected until the pressure switch overheated and threw the breaker. When I started it back up, it built pressure but it was pressurizing the crank case. Here are some pictures from the teardown. I'm not sure where I should be focused.

 

[5ubtle]

Here is a similar thread:

Breather tube bleeds air when compressor off

I just rebuilt an older Rolair K 17 compressor, new rings and gaskets. When I ran it today, I had a small leak between the plates in the head, but I think I can get that to go away. My biggest issue is that during the entire pressurization process, air is coming out of the breather tube at a...

www.garagejournal.com

Air in the crankcase comes past leaking rings. Some air in the crankcase is OK. How much air is coming out of the breather (i.e. is it really a problem)?

I'll call some other members who are interested in this sort of thing:
@GeoBruin @micromind @Jswain

 

[kams1973]

Air compressor pump crankcases normally breath. Same question asked above, how much air is coming out of the breather?

 

[The Cobbler]

it looks like your head gasket has failed, not sure if that is causing your problems...

 

[JasonB.]

Here is a similar thread:

Breather tube bleeds air when compressor off

I just rebuilt an older Rolair K 17 compressor, new rings and gaskets. When I ran it today, I had a small leak between the plates in the head, but I think I can get that to go away. My biggest issue is that during the entire pressurization process, air is coming out of the breather tube at a...

www.garagejournal.com

Air in the crankcase comes past leaking rings. Some air in the crankcase is OK. How much air is coming out of the breather (i.e. is it really a problem)?

I'll call some other members who are interested in this sort of thing:
@GeoBruin @micromind @Jswain

Thanks for the link. It pressurized the crankcase enough that the top of the dipstick breather blew off. So, it made me think too much. I suspected rings, but it really didn't seem too bad when I tore it down. I did notice the torn gasket pointed out by @The Cobbler and I don't think I did that during teardown.

I don't think the valves look too bad. But, I have literally zero experience with this, so I'm hoping some folks with more experience and expertise might chime in.

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't think I did that during teardown.

it looks to me like the gasket was flopping back & forth with the way the mating surface looks polished .
it wouldn't hurt to clean up the reed valves ( get the carbon off of them) while you have it apart.
the cylinders look decent, you can check the rings for wear by taking them off of the piston and placing them in to the cylinders ( squarely) and measuring the end gap , I suspect they are OK but a check would be wise .

 

[JasonB.]

@The Cobbler thanks for the info. I'll pull the rings and check them in the cylinder in the next couple of days and report back.

 

[5ubtle]

It pressurized the crankcase enough that the top of the dipstick breather blew off. So, it made me think too much.

Make sure that the breather is breathing freely (i.e. not plugged).

 

[JasonB.]

@The Cobbler
The ring gap here is about 13 thousandths. Is that acceptable?

 

[The Cobbler]

I would think that is fine, not sure if you can find the specs anywhere , but that seems reasonable to me

 

[JasonB.]

So, a light hone and put it back together with a new head gasket? I ordered a head gasket only, just in case. It should be here today.

 

[Beerhippie]

Check the head for flatness. You overheated it and blew a head gasket. A warped head is a possibility.

But none of that will cause pressure to build in the case. Check your breather tube--it should never blow the dipstick out.

 

[Jswain]

New head gasket, clean everything well & give it some fresh oil. Make sure the piston rings are staggered when you install them.

Retorque the head bolts from inside to outside after a few heat cycles. Probably good for 20 years

 

[JasonB.]

Can anyone point me to a procedure for reinstalling the cylinders on the pistons? I've looked around, but I haven't found anything. Maybe I'm just not hitting the right search terms. What ring compressor should I use, and do I do them one at a time, or both at once? Thanks.

 

[JasonB.]

I just came across this post while searching.

Simple homemade piston ring compressor.

After looking at ring compressors for atv's and motorcycles online I made this myself for nothing. Since most atv's and mc's have about 3 inch pistons I grabbed a piece of 3 inch abs pipe and cut about a half inch off the end. Then I split the ring in one spot. Now just spread it open and place...

www.garagejournal.com

I think I'm going to give the abs pipe ring compressor a try. I guess I need to block the pistons so that they are sitting at the same height and hopefully the cylinders have enough chamfer at the bottom to start them both at the same time.