Sanborn portable air compressor

[36couper]

A few years ago my brother gave me his nearly new sanborn portable air compressor. It's the type you can wheel around. I'd say it's about a 10-15 gallon model
When I plug it in it runs just fine and I assume it's filling the tank. I let it run until it shuts down by itself. I hook up my DA sander expecting to hear the familiar sound if an air gun. Nothing, zip, zilch from it. There is a dial in the middle of the two gauges. It's says pull to adjust but that has no effect.

I want to use this to sand down my '40 ford pickup. I'm saving up for a larger compressor but fir now I'm stuck with this portable job.
Any suggestions on how to get this thing to work?
Oh yeah, I plug it into the 110 outlet in my garage
Thanks

 

[G_P]

After you pull, you have to turn the knob to adjust the output pressure.

What are the 2 gauges reading? If they are both showing around 120psi it could be something simple like a faulty coupler that is not passing air.

 

[36couper]

I tried again today. gauge for the tank shows it filling but the output gauge is zero. It's a 2.5 HP. Could it be it's not big enough to power a DA sander?
The knob in the middle can turn but it just unscrews. It doesn't seem to have a connection internally.
I think I'm going to price a stand-up tank.
I've heard about single stage and two stage. What's the difference?
Anyone have a preferred brand?

 

[vartz04]

Why not take the regulator off and see if it just needs a new one.??

 

[G_P]

The regulator on those compressors is built into a manifold tree that screws into the tank. If its screwed up and broken the best you can do is take it apart and take the guts out and then put it back together without its internals so that air just passes through it, and then attach an external standalone regulator.