Compressor Grenaded Internally

Apr 16, 2018 3 Replies

I haven't taken it apart to see exactly what the problem is, but its four years old. A full year out of warranty.



An hour or so ago it started making an awful racket. It sounded suspiciously like it threw a rod. I shut it down along with all the machines dependent on it.



Diagnostic step one. I looked at the oil sight glass, and it showed just below center. Figuring to see how much of its guts poured out I cut the top off a soda can to catch the oil and pulled the plug. Nothing came out.



As one of our members would say... Blink!!! Blink!!!



I looked at the sight glass again. The oil level looked the same. I stuck an air nozzle in the drain hole (turned off the compressor, but left the valve open) and blew thinking maybe it was plugged. A very little oil came out and several chunks of metal.



I check the sight glass almost every day when I start up the air for the shop. It never changed. I wonder how long it was running with virtually no oil.



Well, I'm off to buy a new pump for it. I can't run without air.


I finally got the new pump installed. Had to make a mounting plate, then drill and tap for the new pump, then chase down the fittings, and finally take the check valve out 4 times to try and repair it. Finally I did the stupid easy o-ring repair. I know it won't last, but it should last until I get a new check valve atleast. The plunger on the check valve looks like PEEK. Kind of overkill for only 155 PSI.

On Tue, 17 Apr 2018 07:10:11 -0700, Gunner Asch wrote as underneath :

Thanks for this thread and comments - gonna double check my sight glass today by dip test! C+

Ooh, good point. (Checked my sight glass with a tip o' the head to see it move.) Yup, still good. Probably time to change it, too.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required