monkey metal

[Vexis]

Is it me or does any one else have things get really crazy from some thing simple..
Got a new compressor early this year ,great up till now.
When changing tools etc the output valves stuck open,both have done it on and off.
no way to stop the air escaping ,if the tool won't go back in the valve.
Did it this week so i thought right take it off and have a look and maybe put a on/off valves in too.
Couldn't find any thing obvious so fitted it back in the manifold,pop i heard ,b....cks ....
Had a look at the manifold and their was a crack right across the casting line. thought as id done it i would order another one .
It came and i fitted it all with on/off valves etc, switched it on and got some pressure in the tank and a leak,
this time from the tank connector put a nip on it and pop, the thread had cracked across the manifold there too.
Took the ally input pipe off to disconnect the pressure switch and the flare dropped off.
So now I've two bug...ed manifolds,!!!!!
A small ally pipe with no flare seal and no compressor.
All for a simple job looking at why the output valves stick open,
Rang them up and they wanted photos so sent them off and got a phone call saying id over tightened them!!!!!
To be fair he offered to send me new parts, exchange the compressor or get my money back.
When i said i just want a compressor to work he said he'd think about it and cleared off.
My thoughts are why do they make parts with this monkey metal so thin on joints especially when its a hole and threaded area,and how much pressure do you, (not) have to use when tightening up air pressure connectors which run at 8 bar or so pressure.
Short of using resin.
Makes my blood boil

 

[Vexis]

1st crack

 

[Vexis]

2nd crack down the hole

 

[rtbcomp]

I sympathise with you - typical example of spoiling the ship for ha'penny worth of tar.

Could you make a manifold up out of brass fittings?

 

[Vexis]

yes thats my next thought ,i was doing that with the on/off valves might have to continue using them through out,

 

[rikrobson]

that happent to me on my Wolf 3HP.

The manifold was monket metal and popped on changing to a proper PCL connector.

Took the manifold off. took a single line off to a remore manifold to an oiled and an unoiled regulators.

I think the pressure switch/unloader is just one of thode generic chinese ones with a brass manifold underneath it.

 

[Vexis]

how did you do that? A feed off the tank straight to a remote manifold? or was there a pressure switch in their some where and regulator,or was the remote manifold inclusive of a regulator? was it hard or soft connected ?the prob i see is that the comp is on wheels and flexible to be moved about a little

 

[Wallace]

Die cast zinc assembled with a sealant that goes rock hard and either tears the threads out or chews the end off the fitting as it's solid. Can you fit a valve in it's place with better fittings then out to your connectors?

 

[rikrobson]

the manifold was connected to the outlet for the switch assy. just put on a PCL connector. I really don't like the short little euro connectors. I find the O rings fall out of their seats.

The euro connector came out reletivly easily. I was putting the new one in and it went pop. the other side was OK (one was regulated and one not)

theres still some work to do, but i've yet to decide if I'm going to connect to the old 200l receiver/compressor.

 

[Vexis]

the same here the valve came out ok although ws full of hardened sealer it was putting it back which made it pop no pressure at all really.it split right along the cast line which i think was a weakness it the casting after it had been threaded

 

[the snooper]

you can buy various fittings and t pieces surely you could make something up much better then the tin foil rubbish they supply

 

[rikrobson]

Yup. Thats what I did.

 

[Bladevane]

The simple answer to your question is that buyers generally buy on price rather than quality. There was another thread recently about Chinese materials. I am afraid we get what we pay for.

 

[Vexis]

at the mo I'm thinking an aluminium manifold might be an option with 7 or 8 outlets ,but their available mainly with 1/4 tbsp might be a starter ..food for thought

 

[the snooper]

at the mo I'm thinking an aluminium manifold might be an option with 7 or 8 outlets ,but their available mainly with 1/4 tbsp might be a starter ..food for thought

just get a block of aluminium drill and tap whatever ports you need

 

[atconut]

spent hours messing with one last week exactly the same for a mate. trouble is bsp threads are tapered. When you put them in it just snaps the cast zinc crap It's like driving in a wedge. They put the fittings in loose with some kind of glue. They are just not worth the time and effort. just build a manifold out of iron fittings. use PTFE tape on the threads

 

[rtbcomp]

BSP fittings can be supplied tapered (BSPT) or parallel (BSPP). Female threads are usually parallel. I'd use a BSPP male to male fitting permanently 'glued' into the tool and fit my hose fittings on to that.

Usually tapered threads are used to obtain a seal on the thread, parallel to hold a connection together, as in a compression fitting.

I generally use PTFE tape on a tapered fitting, this makes aligning the joint easy, once it's tight enough to seal you can turn it a bit more to align it.