compressor problems

[mike1960]

I have about a 10 yr old Craftsman 5HP 22 gallon upright compressor. About a year ago I had to rebuild the pump, all has been great till recently when it seemed like I didnt have enought air to run tools. With a glove on I can actually stop a cut off tool! Per the gauge it says its building up like normal and shuts off like its supposed to, any suggestions??

Mike

 

[The Cobbler]

what is your outlet pressure set to? what is the pressure when the tool is running? what sort of flow do you have with no tools, just say a blow gun? could be a bad /plugged regulator

 

[gdocktor3]

If the tank is filling and pressurizing, it must be something with regulator or hose. Simple test, fill tank and when you open the drain valve does air rush out like it used to when full or just fizzle out for a few seconds?

 

[larry_g]

Without a good pressure gauge your just guessing. Get a gauge and Tee it into the line near the tool and see what you have. Does it agree with the tank gauge? Run the tool and check again. You should see some loss in pressure but it it drops to very low then you have a flow problem. Use your pressure gauge just like a volt meter in an electrical circuit, if you know electrical trouble shooting.

Second question, Have you sucessfully run this cutoff tool in the past? or is it a new to you tool?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mike1960]

I tried the drain valve and it comes with full force.

Mike

 

[mike1960]

That was my first thing to check, but it will do it with any tool. I have a Snap On sander and I can stop it by actually pushing down hard on a panel.

Mike

 

[gdocktor3]

Then something is prohibiting the air from reaching the tool at its full potential. Remove the hose and plug the tool directly into coupler after regulator. If it's still not reaching full potential, you know it's between the tank outlet and regulator outlet. You can buy a cheap regulator from Sears or Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I personally wouldn't buy one from Harbor Freight as I've had bad luck with one of their filter/regs as well as a whip hose. They all leaked.

 

[The Cobbler]

how long of a hose & what is the ID of it?

 

[R.Anderson]

Then something is prohibiting the air from reaching the tool at its full potential. Remove the hose and plug the tool directly into coupler after regulator. If it's still not reaching full potential, you know it's between the tank outlet and regulator outlet. You can buy a cheap regulator from Sears or Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I personally wouldn't buy one from Harbor Freight as I've had bad luck with one of their filter/regs as well as a whip hose. They all leaked.

This is what I would do.

I have had couplings cause restrictions.

 

[gdocktor3]

What was the outcome?