compressor problem

[slant6]

I went down to the basement to use my airbrush last night after not using it for months, only to find it not working correctly. I just have a cheap little compressor, but it always did the job. I turned it on and it barely runs, it puts out very low pressure, and "pulses". Does anyone know how to fix it, or do I need to buy a new one?

[crazyjim]

Turn it on and give it a kick!

[Agent G]

Sounds like the little piston has frozen up, then cracked or got scratched when you turned it on. Best and cheapest way imho is buy a new one.

G

[Brendan]

If it's one of those constant run compressors, you can rebuild them. But it's usually cheaper to buy a cheap nail gun air compressor.

[slant6]

  On 3/20/2011 at 5:53 PM, crazyjim said:

Turn it on and give it a kick!

Since this was the only fix suggested (at least within my ability), I thought Id try it. Whats the worst that could happen right. So, I went down, turned it on....and it ran fine. I shut it off and hooked that airbrush back up, figured it was just "tired" from sitting in the cold basement and not being run. Well, it turns out that when the airbrush is connected, the compressor wont run right, unless I loosen the hose fitting a little bit. It all works fine, I sprayed with it, no problems. But, I'm wondering what Ive done to my airbrush now.

[Ben]

  On 3/21/2011 at 1:06 AM, slant6 said:

Since this was the only fix suggested (at least within my ability), I thought Id try it. Whats the worst that could happen right. So, I went down, turned it on....and it ran fine. I shut it off and hooked that airbrush back up, figured it was just "tired" from sitting in the cold basement and not being run. Well, it turns out that when the airbrush is connected, the compressor wont run right, unless I loosen the hose fitting a little bit. It all works fine, I sprayed with it, no problems. But, I'm wondering what Ive done to my airbrush now.

It sounds like your building excessive head pressure when the gun is hooked up. If you hold the trigger down all the way, does the compressor run ok? If so, there's a bypass check valve on it somwhere that's stuck closed, not letting the air bypass when your not pressing the trigger. Based on not seeing exactly how it works of course.

[slant6]

Nope, it ran the same even with the trigger held down.

[crazyjim]

I'll bet you thought I was kidding when I said kick it. weren't you, Slant 6? The kick sometimes works on computers too. I'm told the hard disk readers can stick and a swift kick can break them lose.

A swift kick in the pants has also been known to help troubled kids, but nowadays they'll cry abuse.

[slant6]

  On 3/21/2011 at 12:01 PM, crazyjim said:

I'll bet you thought I was kidding when I said kick it. weren't you, Slant 6? The kick sometimes works on computers too. I'm told the hard disk readers can stick and a swift kick can break them lose.

A swift kick in the pants has also been known to help troubled kids, but nowadays they'll cry abuse.

Not at all! I just usually use kicking as a last resort though....and I usually wait till nobody is looking.