Clarke Warrior Compressor Cycling

[iamSteve]

My compressor is cycling when charging the tank. It will run to 130psi, then 'bleed' via the unload valve then restart at 90psi, back up to 130psi then the same air loss again constantly.

I have attached a link to a video, however now it appears not to be dropping all the way to 90psi. If I switch the compressor power off at 125psi it holds the air and does not bleed / unload.

http://goo.gl/photos/Z6cyamBw68icqYeZ6

Any advice please?

Steve.

 

[skotl]

Welcome to the forum. I am particularly impressed with your descriptive username

Within the on/off power controller there should be two screws for stop and start pressure. I'd start with fiddling with these but if that's not it then it's likely to be something trickier like the pressure sensor.

Sorry - scratch that - I replied before I watched the video. Looks like the pressure switch is fubar'd.

 

[rikrobson]

Looks like a new pressure switch is in order. ThinK the unloader is not closing


Loads on eBay for less than pony.

 

[roofman]

when you manualy switch it off is it via the switch box or the plug...unloader sounds broken and its easier to just replace the whole switch unit as skotl has mentioned. Easily got via the bay of pigs

 

[rtbcomp]

Woah! Most likely the non-return valve where the pipe from the pump enters the tank.

It switches off, opens the unloader valve and then the tank drains via the faulty NRV until it restarts.

Empty the tank, dismantle the valve and try cleaning it. You don't need to remove it, just unscrew the end cap. Have a look in my albums for some diagrams.

 

[brightspark]

i had one and the spring loaded rubber washer was leaking .i rubbed it flat on some sandpaper as the face was indented and hard , re fit it and its been fine for the last 3 years

 

[iamSteve]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I did remove the valve on the tank inlet previously. It would operate by pushing the rubber into the hex head with fingers, but very slow to come back out again, not sure if it should be like that or instantly 'recover'.

Regarding the question on power, when powered off on the wall at 125psi, the pressure remains and does not blow off.

As I said originally the video is slightly different to the original fault as is not is not losing all the air down to 90psi, this changed when I removed the small unload (?) pipe from the inlet and applied a small spray of wd40, so maybe something was sticking.

Looks like ill be getting a new switch then.

Steve.

 

[rtbcomp]

..........

(1)Regarding the question on power, when powered off on the wall at 125psi, the pressure remains and does not blow off.

............

(2)Looks like ill be getting a new switch then.

(1) It won't blow off if you switch off at the wall. The unloading valve on the switch will only open if the switch on the tank is tripped, either manually or automatically.

Try switching off manually on the pressure switch when the tank is nearly full, you should just get a short hiss from the unloading valve. If you get a prolonged stream of air it's still the NRV.

(2) I think you'll be wasting your money.