Compressor Problems Need Help

[mayday0017]

We have an older compressor at the shop that we have used for years (change oil regular drain etc) it has been great. Recently it got very cold for Houston (18degrees) and it started having problems.

Currently the compressor kinda works though it builds air slowly and seems like the motor is struggling to build the air and the belt slips on occasion now. We expected the pump to be basically locked up but it can be turned over by hand so that adds to the confusion.

In addition to not knowing where to start on what the problem could be we don't know what kind it is anymore. I am attaching photo's of the unit in hopes someone can identify the brand and hopefully the pump so we can buy parts.

One challenge for this is we really need to identify the issue if possible before tearing the pump down as the compressor is the only compressor for the shop and we are still using it for work.

Any help is appreciated

View media item 79780
View media item 79779
View media item 79778
View media item 79777
View media item 79776
View media item 79775

 

[gungatim]

I'd start with the check valve, make sure it isn't back feeding pressure to the pump.

 

[mayday0017]

I'd start with the check valve, make sure it isn't back feeding pressure to the pump.

Only concern with checking the valves is that it requires opening things up and since we don't know what pump it is it is hard to say how long we would be without parts to put it back together.

Any info on pump?

 

[Foxxtrot]

Is it possible that it has just gotten sluggish due to thickening oil in the low temperatures? Maybe a thinner oil for the time being would solve it? Seems odd that it worked fine up until the temperature change, and the pump still turns fine by hand, so the only real change is in the temps.

 

[skulldrinker]

Had similar problem couple weeks ago during that cold snap here in Chicago. The sound
was just not right I could tell it was struggling or running slower. My first guess was the motor was going bad because I keep the shop at 45-50 during the night and mine never sounded like that before. It did that a couple of times but now a week has gone by and the sound it good again. Maybe my oil got extra cold. i don't know.

 

[gungatim]

Only concern with checking the valves is that it requires opening things up and since we don't know what pump it is it is hard to say how long we would be without parts to put it back together.

Any info on pump?

check valve on the tank before the main line is what I was referring to.

agree, I wouldn't tear into the pump just yet, you could do some tests maybe to simulate a cylinder leak down maybe but you'd need to fabricate something.

 

[SgtHawkUSMC]

I've seen quite a few compressors do exactly what you're describing in the past. The oil doesn't like the cold. I had an antique Kellogg that looked just like yours and a 20 gallon Craftsman years ago that would always do that in the winter. Either one would start to go, then if I didn't catch it in time they would pop a breaker. No good... Never a single issue when it was relatively warm. Above 30 deg or so.

 

[sberry]

Check the belt tension.

 

[SawtoothJL]

Try using a thinner, synthetic oil CompAir CS100 is my personal prefrence. It sounds like your oil is a bit thick for those kind of temps.

 

[bsaint]

Gasket kit is a cheap investment to figure out the root of your issues. Maybe 60 bucks. That's a few thousand dollar compressor sitting there that it doesn't look like much time or money has gone into it for maintenance and its been making you guys money all along. Time to reinvest a little in her.

 

[Fretters]

Put thinner oil in, as mentioned. There's usually a glut of problems around this time of year due to cold oil.

 

[The Cobbler]

I would go to lighter weigh oil or full synthetic first . thick cold oil makes for a hard start

 

[bsaint]

ANother thing is make sure the interstage check valve is 1) present and 2) operational. If the high pressure stage is leaking back pressure to the low pressure stage, then it will struggle to build high pressure.

 

[redmondjp]

Very common problem - try adding heat to the compressor crankcase, with a heat gun, heat lamp, or magnetic engine block heater. It also looks like the oil may need changing.

I'd second the recommendation to switch to a synthetic oil. At my last company, our compressor sat outside the building and it would struggle to start for the first time every morning in the winter months. We were at a wire harness shop, so some of the line workers came out with their heat guns (used on shrink tubing typically) and warmed it up for 5 minutes so it wouldn't trip the breaker.

 

[469 runner]

That looks like an Ingersoll Rand Compressor with a T-30 pump. Very good unit.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

You have a Campbell Hausfeld TK series pump.