Compressor not working

[Alan Reynolds]

Has this compressor got an oil sump or is it an ‘oil less ‘ compressor.

If it’s oil less one, the fault might well be the PTFE piston.

They are notorious for leaking past the piston and failing to reach knock off pressure.

 

[Ace Paul]

Daft question.

Unplug power tweak pressure switch.

Query.

Plug in, no tools, no airline, just compressor.

Turn on, come back “20 minutes later “, still running, still 40 psi?

Unplug from wall, comeback 20 minutes later, tank still at 40 psi?

Can you blow vape smoke over it while running.


Tweak cut off screw. Is gauge good?

 

[Triumphman]

So, I've drained the little bit of water out,
Poured a little bit of diesel in the bore (doesn't leak out)
I've checked the non return valve and it seems fine.
There's no leak from the switch area. I've cleaned the single read valve that sits between the head and the block.
Ran it up again, gets to 40 psi and stays there.
Unplugged it, stays at 40 psi.

 

[RWD3M]

Couldn't just be a jammed gauge could it

 

[Triumphman]

Couldn't just be a jammed gauge could it

It's not cutting out, just running and running.
I always checked it with my tyre inflator, which read the same

 

[RWD3M]

Can we have a couple of pictures of the compressor in question?

 

[Triumphman]

I can get it to cut back in, I had a fiddle with the adjuster screw in the switch body.
But no matter how I fiddle with the screw of the regulator I can't get more than 40 psi or get it to cut off

 

[indykid]

I've cleaned the single read valve that sits between the head and the block.

Are you sure there's only one? If so, that might be the issue, but I can't think why it would have disappeared between now and when it was working last week. There should be an inlet and an exhaust reed otherwise your compression ratio includes all the transfer pipe up to the non return valve on the receiver (I'm assuming it wouldn't give any output without an inlet reed)

 

[norsa]

My replacement switch cured my issue. Had the same, got to 30psi and no more

 

[Triumphman]

 

[indykid]

You've only half split the head there by the look of it. There's another plate to come off between the studs which should get you to the exhaust reed

Also if you have the model number, you can download the manual which shows an exploded diagram of the assembly so you can see where the reeds are

 

[Triumphman]

 

[indykid]

All that wood dust under the exhaust reed looks pretty suspect and suspiciously similar to all the dust on the barrel fins. Might be worth investing in a better air filter after the rebuild....

Clean it all up an tell us how you get on - pay special attention to getting the reeds and the entire surfaces under them clean of any debris with any depth . Don't worry about gaskets, just bolt it back together once cleaned up, it'll be fine for more than 40psi however they go back together

 

[Triumphman]

Will try tomorrow and report back

 

[indykid]

Try and keep the gaskets as intact as you can and just clean round them. A stanley blade should do an adequate job of most of it.

Unless you've lost chunks, it'll run fine without needing replacement gaskets

ETA - scratch that, it looks like the uppermost gasket has blown though from the pressure side to the inlet side. For testing purposes, try cornflake box or any thinish card

 

[indykid]

This looks like what you probably want but do double check the dimensions before you order anything. I googled 'clarke compressor head gasket' and they looked about right from an image search

 

[Triumphman]

This looks like what you probably want but do double check the dimensions before you order anything. I googled 'clarke compressor head gasket' and they looked about right from an image search

Those dimensions are correct thank you

 

[Triumphman]

Is there a process for resetting the tension on this screw? I've wound back and forth and not sure what the set position is

 

[indykid]

Is there a process for resetting the tension on this screw? I've wound back and forth and not sure what the set position is

The lowest risk approach would be to back it off a bit and iterate up to the desired pressure, but I'd just give it a go and see how close it ends up. Get ready to turn it off manually if it's going over pressure though.