Against good advice from BT members, I bought a Porter Cable pancake compressor with a gift card about eight months ago. It hasn’t seen a whole lot of use, but the other day, the guy I’m working with (who can’t even read a tape measure) turns the drain valve knob a little too far to the right. Now, air leaks from the drain valve when the tank is charged and the valve is closed. The drain valve looks slightly bent. Can I just buy a new drain valve at the box store, or has he stripped out the tank threads?
Anyone have this problem before?
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Take it out and when you put the new better grade drain in wrap it with plenty of teflon tape and a dab of plumber's putty.
Edited 10/23/2009 8:36 pm ET by rez
What does the plumbers putty do? I thought that was for sink drains."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Sorry, force of habit from plumbing.
Use to work with a plumber that said callbacks don't make any money
and that ever since he started adding a touch of pipe dope on the threads after the teflon he's never had a callback from a leak.
Edited 10/24/2009 1:49 pm ET by rez
make sure it's not junk/rust scale stuck in the drain preventing it from clsoing all the way.
But yes, it's an easy swap. I doubt he stripped the tank threads.
I did get the thing unscrewed, and something probably came out of it. But it still leaks. I'm going to the store tommorrow to buy a new one. I'm glad I at least found it today, and not Sunday when I have two squares of shingles to install.
I bought a new valve (actually two, one for a spare) at the local Home Depot for about 4 bucks. (each)
Have a good day
Cliffy
I buy my replacement valves at a NAPA store.
Better deal and better valve
The first thing I do with a new comp. is get shed of the petcock and put on a lever ball valve. Petcocks can leave you in a lurch way too easily.
Shop comps get auto drains.
Old trucks get the oil pan tapped for NPT plugs too.
Oooops,, shoulda kept reading.
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Edited 10/24/2009 9:47 am ET by Sphere
Non-pressure treated?
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Went to a junk shop the other day when rubbernecking in this community. Guy has had this junk shop for 46years and it is crammed crammed crammed.
Didn't have my camera but it was worthy. Found a neat old photo that had been colorized I thought was cool and asked him how much since nothing has a pricetag in the place. He scratches his beard as he's looking away and says $45.
Later on I hear someone asking about a price and he said $45. heh
Before I leave I ask a price about something else and he says...
...$45.
dang man, doesn't seem that long ago and everything was $20. I think society's made the transition to $50 but seemed much so $45 became the pat.
>>>Non-pressure treated?National Pipe ThreadNew Platonic TacosNever Play TickletoesNuke Piffin's TonsilsNon-Pliable TruncheonScott.
Edited 10/24/2009 11:25 am by Scott
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Replace it with a ball valve with a lever handle. You will be more inclined to drain it regularly because it is so quick and easy. I change out my new compressors this way as soon as I buy them.
Ya, what fingers&T said. Way faster to drain too... just give it a twist, out comes the water, and close it. Voila. It's so fast that you'll be inclined to drain more often, which is good for the compressor.Make sure it's solid brass.Scott.
Bought a new valve, but just the petcock, not lever. All they had. It took me a minute to realize that the old one had two parts, the second was painted with the tank. After a trip to the auto parts store, I got it figured out and now compressor is running very well. Good idea with the soap, I found a leak that I otherwise would have passed up. Nail guns have been cleaned and setup for shingles tommorrow!