Topic: Dead Air Compressor

[swan]

I picked a Crapsman air compressor off Craigslist last year and it ran great for several months. I properly maintained it, bleed the tank, kept it clean, oiled etc but I recently died. I just seemed to slow down then "brown out" and now will not run. I have not touched it since and am wondering what are common problems with compressors. Ideas?


Craftsman (model 919.167242) 3 HP 15 gallon Compressor

[fuzzybutt]

it's possible that the starter capacitor if it has one, has gone bad. my craftsman 33 gallon compressor did just that 2 years ago, same symptoms you mentioned. might be worth a look

[azuredesign]

I've had good luck with calling the Sears repair facility which is a couple of towns away from me. They have been helpful in telling me what parts my symptoms seem to indicate should be replaced on various Craftsman products I have. Might be worth a try?

[swan]

Great, thanks guys. Sears' website has good drill down diagrams and menus and most parts are available. Going to find some time this weekend to take it it apart to diagnose.

[lrutt]

all the electric motors on these units these days are chinese and are crap. same wiht pool pump motors. they just don't last. I have a good old farm duty motor on my old ingersol rand compressor going on 30 years now just fine.

It def sounds like the motor but the question is, how big is the compressor. Is the unit driven by belt from the motor or is it one of those little all in one units?

Northern tool sells all kinds of electric compressor duty motors as well and likely cheaper than sears. I picked up a free 60 gal compressor last year that just needed a motor that I ordered from Northern. Make sure to get the correct RPM's. Some compressor motors are split phase and spin faster than others.

[rbmgf7]

silly question but did you check the overload switch on the motor? could be a bad pressure switch.

[Porscheguy912]

Take the belt off and spin the compressor wheel. If it is stuck then you have a problem inside the cylinder housing. If not, try turning it on with out the belt on. If it still doesnt work look to the motor or the safety switch.

[swan]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Downloaded a copy of the owner's and parts manuals and will dig in this weekend. Stay tuned...

[heffay]

i have no idea what "browning out" is... but, sounds like an oil compressor correct?  vs. an oil-less compressor?

recently, did you tip it past 45 degrees from vertical?  you're not supposed to tip compressors or the oil runs up into passageways that it was not meant to go in.  if done, it can give you the exact same symptoms you describe.  (at least when you replace brown out w/ drown out or die out or keel over, etc. )

[swan]

It is an oil less compressor and "browning out" is a term I heard for something not receiving correct amount of electricity. I did not tip it and it was sitting properly and just died. Thanks for the suggestions.

I have been distracted by my CB400f project and Triton and have not found time to take this thing apart. Elusive free time...

[lrutt]

For an oiless compressor, which is a smaller unit, i'd debate whether it's worth fixing. Save the money and buy a bigger unit.