Whats wrong with my air compressor?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Clearfield County, PA
Whats wrong with my air compressor?
I have a 60 gallon air compressor and its gotten worse every since ive had it. It now wont even start unless the kick it over by hand. It sometimes will get up to running full speed but barely does. I had the motor rebuilt about a year ago and the compressor was looked over and was fine. Im not sure what else it could be. It also has a bad burning smell coming from the motor? Any ideas? Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
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The pulley and belt is more then likely glazed, once they slip like that they get hot and it makes them smooth and it gets worse... Like Greg said it sounds like the belt is slipping. More then likely it is the pulley on the motor that is glazed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Seattle
Just so I understand correctly, when you switch it on, it does nothing but hum or buzz? And when you give the flywheel a push/turn, it fires up? It sounds like the capacitor is dead. And as said above, the belt sounds like it needs to be replaced.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Clearfield County, PA
Yes that's exactly it. It won't do anything until you bump it and it moves very slow for quite a while. I replaced the belt when I got it but maybe it needs a new one by now. Il look at how to test the capacitor rather than take it somewhere if that's possible.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
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From: Seattle
Those two humps on the outside of the motor house the capacitors. unscew the covers and you should be able to unplug and remove them. You could take them to a shop that repairs electric motors to test, or find a part number on them and google it to see what comes up. Fairly inexpensive in most cases.
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Posting Guru
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From: Sapulpa OK
Sure sounds like the belt is loose. Try this as a test. Get yourself a smooth piece of pipe or wood like a hammer handle. While your compressor is running and making that noise, use your hammer handle to press down on the outside of the belt at mid span. Be careful here, you don't want to get tangled up in the belt. Press lightly at first to become accustom to how it feels. Then press down harder. The pump should speed up, indicating the need for a belt adjustment. You perceive that the motor is slowing but actually only the compressor is slowing. The compressor makes more noise than the motor.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
Remove the belt and see how difficult it is to turn the compressor over by hand, if it takes inordinate effort to turn the compressor over by hand, you have a compressor about to seize, if not it's a pulley/belt or motor problem.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
That motor has two capacitors, a startup and a run capacitor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_capacitor
Don't switch them around. Write down which one is where. Get them both checked though, the run cap might already be marginal based on the motor not running very fast once it's spinning. (I didn't watch the video)
If the startup cap is bad, it'll probably be swollen, or ruptured, or blew it's over-pressure plug
Of course, it could be the compressor getting ready to seize, check that first
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
Oh, and there's one other thing it might be - there is usually a centrifugal switch that once the motor is spinning up fast enough, it disconnects the startup cap. If that switch is stuck open, even if the startup cap is good, it won't be doing anything.
But check the compressor is spinning easily first, then check the caps for obvious swelling or ruptures. A few $'s will get a new spinup cap, if that doesn't help, take the motor for servicing.....
But check the compressor is spinning easily first, then check the caps for obvious swelling or ruptures. A few $'s will get a new spinup cap, if that doesn't help, take the motor for servicing.....
