- Joined
- Sep 26, 2003
- Threads
- 117
- Messages
- 11,199
- Location
- Lancaster, Ohio, USA
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Just a story for the archives. I have a Craftsman 120V 12 gal portable air compressor, purchased new in 1991. Never worked quite right. It would run and fill an empty tank, but once the tank was above 50PSI, if the motor had to restart, it couldn't do it. I always blamed the fact that it was new, not broken in, undersize wiring in my old garage, etc.
I dug the thing out the other day, as my real compressor is going to need serviced soon. Still doing the same symptom, no restart against a pressurized tank, even when plugged into a dedicated hi-amperage welder outlet. It finally dawned on me that there must be a problem w/ the unloader valve. checked it out, no the unloader is fine... Pulled the brass tank fitting out of the tank, and discovered the remains of a check valve (a broken spring was all that remained).
Aha!
There is supposed to be a check valve integrated into this brass manifold fitting. The check was missing, so even after the unloader hissed a couple seconds after shutdown, there was still full tank pressure inside the compressor.
Went to the sears parts website, typed in the model number, brought up drawings, ordered check valve, filter, head gasket. Parts arrived a couple days later, installed it all in 30 minutes. Fired up the compressor, works better than new now!
What I learned: If it doesn't work right, it's broken you dummy.
Sears parts has a great website for sears compressors, tractors, etc.
It's a good feeling, having a spare compressor.
I dug the thing out the other day, as my real compressor is going to need serviced soon. Still doing the same symptom, no restart against a pressurized tank, even when plugged into a dedicated hi-amperage welder outlet. It finally dawned on me that there must be a problem w/ the unloader valve. checked it out, no the unloader is fine... Pulled the brass tank fitting out of the tank, and discovered the remains of a check valve (a broken spring was all that remained).
Aha!
There is supposed to be a check valve integrated into this brass manifold fitting. The check was missing, so even after the unloader hissed a couple seconds after shutdown, there was still full tank pressure inside the compressor.Went to the sears parts website, typed in the model number, brought up drawings, ordered check valve, filter, head gasket. Parts arrived a couple days later, installed it all in 30 minutes. Fired up the compressor, works better than new now!
What I learned: If it doesn't work right, it's broken you dummy.
Sears parts has a great website for sears compressors, tractors, etc.
It's a good feeling, having a spare compressor.
