Airforce 14/150

[badersbus]

Hi All.
Not been on for a while , what with work , decorating , moped restorations etc etc etc , You all know the score i am sure.
Anyway. My son has managed to pick up a Airforce 14/150 compresseor that appears to have seen very little use since it was new in 2010.
Wanted to ask with it being stood for a while what is the best way of re commisioning it back to use.
It starts , runs and cuts off at 115psi. I opened the drain cock and a fair bit of emulsion came out. Did this twice and it was less second time , I reckon this is due to being stood rather than wear as i said it looks like it has just stood in the corner of a dry shop and been left to get dirty. When wiped it appears nearly new
The pressure switch cover securing switch was missing , we have replaced that and it appears ok.
I was thinking is it worth replacing the safety blow off valve and pressure switch just to be safe.
If so where can he get these from
Thanks for any help

 

[rtbcomp]

Has the safety valve got a pull-ring on it? If so, get the tank up to pressure and pull the ring. The valve should expel air until the pressure drops. If this works OK the valve will be OK. Do this once a month or so to keep the valve free and to make sure it's working.

I wouldn't bother replacing the pressure switch if it works OK.

If you do want to change them, there are loads on Ebay or Machine Mart stock them.

I would change the oil though, and check/change the air filter.

 

[badersbus]

Thanks rt.
The safety valve does not have the ring on it. I have not seen one like it before and cant work out how it works ??
Oil and filters sound like a good call . Is there any where local to get the oil and filter? I believe it is a fiac compressor

 

[brightspark]

Thanks rt.
The safety valve does not have the ring on it. I have not seen one like it before and cant work out how it works ??
Oil and filters sound like a good call . Is there any where local to get the oil and filter? I believe it is a fiac compressor

most have a pin sticking out. run up to pressure and grip it with some pliers and give a gentle pull and it will blow off

 

[badersbus]

Yep a pin sticking out , Tried pulling it when at pressure but seemed solid. Mind you i was ready for the big blast of air to scare me so may have been pulling like a girl lol.
I will get him to pull it with a better pair of pliers with no pressure in the tank to free it up. As i said this may have been stood a couple of years , so needs a good looking around

 

[rtbcomp]

Usually an SAE30 or 40 straight non-detergent oil will be OK, it may say on the rating plate what grade to use. I'm assuming it's a standard piston compressor? Machine Mart sell compressor oil.

The safety valve will be easier to pull under pressure, that way the pressure and pliers are working in the same direction.

 

[brightspark]

Yep a pin sticking out , Tried pulling it when at pressure but seemed solid. Mind you i was ready for the big blast of air to scare me so may have been pulling like a girl lol.
I will get him to pull it with a better pair of pliers with no pressure in the tank to free it up. As i said this may have been stood a couple of years , so needs a good looking around

it wont pull easily with no air in tank as its spring loaded just run up to pressure and pull u cant damage it and it wont blow up

 

[badersbus]

Thanks chaps.
A sudden blast of compressed air is still scary though lol

 

[brightspark]

Thanks chaps.
A sudden blast of compressed air is still scary though lol

wait till u have an air hose start to go torpedo shaped then go the size of a baloon then burst before u can turn it off .they snake round the floor and lash u THATS SCARY

 

[badersbus]

I know what you mean brightspark. I can remember watching an apprentice chase a failed hose around the floor trying to grab it while it was flailing around like a racing snake. He never thought about kinking the hose Haha

 

[Rig Pig]

We pop test PSVs annually with a hand pump and pressure gauge, you could probably knock something up to do this from odds n sods or take it in to a calibration company if your worried about it, you will even get a certificate for it!