compressor very noisy

[jasongtr]

Hi ther, i have a clark 200L compressor, its got a 4hp pump and a 3hp motor (old motor failed and i had this laying around as a spare)

the pump is very noisy now, i thought it might be low on oil but it wasnt but i did change the oil as it was pretty dirty, so with fresh oil i thought it would be fine - alas no.

It runs for about 10 seconds then shuts off, if i turn it on again it will run for a little less time and shut off again, still really noisy, it will eventually build pressure but its not ideal and clerly not something i should continue to use as it is.

I really do not want to be spending £500+ on a new compressor, or even £200+ on a new pump if im just throwing money away,

Does anyone have any ideas what the issue could be, can the pump be serviced or is it just not worth it and i really do need to dig deep and spend on at least a new pump?

cheers

 

[the snooper]

Noisy in what way heavy knocking like the big end bearing has gone, high pitched rattle like little end bearing or more of a rumbling like the main bearing have gone

 

[jasongtr]

ok thought it could be a bearing, maybe due to the fact the oil was way past due a change and it was run briefly with very little oil not too long ago

are the bearings easy enough to get hold of? i guess i need to strip the pump down and investigate..

 

[the snooper]

Yeah strip it then you will know if it's salvageable

 

[jasongtr]

ok ill get that done in the next few days and report back with pictures

 

[p0689109]

Did you have it running with the old motor before it died? And if so was it noisy?

 

[jasongtr]

it was running with the motor thats currently on it for ages and was running perfectly well until it ran low on oil, it was running as noisy as it is now with low oil, then i topped the oil up and it ran fine for a few good months then this week started getting noisy again, so i changed the oil and its still the same

 

[p0689109]

Oh that makes sense then if it has run low on oil, probably better to fork out on a good quality pump to match your motor.

 

[jasongtr]

thats just it the motor doesnt match the pump at the moment anyway, but if its just bearings they cant be much to sort out

 

[p0689109]

I was thinking along the lines of getting a pump tp match the motor and also the cost and availability of the bearings and of course the doability of the task.

 

[jasongtr]

are the bearings hard to get hold of then?

 

[rtbcomp]

I think you'll be OK with a Clarke for spares. Ring their spares department direct, ie don't go to Machine Mart and the like.

You should be able to download a manual from their website, that will have an exploded diagram and the part numbers in it.

 

[p0689109]

I do not know but if the pump is Chinese I would have thought so. You would have the chance to upgrade the pump to a good quality cast iron one if you choose the new route.

 

[jasongtr]

excellent thanks, ill do that once i have the pump apart

 

[jasongtr]

I do not know but if the pump is Chinese I would have thought so. You would have the chance to upgrade the pump to a good quality cast iron one if you choose the new route.

its a clark pump

 

[daleyd]

For a quick check I'd have the belts off and run the motor up just to check it's not the motor. For the sake of 5 mins work (and I guess you will be going to take them off to strip it anyway) it would be a worthwhile check to do, even if your 100% convinced its the pump. (I'm sure your correct that it's the pump but still...)

 

[p0689109]

Clarke were good when they were American but now from the quality they are Chinese standard.

 

[jasongtr]

same could be said for snap on, thats all chinese made too

 

[Mee]

Most bearings in these cheaper compressors are also cheaper and most are standard bearings and obtainable in most bearing stockists cheaply. If you can get a decent brand of bearing it is always nice to replace them with a higher quality item.

 

[jasongtr]

For a quick check I'd have the belts off and run the motor up just to check it's not the motor. For the sake of 5 mins work (and I guess you will be going to take them off to strip it anyway) it would be a worthwhile check to do, even if your 100% convinced its the pump. (I'm sure your correct that it's the pump but still...)

ok, so i took the belt guard and belt off and ran th motor, jeez thats one noisy motor, in my experience they were very quiet, i reckon this is the issue, so daleyd i think you might of saved me some cash buying a pump or time to fix mine then still needing a motor - big thanks