Craftsman electric 33 gal. compressor blown pump

[DustinB]

So I used a rebuild kit a few years back to repair the pump on my craftsman compressor as it would run endlessly while never building pressure. Things seemed good with off and on use since then until something broke loose in the pump with a quick BANG and then a lot of loud clattering.

Is there a better solution than trying another rebuild kit? The piston is pretty sloppy inside the cylinder sleeve right now. The tank is in good shape...and I presume the electric motor is too.

Thanks!

 

[The Cobbler]

without knowing what broke, hard to say anything, but it sounds like it might be toasted .
I would look for a belt drive oil lubed compressor with a bad tank and merge the two . if the motor is integral to the pump on yours, it probably won't easily be used on another application.
pics & model number could help get an answer too

 

[Bert_]

No help here other than to say, I paid a few bucks for a 30 gallon Craftsman tank with a bad pump.

I had a Campbell hausfeld with a rusted out tank. I took the belt drive pump and motor from that and put it on the new to me tank.

 

[mike93lx]

I'd probably buy a pump at harbor freight before rebuilding that

 

[OccupantRJ]

The Harbor freight pumps seem to work ok if you have enough motor to drive it. Three friends have run them for several years.

 

[DustinB]

without knowing what broke, hard to say anything, but it sounds like it might be toasted .
I would look for a belt drive oil lubed compressor with a bad tank and merge the two . if the motor is integral to the pump on yours, it probably won't easily be used on another application.
pics & model number could help get an answer too

Good points and thoughts. Here’s what I’m working with…I don’t think the pump is integral to the motor, but this would also be my first go at overhauling a compressor.

 

[Wrench97]

Yea that's a integral pump as it's not belt driven mounted separate.
The question remains what went bang? did a valve come apart on top of the piston?

 

[mike93lx]

Agreed, integral. I don't think you will likely be able to reuse that motor

 

[honcho]

So I used a rebuild kit a few years back to repair the pump on my craftsman compressor as it would run endlessly while never building pressure. Things seemed good with off and on use since then until something broke loose in the pump with a quick BANG and then a lot of loud clattering.

Is there a better solution than trying another rebuild kit? The piston is pretty sloppy inside the cylinder sleeve right now. The tank is in good shape...and I presume the electric motor is too.

Thanks!

what geographic area are you located in?

 

[The Cobbler]

looks like the counterweight moved on the motor shaft and is rubbing on the connecting rod . the connecting rod looks offset too far too . they were known to break but maybe you're lucky and it just slipped too,

 

[Bert_]

Ha, that's almost the same tank as I got. I'm telling you here's the solution!

 

[DustinB]

Ha, that's almost the same tank as I got. I'm telling you here's the solution!

That IS an awesome solution!

 

[DustinB]

looks like the counterweight moved on the motor shaft and is rubbing on the connecting rod . the connecting rod looks offset too far too . they were known to break but maybe you're lucky and it just slipped too,

You’re right the counterweight chafed against the connecting rod when they meet at the bottom of the stroke. The piston has ~1/16” of play side to side in the cylinder. Is that normal?

 

[The Cobbler]

the pistons usually have a loos fit from what I've seen in oiless compressors

 

[Steve_P]

The reality is that these compressors are disposable and were manufactured with this in mind. If this is the second failure, IMO it's time to step up a few notches to something higher quality. Feel free to disagree and try and fix it again.

 

[DustinB]

The reality is that these compressors are disposable and were manufactured with this in mind. If this is the second failure, IMO it's time to step up a few notches to something higher quality. Feel free to disagree and try and fix it again.

Oh I have no doubt that you're right lol. The max I'm willing to put into it is sweat equity a bargain on replacement parts but I have to give her one last shot.

That said, what brands should I be leaning towards? Oil over maintenance free?

 

[Wrench97]

Oh I have no doubt that you're right lol. The max I'm willing to put into it is sweat equity a bargain on replacement parts but I have to give her one last shot.

That said, what brands should I be leaning towards? Oil over maintenance free?

How do you use the compressor?
How often and which air tools?

 

[mike93lx]

That said, what brands should I be leaning towards? Oil over maintenance free?

I can confidently say that after owning one, I will almost certainly never have anything but one of the ultra quiet models. Californian Air Tools is the big name, but there are others

 

[whateg01]

Yea that's a integral pump as it's not belt driven mounted separate.
The question remains what went bang? did a valve come apart on top of the piston?

It's just a reed valve. Only thing to come apart is for the reed to break off and flop around in the head.

Piston flopping around the cylinder doesn't make much sense except that the piston is usually not a tight fit. So if the "ring" comes off the piston, it'll flop around. If that happens there's likely so much scoring in the cylinder it's not worth even taking apart.

 

[Wrench97]

It's just a reed valve. Only thing to come apart is for the reed to break off and flop around in the head.

Piston flopping around the cylinder doesn't make much sense except that the piston is usually not a tight fit. So if the "ring" comes off the piston, it'll flop around. If that happens there's likely so much scoring in the cylinder it's not worth even taking apart.

How is the crank attached to the motor shaft, could it have snapped a woodruff key?

 

[The Cobbler]

How is the crank attached to the motor shaft, could it have snapped a woodruff key?

I don't remember. I sold off one for parts some years back
I thing the counterweight just tightens on the motor shaft with a bolt .
to me it looks like it's slipped . it would make sense for a key tho, to keep everything aligned

 

[Citation]

Ha, that's almost the same tank as I got. I'm telling you here's the solution!

This was also, kind of, my solution. In my case the tank sprang a leak but the rest of the compressor was good and with low hours (if you loan out a compressor, make sure you explain the drain ) While my compressor is belt drive similar to Bert's, the new tank was from an oilless compressor. I solved the issue by cutting the top plate off my old compressor with an angle grinder. A square of 1/2 plywood was placed between the motor plate on the tank and the one I just cut off with bolts holding the whole works together. There were some other parts that had to be replaced because the tank inlet was in a different spot. In the end the compressor isn't very attractive but works well.

Since you have a good tank, keep an eye out for "good compressor, just has a leak in the tank".

 

[Bert_]

This was also, kind of, my solution. In my case the tank sprang a leak but the rest of the compressor was good and with low hours (if you loan out a compressor, make sure you explain the drain ) While my compressor is belt drive similar to Bert's, the new tank was from an oilless compressor. I solved the issue by cutting the top plate off my old compressor with an angle grinder. A square of 1/2 plywood was placed between the motor plate on the tank and the one I just cut off with bolts holding the whole works together. There were some other parts that had to be replaced because the tank inlet was in a different spot. In the end the compressor isn't very attractive but works well.

Since you have a good tank, keep an eye out for "good compressor, just has a leak in the tank".

Very familiar!

Mine had a leaking tank for a couple years. It plugged it self for a while but wasn't good.

Worst part was finding a tank for a reasonable price. I finally gave $40 for this tank. This one was also from an oil less. It was about $20 too much in my opinion but it was near by and I have a compressor that holds air.

The only parts I bought was some new compression fittings for the copper tube, some 1/4 pipe fittings and a 1/4" ball valve for the drain.

If you factor your time, I could have bought something working, not new but working. But I don't mind little projects like this.

 

[DustinB]

How do you use the compressor?
How often and which air tools?

Very very occasional painting, cut off wheels, grinders. None of it is used even weekly, just hobby stuff.

 

[Wrench97]

Check to see if perhaps the woodruff key broke on the front of the motor shaft.

Keep in mind Lowes/Home Depot and probably Menards have similar new models in the $239-$275 range.

 

[whateg01]

Is it has/had a key, it isn't a woodruff key. It would be a square key.

 

[DustinB]

Well this ain’t great lol

 

[The Cobbler]

yeah, it's done its duty . time to lay it to rest.
I might have a valve plate but no piston .

 

[RTM]

Well this ain’t great lol

FUBAR comes to mind. Bummer, better to know before you throw more $$ or time at it.

 

[Wrench97]

Did it **** something in the air intake?

 

[DustinB]

There was a small shred of ring seal inside the cylinder but that’s all. BUT the piston cap was not attached to the rest of the piston sooo I guess that’s what ran amuck in there.

 

[The Cobbler]

Here's a pic of mine that was like original posters.I sold off parts from it to help a guy out here, always with the mind that I really didn't like it & wanted to convert it to an oiled belt drive ; it's had a base from a rotted horizontal welded to the original motor mount and re purposed

 

[DustinB]

Here's a pic of mine that was like original posters.I sold off parts from it to help a guy out here, always with the mind that I really didn't like it & wanted to convert it to an oiled belt drive ; it's had a base from a rotted horizontal welded to the original motor mount and re purposed

That’s clean dude!