ok few more questions. My tank gauge will not go past 40 psi. (it gets stuck) but can still go back down. Shold Ijust keep cycleing up and down with the psi to try and unstick it, or should I just get a new gauge.
Will the compressor still work fine without this gauge working? Is there any major purpose to know what the psi in the tank is.
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Replies
1) Yes, can try to "unstick the gauge by cycling up and down - doubtful that it will work. I would get a new gauge.
>>Will the compressor still work fine without this gauge working fine? <<
Yes, the compressor will continue to work fine without the gauge. The compressor will cycle up to it's upper limit pressure and shut off - upper limit pressure is preset at the factory and not dependent on the gauge. So it is not dangerous to the compressor.
>>Is there any major purpose to know what the psi in the tank is.<<
Not really to know what is in the tank - important on the regulated output to your tools. Many older nailers had no "depth of drive" adjustments - you regulated how deep the nails were set by the air pressure to the tool. Also most air tools have a maximum safe operating pressure range say 80 to 120 psi. Most compressors can exceed the maximum recommended pressure for the tools, so it becomes important to know what pressure of air is being delivered to the tool - safety and tool wear considerations.
Having said all of that, I just thought ---- Most compressors have 2 gauges, one which reads tank pressure, one which reads regulated air flow to the tool. If it is your "tank pressure" gauge that is stuck -- I would not worry too much about it. Sometimes the gauges can be traded - that is - put the stuck gauge on the "tank" and the working gauge on the regulated output. Some gauges match, some don't.
Jim
Edit: Reread your post - sounds like the tank gauge is your problem - I would have a tendency to forget it was there. The regulated pressure gauge will alert you if the tank is pressurized.
Edited 12/12/2007 4:12 pm ET by JTC1
and if you, by any chance can find the instruction manual for a craftsman air compressor: 919.152140 Thanks.
If you can't find it elsewhere you can always get it at www3.sears.com. The two manuals, owners and parts, go for $5.53 and $3.53, respectively, and the gauge is $12.69 (of course that doesn't include shipping, handling, and tax).Dan
Is there anything wrong with putting a compressor next to (6') an oil burner. I doubt there would, but just checking
The compressor will run fine without working guages. HOWEVER.... guages never seem important until you actually need them. Which certainly isn't every day... but when you need 'em.... you need 'em. Another poster mentioned that the compressors are "factory pre-set" to a maximum psi. This is both right and wrong. There's a safety valve that controls this setting. I've had this valve fail on compressors before and had the compressor just continue to pressurize the tank. There's another safety check valve on compressors that will pop and blow off the excess air when this happens, but it's very useful to have some idea of what's going on when something like this happens and the only way to really know is to be able to check the guages and get an accurate reading on the pressure inside your tank.
I've read your other posts regarding this matter. Just replace the guages bro. They're cheap and they're installed on your compressor for a good reason. Also... if you use a reputable tool repair business in the future, by law, he won't be able to give you your compressor back to you after a repair without fixing the guages first anyway. Either that, or he will have to return your compressor in pieces. That's the law with tools.... they get returned in safe working order.... or they get returned in an unusable (disassembled) condition. It's a law for a good reason.
I had a similiar problem w my crapman compressor and upon closer inspection realized that the glass on the guage was shoved down and preventing the pointer from moving past 80psi w a little 'fenaglin' I got it to working again.......I will check and see what model I have for the manual........its at the jobsite right now.