why won't my compressor run my ratcher?

[dlwilson]

This is really confusing me. I have a Harbor Freight compressor (93271-1VGA). It's 230V, 21 gallons, 3 HP, 3.5 SCFM @ 90 PSI. When I put my 3/8" ratchet on it with a 25' hose the ratchet spins for a couple seconds, and then runs out of air and stops. If I release the trigger for a few second and then try it again, it will run another couple seconds. Repeat.

If I plug the ratchet directly into the quick-release on the compressor, it will spin forever. Maybe a blocked hose? I got another $5 Harbor Freight hose, which did the same thing. As an experiment I shortened the hose to 7' using a barbed fitting. With the 7' hose the ratchet spins forever.

So what's going on? Is there too much resistance on a 25' hose? Or is the hose swelling and shrinking too much? Can I fix this with the $40 Goodyear hose? Seems like a bigger compressor won't fix this.

 

[bgott]

Your hose is shot. It has some loose lining material inside of it that is acting like a check valve, when pressure hits it it shuts off the air. Try swapping the fittings and running air through it the opposite way, maybe it will work. Or at least it will be an interesting experiment.

If you have an oiler on it the oil might be swelling up the hose and shutting off the air. Lose the oiler and just add a couple of drops to the tool whenever you use it.

 

[GT89mustang]

Ditch the hose and spend money on a decent one. Youll be glad you did the first time the cheap one snaps and goes flying around the garage. (Ask me how I know) For me its a safety issue.

I bought a quality hose and its lasted almost 4 years, it stays in the garage year round in all temps humidity etc. I think its a craftsman rubber hose, the price was pretty decent, but it really doesnt matter where you buy it from.

 

[Chris Adams]

Unless you have other components in the mix, it is the hose. But it could be the coupler on the hose, the coupler on the other end of the hose. Insufficient data.

A reel you didn't mention, an oiler, a regulator, whatever may be in-between the tool and the ratchet.


If it is the hose, replacing it should fix you up.
I've used expensive hoses and cheap hoses. Never had an end come off except once on a very expensive hose. Might have been because my wife drove over the end of it, a couple times. Don't know.

I have had cheap hoses crack and go bad after only ten years in the shop, but my shop gets much hotter than you would believe. Today was a cool day, but the wall of my shop was 125. Only 96 on the porch.
High heat ruins hoses, as does cold, too much air pressure, chemicals, inline oilers, etc.

 

[dlwilson]

I'm updating this old thread because I finally solved my problem. Both the original hose, and another cheapo Harbor Freight hose failed to run my ratchet. So this weekend I bought a 25' Goodyear hose, and my ratchet runs just fine. I don't know what the problem is, but I can swap the two hoses back and forth, and see the ratchet work/fail.

 

[vartz04]

sometimes hoses will collapse when you try to pull the air through them, ive seen that happen on a heavy equipment mechanics truck.

 

[Merkava_4]

Your hose is shot. It has some loose lining material inside of it that is acting like a check valve, when pressure hits it it shuts off the air.

You're brilliant - I would've never thought of that.

 

[Kevin54]

If you replace the hose, split the old one down the middle and see what it looks like. BTW...when you replace it, replace it with 3/8" if you already don't have it. 1/4" is just too small for most air tools.

 

[bgott]

You're brilliant - I would've never thought of that.

Nah, I just get lucky every once in a while. It happens a lot on brake lines. If you get a brake that stays locked when you leave a stop, more than likely it's the brake hose.