Compressor problem

[Maddog]

Hi guys,

I'm new on here and have read a lot of info on the PowerCraft Aldi compressors.

A friend of mine gave me one brand new.. His Father in law had bought it on a whim in Aldi and given it to him, but he has no need for it so gave it to me (he's a Porsche main dealer mechanic so has access to all the air toolerey anyone could ever need.

I've got it all set up with a clarke rattle gun, clarke wrench etc and it just seems a little gutless. rattle gun wont undo wheel nuts etc, seems to have about 1 second of real power then just drops off as the pressure guage needle on the compressor drops away. I bought a load of the high flow couplers off the wolf air website and upgraded the hose to 10mm id (10m) without reg and oiler, just straight from the fixed reg on the compressor and it seems a little better, but was just wondering what will be the limiting factor rattle gun or compressor. The gun i have is the following set:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cat232-14pc-air-impact-wrench-ratchet-/path/air-ratchets-wrenches

Any help or advice much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum.

First job would be to fit a 1/2 inch regulator to the tank if you can.

The pressure in the tank will drop even more quickly though.

You could add extra tanks, you'd get a bit more work out of the rattle gun, but it would take longer for the tank(s) to refill.

 

[Maddog]

Thanks for the advice,

Will i need to change my hoses to 1/2 BSP as well or can i get regulators that will fit 1/2 bsp into the tank and then use 1/4 bsp hoses, or will this remove the benefit of the 1/2 bsp?

Can you please recommend an appropriate 1/2 bsp inlet reg to 1/4 bsp outlet (if i'm understanding correctly)

Thanks.

 

[gavuk]

Hi ,and welcome to the forum ,although i have an aldi compressor ,i modified my other compressor with a larger tank to bypass the built in reg by inserting a 3/8" or was it 1/2" ?..tee below the reg giving a full bore outlet,gave the impact wrench a good boost in power ,worth a go as you've done everything else ,you could remove the plug from the receiver and reduce to a hose connection,to achieve the same .I would recommend fitting a ball valve in line as well ,let us know how it works..if you mod it .......I still use a breaker bar,or wheel brace to crack and fully tighten wheel nuts

 

[h3rman]

Mate, personally I would say it's the impact wrench. From the link you posted, it says it's rated to 230 lb/ft, that will be the max torque it can give, and not the real working torque.

I have an electric Clarke impact wrench rated to 450Nm (332 lb/ft), and it has also had some problems taking wheel nuts off. Was easier to do by hand, however it has helped when undoing certain exhaust bolts. My mate who used to work at the Honda main dealership had an air wrench rated to about 500 lb/ft which would undo virually anything. It even took off the bolts for my catalytic converted which hasn't been off in 12 years! However, even then, it struggled to take off the CAT bolts and just recoiled until the bolt was heated cherry red with an oxy acetalene torch.

I would go get yourself a good impact wrench, but you're looking to spend nearer the £100 mark for the impact wrench alone, and even then it won't be a Snap-On one, but still something like Clarke or Sealey.

Aldi compressors are meant to be 9.5 CFM displacement and the gun should only use about 5-6 CFM in short bursts, so the compressor should be able to cope with that fine and by the sounds of it, your pipework isn't restrictive.

 

[rtbcomp]

Thanks for the advice,

Will i need to change my hoses to 1/2 BSP as well or can i get regulators that will fit 1/2 bsp into the tank and then use 1/4 bsp hoses, or will this remove the benefit of the 1/2 bsp?

Can you please recommend an appropriate 1/2 bsp inlet reg to 1/4 bsp outlet (if i'm understanding correctly)

Thanks.

Have a good look through here:-

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=15742

 

[Endacy]

I bought an Aldi impact wrench, it struggled with most bolts, same as yours in that it'd seem to work but the pressure dropped off and it gave up. My compressor is a little 'Rockworth' compressor, same as the B&Q ones, I bought it cheap off ebay years ago, it's only got a 6L tank as it's really for a nail gun.

I removed the tiny little regulator from the compressor and fitted a much larger one I had. Suddenly it could undo some bolts it couldn't before!!

I had to destroy the old regulator to get it off (due to daft design of compressor fittings), looking inside the ports were only millimetres accross, no wonder it didn't work very well.

 

[Maddog]

Ok, thanks for all the advice guys.

I'm still a little confused though...

Are you suggesting i can replace the existing regulator (bit with the on off switch, pressure gauges and outlets shown in picture) with an upgraded one that connects directly to the tank at 1/2 bsp then recuces down to 1/4 bsp for my hoses?

And if so i will lose the on off switch wont I?



Apologies, but i'm a bit new to the world of compressors, have used them for years in the motor trade, but that's all i've done is use them never had to to touch anything other then the end of the hose with other people's tools.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Endacy]

Can you show a picture of that bit from the end of the copressor, not the side? It looks like you already have two outputs on it...

 

[Maddog]

Ok, cheers.

Here it is..

 

[rtbcomp]

Leave the existing setup in place and put an extra reg. where the plug is in the end of the tank.

It would be better still if you put a PCL socket in the tank and placed the reg at the end of the hose near the tool, that way you'd have higher pressure in the hose which will allow higher airflow.

 

[Maddog]

Do you mean here mate?



Thanks.

 

[rtbcomp]

Yes.

 

[Maddog]

So is this what i need to buy.. The 1/2 bsp version..

http://www.kiowa.co.uk/Products/Quick_Release_Couplings/PCL_Airline_Couplings/PCL_XF_Couplings/PCL_XF_Coupling_-_BSPT_Male

The aldi couplings are these:

http://www.ukhs.tv/Workshop/Air-Tools/Uni-Hi-Flow-1-4-BSP-Adaptor

These are what i bought for all my tools, have a large internal bore and fit the existing compressor couplings. I think these are the same as PCL XF (can anyone confirm before i buy them)

If so i just need to buy a 1/2 bsp PCL XF male threaded female socket for the end of the tank.

 

[eil]

You can copy part of mine, by as suggested connecting up to where you have arrowed, you would need a 1/2" BSP nipple, a filter regulator and a 1/2" BSP quick connect coupling and away you go.

 

[Maddog]

Thanks for all the help and advice chaps.. I think i've got it now.

Ordered one of these off the bay: http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/1-2-Male-To-1-4-BSP-Male-Taper-Reducing-Union-25827-Draper-A6900-BULK

I'll attach inplace of the tank end plug, attach my existing reg & water trap, then out to the hose. I guess that if all the gubbins up top is still there (existing outlets etc) but not in use, then all the safety features are still active.

 

[Endacy]

That should sort it right out. Changing the regulator is usually simpler I think. Here is mine. The regulator was where the first guage is and a guage where the reg now is.

 

[Maddog]

Cheers fella.

 

[Chipper]

Have you tried using the unregulated output? One of the pair is regulated, the other is 'straight' - but not sure which one, but I think it's the one that's not got the hose in, in your pics. Got an Aldi comp last wkend but not fired it up yet.

 

[delcbr]

i just bought an aldi compressor today!
got the impact wrench with it instructions say 6 bar working pressure but when you go to wolfwebsite it says its 8 bar which would explain why the power goes quickly from the gun.
also compressor shuts off at 8 bar but after 10 mins without using air it dropped to 7 bar is that normal or should i check for leaks?
what can i do to make the best of what ive just bought eg not making it restrictive etc?
do you think running air through a 15metre hose from receiver to tool isnt helping either in terms of pressure loss?


so i dont know anything much about compressors but al i know is i need more power lol!!!! so lets clear this up as iam not following this too well.......should i change all my air fittings on the end of my air tools over from these fittings which i have

http://www.ukhs.tv/Workshop/Air-Tools/Uni-Hi-Flow-1-4-BSP-Adaptor

to these ones?

http://www.kiowa.co.uk/Products/Quick_Release_Couplings/PCL_Airline_Couplings/PCL_XF_Couplings/PCL_XF_Adaptor_-_BSPT_Male

http://www.kiowa.co.uk/Products
/Quick_Release_Couplings/PCL_Airline_Couplings/PCL_XF_Couplings/PCL_XF_Coupling_-_BSPT_Male
this is the one i should screw into the end tank plug?

my air tools currently have these connectors on them http://www.ukhs.tv/Workshop/Air-Tools/Uni-Hi-Flow-1-4-BSP-Adaptor

do i need to change any sizes of air fitings from 1/4" to 1/2" to improve things? iam not really sure what to do can someone take me through this step by step as iam not fully understanding the options i have?