I picked up a used Speed-Aire horizontal compressor a few months back, 30 gallon, 2 hp, 5.5 cfm at 90.
I haven't had need of it for much more than tire inflation...until yesterday. I've got it connected to a 75' air hose and was using it with a Harbor Freight 'Earthquake' impact. I fired up the compressor and it ran until it reached the 125 max, the regulator was turned all the way open, so that gauge also read 125.
I got two lugs off, the third wouldn't break loose, I waited about 30-45 seconds and then it barely broke the third lug loose, the unit still hadn't kicked back on, and when trying it on the fourth lug, it just ugga-dugga'd in a pathetic fashion and was nowhere near breaking loose.
I waited and about three minutes later the motor kicked in and brought the tank back up to pressure. Three more lugs off, out of oomph again...I gave up and grabbed my breaker bar, loosened all the remaining lugs and then used the impact to remove them.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there an adjustment I have screwed up? Or is there something wrong with the compressor?
TIA,
R
At what psi does the pressure switch engage?
There are two adjustment screws on an air pressure switch. One is high pressure cut off, the other is low pressure start. Sounds like your low pressure start needs to be turned up some.
My compressor starts at 100 psi and shuts down at 125.
What diameter is your hose? 75' is an awful lot and the pressure drop will be significant.
Slippery said:
What diameter is your hose? 75' is an awful lot and the pressure drop will be significant.
Yep, this. You need a shorter air hose and possibly a hose larger in diameter. Think of it as trying to fill a small pool through a drinking straw.
Noddaz said:
Slippery said:
What diameter is your hose? 75' is an awful lot and the pressure drop will be significant.
Yep, this. You need a shorter air hose and possibly a hose larger in diameter. Think of it as trying to fill a small pool through a drinking straw.
Also, make sure that you're using v-type fittings on all connections for your hoses, as they flow a lot more than the standard m-type/automotive type you find at the box store. This is especially important if you're using an excessively long hose.
I don't know that the air hose is the issue unless it is a 1/4" x 75'. I run my 30 gallon compressor through approx. 10' of 1/2" hose and 50' of 3/8" hose on a reel with 1/4 industrial interchange coupler and nipples (M-style for the milton nerds). It has no issues keeping up with removing all lug nuts on a vehicle, air hammering or whatever else I do with it (it does need some time to catch up using the sandblast cabinet but that isn't the fault of the hose).
I doubt it's the hose; do you have any pressure gauges on the compressor? Watch them and run a tool, see how long it takes for pressure to drop at the compressor and then how low it goes before the compressor kicks on. Maybe the pressure switch needs adjustment as mentioned above.
