I think I killed my compressor....

[slaveofconvention]

Another interesting evening in the life of ol' slavey....

My compressor is making all the right noises - removal of the cover shows all the right bits moving, but pressure buildup takes forever when it used to take seconds - dammit....

And what piece of insane modding was I working on when I killed it - well I was cleaning out a couple of vacuum cleaners :facepalm:

Yay!

Course, the two vacuum cleaners I did get done are working wonderfully now.....

[mDust]

It's been my experience that when such things break, it's always the cheapest part that fails...like a $.30 O-ring or something. If it looks and sounds like it's working, then it probably is. Just make sure there are no leaks with some soapy water.

[slaveofconvention]

I'm kinda torn between being a subborn ass and fixing it just because I can, or grinning inside and using it as an excuse to buy a new bigger unit lol This one doesn't have the nuts to run an air powered polisher or sander which I'd kinda like to be able to use.....

Don't well the wife! :p

[mDust]

I'm kinda torn between being a subborn ass and fixing it just because I can, or grinning inside and using it as an excuse to buy a new bigger unit lol This one doesn't have the nuts to run an air powered polisher or sander which I'd kinda like to be able to use.....

Don't well the wife! :p
If the old one shows up at my door, she doesn't have to know anything...if you get my meaning.:D





Of course I'm kidding...I'd tell her anyway even after it showed up. Just for fun! Hehe.

[slaveofconvention]

Uh huh - sure - international postage on something that heavy - keep dreaming lol - I make about 170% - 200% of what she makes - I'll just tell her to deal with it if I get a new one lol. Actually, what I'll probably end up doing is buying a bigger better one, then fixing this one - and I'll turn the old unit into nothing more than a glorified air-duster and keep the new one for my painting etc. This compressor was the cheapest unit available at the time, and I've had it about 4 years. It'll have paid for itself a dozen times over in money saved on cans of compressed air for blowing dust out of PCs so if it is destined for the dump, so be it :p

[Liquid_Scope_99]

mine did the same thing one time if the pressure regulator is not turned out to far mine got over adjusted once did same thing .
The last time the pop off valve was letting just enough air pass so it couldn't build all the way up .
Fix was a lliberal shot of wd40 or your equivalent and a good sharp tap with hammer or other blunt object not to sharp though .

[Twigsoffury]

You could always get a new tank and use the same motor...if you've got a industrial one.. I dont think the residential style ones are made like that.

Should see the ones they have at public supply......need a fork lift just to move one.

http://i45.tinypic.com/35bfuoy.jpg

[Oneslowz28]

I know its obvious but did you check the air filter on the air inlet?

[slaveofconvention]

Problem solved - or at least isolated and repair attempted - it's a bit late at night now to be turning on the compressor to test it and leaving it until tomorrow will give the repair a little longer to harden and hopefully hold....

This is the valve unit which sits directly on top of the cylinder...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/compvalve.jpg
It's a pretty simple affair - nothing more than a thin piece of springy metal. When the head goes up, the air pressure forces three little valves to open, and as the head drops, they close and hold in the air which has just been forced through. Rinse and repeat a few hundred times and the air above the valve rises in pressure. Look closely and you'll see the middle valve is missing....

Here it is...
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/compbit.jpg

Snapped clean off and utterly impossible to repair. Spare parts for el-cheapo compressors make hens teeth look commonplace so that option was out. I ended up using a very high strength adhesive and filler/reinforcer powder combination (Called Q-Bond) to totally block that centre hole. My logic is that if no air can go through period, the pressure will rise again. I expect I've shortened the overall lifespan as the other two valves now have to cope with a 50% increase in airflow each but.... last night it was dead, now it's hopefully fixed. Any time I get out of it now is a bonus from that point of view.

I've just been talked into a weekend of security work so that'll pretty much pay for a new compressor anyway. This will be something a little larger and more powerful. The current unit is only 6 litres and 1.5hp - the new one I have my eye on is 25 litres and 2 hp which should be a nice upgrade while still being portable enough for my uses.

Let you know tomorrow (hopefully) that it's all working again!

[mDust]

You would think that after mastering all the advanced technology needed to make a compressor run, that they'd have also mastered the thin-metal-flap technology as well...

[slaveofconvention]

Well I do have to admit it was the cheapest compressor money could buy (new) when I got it, and it has paid for itself a dozen times over just in the compressed air cans I haven't had to buy....

It's probably close to 4 years old and has never had any maintenance whatsoever (although in my defence, it claims to be maintenance free)

[crenn]

It was maintence free! It broke!

[Twigsoffury]

man i bet you could spot weld that back together,

looks pretty thin, so maybe you could cut and snap out a new piece and weld that in there.

hell if you were in oklahoma i'd just invite you to public supply and get it all welded and patched up.

Buddy jonathan in maintaince does that crap all day.


Hahaha want to see scary, Should be there when a tank cracks and explodes. that tank expiration date on the side, actually means it needs to be tossed out!!11 that tank that exploded expired in 1996.

hahha made it to 2008.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

lolz ye i would just try to source a new metal of the same gauge.... make a template... and cut it out... u might even be able to use hefty scissors....

[slaveofconvention]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/pressure.jpg
Looks good so far - course, no telling how long it'll last ....

[Twigsoffury]

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/pressure.jpg
Looks good so far - course, no telling how long it'll last ....

post streaming webcam feed on the interweb, so we can all watch and lolz when it explodes again

*grabs popcorn*

(joking)

[slaveofconvention]

The ultimate repair.....

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/slaveofconvention/imagestore/newcompressor.jpg

Yup, all new one - the piece of metal I stuck in place to repair (well block) the broken valve came loose and destroyed 3 other valves which left the thing beyond repair......

[blueonblack]

And now you have a portable air tank. :)