I've got a Craftsman Air Compressor and I went to use it today and it wants to turn on, but doesn't (It sits there and hums). It is a small one, 4 gal, 1 HP. Anyway, where would I get parts to fix it and would it be worth fixing?

FWIW, it was made 10/2006 and I really haven't used it that much.

 

Parts will probably cost more than a new compressor.

Piston could be frozen, is it a oil-less compressor or did it require oil?

Hitachi and DeWalt make good portable compressors.

I use a Bostitch pancake now to drive my nail guns, upgrading to

a better compressor my be in your future.

 

Is it the compressor or the motor? Does it have a belt you can disconnect and see if the motor runs? Can you turn the compressor pulley by hand?

 

OOPS. Dis-reguard previous post. I think you have a pancake, so not sure how to check. Sorry.

 

Spent my life working on air compressors and I can tell you anything below 5 horsepower cannot be repaired economically. Throw it away and buy a new one.

 

This is the closest, that I can find, to it. Mine is on wheels. It is a oil/lube type. The compressor and motor are a sealed unit...no belt. And it is a 110v model.

I left this out. When I first plugged it in it hummed, and on about the 3rd try It pumped like normal. It ran up to pressure and then kicked off. Since then, all it does is hum.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_0 09164780...

 

Don't know if it's worth fixing, but you used to be able to search sears online for parts ( not always cheap).

They also used to have drawings and downloadable manuals.

Maybe they still do.

Good Luck,

hj

 

plug your model number in over at searspartsdirect.com, it'll give you the diagrams and parts list. You can take that Sears parts number and search for it online to find cheap aftermarket alternatives.
The last Craftsman compressor I had I got with a bad connecting rod, rebuilt the pump and it blew apart again in about an hour. I wound up just using the tank and put a different motor and compressor head on it.

 

could be the starting circuit on the electric motor

 

It could be the pressure release valve on the pump. It lets the compressor start without a load on it. My best small compressor was a 2 hp Hitachi 4 gallon. I had it & a 2 hp emglo. I could dump the air in both of them. The Hitachi would refill much faster than the emglo. If I was still subcontracting I would get one. I use a 1 hp 3 gallon Craftsman now. I have a 5 hp Quincy 2 stage in my shop. Its not portable.