The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest air compresser blues...

since im not sure where this forum is heading i thought this might be the place to ask for help.Ive gota campellhausfeld 5hp compressor that i beleive is a 1999 model.It has worked perfectly till today.I normally have it plugged in on a line so that it is only on when i turn on a lightswitch.Iturned it on and it will only get abought 25 pounds of pressure.I dont have a manual so im not sure where to begin looking.My first thought was the presure switch but it continualy runs so i asume thats not it. Any ideas would be apreceated.I tryed there web sight but they must not own the domain as it takes me else where.Thanks..Ron

Is your compressor an oilless job? If so piston maybe worn in it. I had an oilless Sears 3 1/2 hp compressor, after a year the graphite ring had worn enough to allow blowby past it. It wouldn't reach operating pressure. Had to by whole piston, ring made on to piston.

yea my compressor died yesterday... I was running a die grinder to clean up my block, and my compressor is a really poor one anyway. it is my fathers, and he used it for his carpentry for years, but it even has problems keeping up with a couple air guns now.

anyway I could run it for 10-15 seconds, and then I'd have to wait awhile for it to catch up. I ran it, without giving it a break, for over 45 minutes...

the next thing I know it stops running (when I knew it was FAR from full), and sounds like it is leaking air. I run over there, and it is leaking oil out one of the metal hoses like crazy. it also stopped running completely so I think it seized...

Im under the asumtion that it must be an oil less as i can find no where to either check or add oil.Ive looked all over it and i cant find the word oilless or even any lubrication ports.It doesent sound as if its running as hard as it should but i supose it wouldnt if theres blow by?

The only other thing I can think of might be the reed valves in head. Sounds like it must be oilless. Oilless compressor are almost always direct drive (no belt).
Wookie does sound like it has seized. May have overheated or run low on oil. Sounds like it probably isn't worth fixing. Could keep tank though, parallel it with another compressor to obtain more volume.
You're better off to stay away from the oilless compressors, they seem to wear out quickly.

Ive got a small belt drive sandborn oil type compresser but its not enough to run my air tools.This one a friend brought over to use here as i was going to let him use a stall in my shop to restore his olds.Hes spending abought 8 years at a state run hotel so im going to have get this fixed myself. It sounds like either way reeds or ring the heads going to have to come off.So much for geting started on my body work. Thaanks...ron

white lightning, you were right.Ipulled the head off and found that one of the reed valves was broken off.I want to thank you for your reply as otherwise i wouldnt have had a clue.Thanks again...Ron

Sounds like good news then, nothing to major. Glad I could help. Have you bought the reed valve yet. I had to put new valves in my Campbell a few years ago. They wouldn't sell just valve thou, they only sold it as complete head. 80 buck each, mine is a two cylinder. I end up going through another supplier that was able to get me just the valves, I think it was 30 bucks for both. Still enough but better than $160.

I finaly found the parts i need localy and instock.It does sound however like i have to purchace the head and all . I was quoted abought 30 bucks.IfI can get my compresser back online ill only have to find the courage to start my body work..thanks again ron