Drain hole was blocked

[delta9]

Hi guys,

Was swapping over regulators on my compressor yesterday and also removed drain bolt to release air/water.

Forgot to put drain bolt back in and fired up compressor, after about a minute heard massive amount of air escaping and about a pint of water all over floor!

So all those times I've been unscrewing bolt was a pointless exercise, lots of water has just accumulated over time, over a year since I bought it 2nd hand and probably longer. Anyways it's running OK just a bit worried all the internals are rusted up, water did seem a bit brown (no oil loss though).

Guess thats one way of cleaning out your drain lol

Was blocked with some sort of black charcoal like substance.

 

[Crater Creator]

I always drain mine with a bit of pressure behind it - usually get about a half pint of brown very slightly oily water spraying out of it all over the floor. I really should fit an extension to the drain some day.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, The method I've adopted for draining is with pressure in it, release the drain bolt which pushes the bulk of the water out from the pressure. Then leave the bolt undone or out completely overnight for the rest of the water to come out. I find that the column of air rushing out through the small hole tends to hold the rest of the water at bay, then with the pressure gone the rest slowly drains/syphons out over the course of the night. I seem to get more out overnight than the initial splurge.

 

[delta9]

Thanks guys, I've always drained it when it's empty so will do as you suggest with pressure. Never had any water out of it should of realised it was blocked!

Yes I need to fit something easier too, cheers

 

[grim_d]

Be cautious when removing the plug under pressure.

Warned a mate about removing the end bung when the tank had 50psi in it which he ignored. Ended up with a hand full of shrapnel.

 

[dobbslc]

I bought a 150 litre compressor checked the drain and nothing came out, when I picked it up it took two of us to lift it.
Only found out later it was half full of water and took half an hour to drain!