Most all the fittings on the bottom of any compressor can be replaced. I replaced mine with a petcock style from a radiator. I would just remove it and check out the thread size, should be an easy fix. You won't know anything till you take the present plug out anyway.

 

I am a idustrial pipe fitter and can 100% tell you that all fittings in air tanks are pipe treads.

 

Ayuh,... The odds are about 99% that the hole in the tank is threaded 1/4" pipe...
You have to replace the Whole fitting...

I replaced mine with a 1/4" "T" fitting, close nippled to the tank, with a ball-valve on 1 side,+ a pull-cable drain off a Big Truck on the other side...
With the other end of the cable at the top of the unit,... No need to bend over anymore,...
If it Really needs drainin',... 1/4 turn of the valve,+ it's free flowin'...

 

You can go to Lowes or home Depot or any place like that and buy a compressor drain petcock. They are a pretty standard size.

 

Thanks for all the replys, i was hoping it was a 1/4" fitting, that about all i could find. My tank drain isn't real difficult to get to, but getting the right fitting up front would make the swap easier. Thanks again

 

This is what I did with mine.....

 

That sure makes things easy. :thumbup:

 

Ayuh,... The odds are about 99% that the hole in the tank is threaded 1/4" pipe...
You have to replace the Whole fitting...

I replaced mine with a 1/4" "T" fitting, close nippled to the tank, with a ball-valve on 1 side,+ a pull-cable drain off a Big Truck on the other side...
With the other end of the cable at the top of the unit,... No need to bend over anymore,...
If it Really needs drainin',... 1/4 turn of the valve,+ it's free flowin'...

I like that idea..... :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

It is a good idea but don't get carried away with the length, keep it well back under the tank, because being down near the floor like that they can easily be broken off that's the reason they don't come that way from the factory.



Mikewb, you need to turn that thing 180 deg because the way it is it will be easily bumped if you move the compressor around but if you turn it the other way it would be pointing up out of the way when the tank is tilted back, still fairly easy to break off on a portable compressor however but not nearly as likely.

 

oldred:

I already checked that out already, it doesnt touch the ground even when tilted way back I guess thats where the big wheels come in handy

 

I was going to replace the drain tomorrow but it looks like I have changed my mind on how to do it. I will now wait until Friday and go to HD and get a few fittings and a ball valve. The less i have to bend over and drain the air compressor the more bends i will have left to work on my ole truck...thanks again

 

How about this?

www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46960

 

Those auto drains are great for regular work and that price is great.but I dont care to much for them in the paint shop...If they fail it'll cost you dearly ...plus I'm used to draining the tank as part of the procedure ....something everyone should get used too every day.That cable and ballcock is a great idea and with one more improvement its perfect.....A hose and something to catch the water....My compressor dumps about a half gal of water on the floor which is a pain when you turn the drain off ...Thanks for the good ideas...Have a great thanksgiving... :drool:

 

I have a HDA70600AV filter from HD, although I havn't tried to clean it out yet. I have heard it isn't very easy to work with. i didnt do much research before i bought it, my fault. I do not do much painting, mostly priming and using air tools. Any tips on cleaning the filter i have? I am concerned I will get it apart and it will not go back together and then I will be without air. I will take a look at the drain from HF and see if i have room to use it. thanks

 

I replaced mine with a 1/4" "T" fitting, close nippled to the tank, with a ball-valve on 1 side,+ a pull-cable drain off a Big Truck on the other side...
With the other end of the cable at the top of the unit,... No need to bend over anymore,...
If it Really needs drainin',... 1/4 turn of the valve,+ it's free flowin'...

Ayuh,... I finally got a picture of 1 of my airtank's drain,....
The end of the cable can be hung from anywhere it'll reach....
A little tug in any direction, Blows the tank dry...

 

Maybe I am looking at this differently, but am i seeing electrical connectors?

 

Thats a pressure relief valve ,with a cable to pull,nothing electrical....I'm not sure about the portable compressors,but theres about three on a big compressor in various locations,I like this application,I'd have never thought of it...and if the compressor doesnt shut down for any reason the valve will blow at a predetermined pressure...a very good idea...

 

Ah, Nope,... Nothing electrical,+ Nope, not a pressure relief valve...

Read the text quoted above the picture...
It's a Remote Tank Drain for a Truck with Air Brakes....
The cable end is attached wherever it's convient to reach,...
(The cable on that particular tank is Twice as long as needed, so it's doubled back to the drain fitting)
Then a couple of tugs on the Cable drains the moisture from the tank....
The fitting closest to the camera is a simple twist valve for manual draining...

 

That's cool.

Besides the ease of draining the water, I like the idea that the pipe nipple and T fitting also acts something like a sump that'll keep small-ish amounts of water out of the tank between flushes.

 

my hf compressor had a 1/4" petcock removed that and added the ball valve as pictured but went one step furthur. at home depot right next to where you will find the brass fittings you will also find a 1/4" male x ptc adapter (push to connect) now get a piece of 1/4" tubing and when you want to drain the tank push the tubing in ,put the end in a bucket and open the valve. a day of the comp running down here in south florida easily produces a few ounces of nasty water .much neater going into a bucket than draining on the floor . when you are done push the tubing into the fitting to release it and roll the tubing up to store it