need help on my air compressor

rnln · 12:16 AM

several days ago when my air compressor was running, I heard a loud pop and pssssssss. Motor was still running but tank is empty. Sounds of air coming out somewhere. I could be able to get down on it today and found a metal ball laying near there. It came out of a hole on the bottom of a "manifold" (blue arrow). That port is where the air hose connect to. The yellow arrow is the ball. Now if I turn it on, air comes out of that hole (the hole on the bottom of that manifold).

is it fixable? Anyone know how?

Thanks.

1990C4S · 03-31-2017, 04:44 AM

Is that a pipe thread? Can you not put a pipe plug in?

A ball is usually part of a check valve that allows air to flow in one direction only, but I can't see why you would have a check valve there....

Mark Henry · 05:25 AM

Looks like it's the compressor check valve.
You'll have to figure out the NPT thread size and get a new one.
If the manifold is buggered you can easily make a new one out of NPT pipe and fittings. But you would have to buy a new regulator if you did this.

This explains the compressor check valve pretty well.

Compressor tank check valve

stomachmonkey · 03-31-2017, 08:50 AM

He said that's where the hose connects.

It's the female coupler that blew. Assuming female as I've never seen the male with a check ball.

This should fix it.

rnln · 03-31-2017, 10:39 AM

On the "ball" and "port" and "hole" I mentioned above, on the manifold that comes down at the blue arrow, that port is for the air hose to connect to. Right at the elbow, facing downward is a hole. I think that is where the ball came out. I look through the port, don't see anything in there, so I think the ball just fitted in there. It doesn't look like that there is a valve there. It's just at that hole now. The ball is stopping air to come out at that hole. I try to push the ball in from the outside (bottom up), it fit tight. It can hold air for a while. When PSI comes up, the ball pop out again. I can try pressing it in, or dropping it from the inside through the port, but it can come out once, it'll comes out again, right? Question is, what does that hole/ball do, what is it's function?

Reading the article on the link from Mark Henry, I don't see it function as a check valve. I do see another check valve on another manifold, the valve with a key chain ring. You can see it on my third picture on the right on that port.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I would not mess with old air compressor parts. Get a new valve unit with the regulator, switch, check valve, and unloader and be safe.

Name brand switch and regulator - $42.

https://www.zoro.com/campbell-hausfeld-pressure-switch-cw209300av/i/G5361291/?gclid=CMDZ1KSzgdMCFV61wAodCUwIXw&gclsrc=aw.ds

rnln · 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I would not mess with old air compressor parts. Get a new valve unit with the regulator, switch, check valve, and unloader and be safe.

Name brand switch and regulator - $42.

https://www.zoro.com/campbell-hausfeld-pressure-switch-cw209300av/i/G5361291/?gclid=CMDZ1KSzgdMCFV61wAodCUwIXw&gclsrc=aw.ds

does this unit replace my whole manifold too? I think what I need is the manifold, either replace or fix it? The switch combo on top is still working

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I'm not sure it's a direct fit, but these things are pretty generic. I'm not sure what is what or your rig from the pictures you posted. How does the air from the cylinders get into the tank? I can't tell from the photos.

stomachmonkey · 03-31-2017, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm not sure it's a direct fit, but these things are pretty generic. I'm not sure what is what or your rig from the pictures you posted. How does the air from the cylinders get into the tank? I can't tell from the photos.

Lines off the heads run into the manifold below the control unit and behind the gauge.

I'd just replace the manifold.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I kinda thought that. That is a proprietary setup that would need to come from the manufacturer to get a direct replacement. Usually air is pumped directly into the tank and the regulator, switch, and unloader are screwed into a different port.

Mark Henry · 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnln

Reading the article on the link from Mark Henry, I don't see it function as a check valve. I do see another check valve on another manifold, the valve with a key chain ring. You can see it on my third picture on the right on that port.

The valve with the ring isn't a check valve, it's the over pressure relief safety valve.

A check valve stops the air from going back to the head when the motor shuts off.
The over pressure relief safety valve keeps the tank from blowing up if the switch fails to shut off the motor at the set maximum pressure. The ring is so you can pull it to test the valve.

If it has an unloader valve that bleeds off the air between the head and the check valve.

1990C4S · 04-01-2017, 04:51 AM

^^^^ This is correct.

The compressor won't be able to re-start without a proper unloader circuit. When the tank is empty the motor will work, but with the back pressure of the tank on the piston you will overload the motor on a re-start.

The unloader circuit needs to work properly for the compressor to work right. I think you need a check valve there.

Mark Henry · 04-01-2017, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

^^^^ This is correct.

The compressor won't be able to re-start without a proper unloader circuit. When the tank is empty the motor will work, but with the back pressure of the tank on the piston you will overload the motor on a re-start.

The unloader circuit needs to work properly for the compressor to work right. I think you need a check valve there.

Some compressors (i.e. cheap compressors) don't have a unloader valve, they have an actual small pinhole in the piston top and that acts as an unloader.

rnln · 04-03-2017, 12:16 AM

Thanks guys.
A quick search on air compressor manifolds, I see this set of manifolds and swtich on ebay. Do you guys think if this will work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/125PSI-Air-Compressor-Pressure-Switch-Control-Valve-Manifold-Regulator-Gauges-/112238571609?hash=item1a21f0b059:g:c-MAAOSwWxNYroDB

Thanks.

1990C4S · 04-03-2017, 04:07 AM

I don't think the one on Ebay has a check valve in it.

I would just put a pipe plug in the hole and try it.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

The eBay one is：

"Durable and utility.
Easy to install and disassembly."

Couldn't ask for more than that.

rnln · 04-03-2017, 11:55 PM

alright alright, I won't ask for more on that one. But I have a general question on what I need now. Since I dont' know how to, I won't fix my manifold. So I need to buy a new manifold but I can't find it. Can I just get any manifold that can fit in the area (with check valve, unloader valve)?

rnln · 04-04-2017, 12:08 AM

Anyone has the california air tools compressor? How can an air compressor be this quiet? I thought my old compressor with a belt is very quiet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ciXFWwL0OQ

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Does the manufacturer of the air compressor have a web site? You might be able to get a direct replacement from them.

1990C4S · 04-04-2017, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnln

alright alright, I won't ask for more on that one. But I have a general question on what I need now. Since I dont' know how to, I won't fix my manifold. So I need to buy a new manifold but I can't find it. Can I just get any manifold that can fit in the area (with check valve, unloader valve)?

Can you post a few pictures of how the tubes run from the head?

It would be good to figure out how your unloader works.