inherited air compressor

[restomod]

I inherited an air compressor, numbers say its this sears...

http://documents.dewalt.com/documents/English/Instruction Manual/Devilbiss/919.152810 P.pdf

I remember my grandpa not using and saying there was some wrong with it but I figured I would give it a shot for free.

Wired up an outlet, plugged it in and it ran well, it had a ball valve coming out of the tank and busted piece of black pipe elbow. Anyway I had the ball valve closed and after a minute of making sure it actually ran I turned it off. Went and got my regulator, and a filter and plumbed it up nice. Turned it on again with with everything ready to go and still with the ball valve closed at the tank to get it up to the right PSI before I opened it up to test my plumbing. It ran for 5 minutes never got above 60psi, no matter the time it wont go above 60. There is no regulator on the tank just a gauge and pressure switch, and it is not leaking air anyplace as I can turn it off and it will hold and I don't hear air.

Its a crappy free air oiless motor so my guess is it is just tired, and this is now the max it can run? I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious before I just junk it. By the time I get done screwing around with finding another motor seems like I can get some good deals on decent compressors. Good news is anything I buy I have everything setup to just tap in an go.

 

[The Cobbler]

check for leaks. I had a small compressor that wouldn't go beyond 30 or 40 lbs, turned out the unloader line had a split in it .

 

[restomod]

If it had a leak in the plumbing from the motor to any place before the check valve wouldn't that mean it would eventually lose pressure back to 0? It is still holding at 60 with the power off, with the power on it will run and run but never get above 60.

 

[Jrican]

Check valve or reed valves, I'd look the reed valves first, #52 on your diagram.

Also could be the head gaskets, feel for escaping air around heads while running.

Also any leak between the pump and check valve will only show up while pumping, if the check valve is good.

 

[restomod]

So I basically need to disassemble the heads then, at least the top parts to check those reeds I take it? I have time to tear it down or try and fix it but in your opinions at what point is it not worth it if I need parts? Can you even still buy parts for these?

The check valve you refer to I assume is #14, is there anything to it that can be fixed or is it just bad or good?


Second if I had to get another motor at that point am I better off just buying a brand new compressor all together? Is the size of the tank worth re-powering it for what I could buy new? I assume that I wont get as big a tank for the same money but is the gap close.

Thanks for the help help guys!