compressor won't fill

[1930artdeco]

Hi All,

So I was busy painting away with my compressor when it stopped pumping up suddenly. did some basic trouble shooting and cleaned the valves of gunk-no dice. Ordered new valves (champion compressor) and still nothing-well it pumps to 20 psi. That and the piston hist the new valves as I saw mark from the rivet in the piston head.

So..I took out my handy dandy IR gun and took some readings. These are of the ex. valve and pipe left to right.

left ex. valve: 129
left ex. pipe: 129

right ex. valve: 156
right ex. pipe: 141

pipe as it goes into the valve before tank: 105

Is it possible the check valve or the gauge has gone bad? What am I missing here.

Mike

update: Sorry I probably should have posted this here for more visibility. She is pumping air out of the cylinders, but I could hold my hand right up to it and it wouldn't push very hard. Got some O rings to try and raise the valves up a bit so they don't hit the pistons. Any other ideas?

 

[WinMod21]

Hi All, So I was busy painting away with my compressor when it stopped pumping up suddenly. did some basic trouble shooting and cleaned the valves of gunk-no dice. ~

With risk of asking a silly/dumb question, as you obviously know much more about compressors than I do, I'll ask it anyway. When you "cleaned the valves"...did that include checking the drain valve? As my compressor head the same symptoms as yours, filling just to approx 20 lbs, while running on and on, when I discovered a leaking drain valve. Replaced it, and all was Skookum !

 

[The Cobbler]

are you saying those readings above are PSI? and the tank is only getting to 20 psi?
are you positive the tank gauge is accurate?
if the tank is in fact only getting to 20 psi & the figures you show above are PSI, you have a leak somewhere

 

[American Locomotive]

What about the intake valves, are those in good shape?

Are you sure it's only getting to 20 PSI?

 

[RTM]

are you saying those readings above are PSI?

He used an IR gun, so assuming temp in degrees F

 

[phoenix5x]

Do you have a way of installing a scheader valve in the tank to confirm if the pressure gauge is correct? Or just replace that pressure gauge...There is usually a pressure switch too that determines when the compressor turns off and on could that have gone bad?

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

 

[Lenny B]

A simple air wound blowing should tell you if the 20 PSI is correct.

Did you check to see if the bore and rings are good?

 

[1930artdeco]

Update,

I installed the new valves and she pumped up to 100psi then popped the circuit. It took forever to get there are the valve opening on the new valves is really tiny compared to the original openings. I will take the motor in for a tune up as it probably needs it. Thanks for the suggestions and I will check them all out.

The pressure switch is set to 125 and is a new Square D switch. It just tripped the breaker on the strip I was using.

Mike

 

[Wrench97]

Does it have a unloader circuit to relieve the head pressure to start? Possibly on the tank check valve since I don't see anything on the valve heads.

 

[The Cobbler]

He used an IR gun, so assuming temp in degrees F

duh, brain fart, I was thinking Ingersol Rand gun, and pressure . never thought of Infrared

 

[1930artdeco]

No unloader valves.

Mike

 

[RTM]

duh, brain fart, I was thinking Ingersol Rand gun, and pressure . never thought of Infrared

I was treading very lightly, as I could easily see that thought going through
People's heads.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Check valves can go bad. I recently replaced one on a new to me craftsman compressor. I got the check valve on Amazon for $10.20.

 

[vanapplebomb]

No unloader valves.

Mike

It should have one... either built in to the pressure switch, or a centrifugal unloader on the pump itself. Most these days are built into the pressure switch. Some higher end commercial pumps still have the centrifugal unloader valves.

It may be possible that little super cheap compressors may not have one, but every compressor I have ever seen has an unloader. Even My brothers 6 gallon pancake compressor has one, which only cost $150 when new.


Also, check the tank pressure relief valve. It may be popping open too soon, like the spring cracked or something.