Air Compressor Sitting for Three Years - Seized: Request Advise

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1

Went to fire up the airbrush and discovered my compressor which has sat for about three years was seized. It’s a rotory refrigration compressor in a home made set up. It will come on but it’s stuck and won’t kick over.

Any suggestions?

Should I whack it real good with a hammer to try and jar it loose?

Thanks in Advance.

2

Sounds like a rust problem in compresser, try a little bit of wd40 in intake and let it sit, then try If If I remember my basic ac, there is oil in the refergent to lube the compresser. so in the long run it is not the best choice for a compresser.

3

I agree with Sherman 1111 - another thing is that even if you do get it to free up, the corrosion (rust in this case) may have caused enough damage that it will no longer compress the air. You can find an aircompressor (either locally or on line) that will work very well for you starting at about 50 bucks. If noise is a problem, consider compressed gas cyinders, the larger ones that will accept a regulator and can be refilled (not the little cans that the airbrush mfgs sell - I wouldn’t reccommend those to anyone).

4

Thank you for the suggestions, I’ll try the WD-40 and see what happens.

5

You said it was an home made set. If the WD 40 trick doesn’t work, you could find another motor, maybe in a scrap yard, and have it solded in place of the one you have now. If you find the right size of motor, with a little adjustment ( bending the tubes here and there ) it will only need you tin soldering as those things don’t deliver a high pressure. With a torch, you could do it yourself.As for rust, check if you didn’t forget water in the tank as it can have damaged it seriously.Also check if the regulator or bleed valve is not stuck either. All this work wouldn’t take more than two hours.

6

I have an old “Medici” refrigerator style air compressor. Works great, etc. Anyway, I left it on too long once, and thought it had seized up. When I turned it on, it would make a humming noise, but couldn’t kick over to start. Took it to a small engine/electronics repair shop, and they fixed it. It was a relay or some such electronic thing.

QT

7

sometimes my pasche will power up but won’t turn-over if I forget to open the air bleed valve first [to do a no-load start].

Brian

8

Brian

Is your compressor the D-500? I am having the same problem but with one slight difference. I have the bleed valve open and the airhose off and it still does not kick over. Suggestions?

Cheers;

Gregory

9

Hi Gregory, my compressor is the D500. I’ve owned this compressor for twenty years and if I can say having to open the bleed air valve is a problem-it’s a small one and my only one.

I can’t imagine what is going on with your compressor. Does the lockup occur cold,hot or both? You just might have to contact the manufacturer for corrective action

Brian

10

Brian

It start sometimes fine cold. Then runs for a bit and chokes. Time spraying less than 3 mins. or a base coat of primer. Then I let it cool down and it won’t start. It was running great until about a week ago. I had just started to prep for a paint session and got pulled away by an emergency (wife fell and tore all the tendons in the foot) while attending to that the compressor was on. So I think maybe the contact inside may have cooked itself. So I will run it over to a local small engine shop and let them have a look at it or contact customer service at Paasche. I did a search online but they do not have a “troubleshooting” section online.

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers;

Gregory

11

Hello again all

Well I took it apart and put it back together. Nothing out of order and now it seems to be working fine. So maybe it was just a temporary thing. Maybe it’s telling me it needs more use. Well off to the hobby shop I go to get something green and drab to paint.

Cheers;

Gregory