Small air compressor regulator question

[Rustypigeon]

I have a Husky 30 gallon cast iron compressor. It came with a regulator that looks like the one pictured below. The regulator used to always stop at about 120 PSI. You could turn the knob more, but it would not let you have more than 120 PSI to your hose.

Just today the regulator started making an occasional squeaking noise when you turn it up to 120 PSI. It sounds like air leaking through a tight seal. The regulator now allows you to turn it up to whatever tank pressure is. My compressor stops at 150 PSI and the regulator now allows this pressure at the hose end. I was filling my portable air tank, that is why I turned it up higher than the normal 90 PSI that I keep it on.

I am wondering if the regular was intentionally limited to 120 PSI and now is broken, or was it always supposed to allow full tank pressure but had some restriction that now freed itself.

Here is my regulator....

 

[sberry]

Take 'it apart.

 

[dsimatt]

I've got a similar compressor and the best thing you can do is throw the regulator away and enjoy full flow to your air tools, my 1/2 impact would run out of air till I removed it.

 

[wayne55]

This is for a different regulator that I had trouble with, but I took it apart and there was small pieces of debris inside. Cleaned out and re-assembled and it's been fine.