I have a 60 Gal 3-1/2 HP upright compressor (Yea, I know, Harbor Fright US General is junk, blah blah.....)

I've been noticing the bleed valve on the switch has been hanging up (keeps bleeding after the compressor shuts off) Well I'm not sure what happened, but it went to start and it wouldn't turn over, I'm assuming the bleed velve got stuck and it couldn't start againt the pressure. By the time I went to shut it off, the motor tripped. I notice there was air pissing out the crank case breather. I let it cool down and bled all the air out of the tank, reset the motor overload and it started back up.

Well the air is still pissing out the crank case breather. It still runs and seems to compress air, but it must be bleeding through the head. I haven't taken the head off, but I'm assuming there are probably reed valves in there? I looked online for parts and they do seem available, but only the whole pump unit, belts, motors, etc., not parts of the pump.

Anyone ever had one of these pumps apart? Where does that bleed valve connect to? There is a hose on it that goes under the pump somewhere.

Just to try and ward off any flaming, I've had it for about 5 years and it's served be well. I've used the snot out of it and it was a reconditioned unit I bought off the floor for like $350. I think if I have to get another it's time for a bigger one anyway.

I don't know about that compressor.. But usually when something like that happens,, It's the check valve.. There should be a check valve on the main line going from the pump to the tank.. It's there to keep the air from backing up to the head on the pump,, It sounds like it went out, And is letting all the air in the tank back up to the pump,, When it try's to kick on.. It has all that pressure on top of the piston.. The check valve holds the air back, The little air that comes out after each time it stops, Is bleeding the air off the head.. If the check valve is broken.. It will keep bleeding down and won't stop.. Hope this helps..

 

Thanks for the heads up on the check valve, I'll have to check into it, hopefully that's the problem.

 

He's right, I would bet a dollar against a stale doughnut it's the check valve and that can happen to the best compressors. It is a common problem and almost certainly will turn out to be nothing more than a piece of crud in the valve that needs to be cleaned out. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE ALL THE PRESSURE is relieved from the tank then remove the line/fitting at the top of the tank where the feed line from the pump connects, you should find your problem there. Remember before removing ANY parts from a compressor make sure ALL the pressure is relieved because even a few PSI can hurt you!


BTW, those US General compressors are not junk. They actually are one of the few items of good quality that HF sells and believe it or not they are NOT Chinese! They are actually Made in the USA, tank included, with some of them having genuine Baldor motors on them, only the pump is imported and that is from Italy and is very good European quality.

You owe your compressor an apology!

l

 

Thanks for clearing that up Old Red. Hopefully that is all it is. I have 2 projects to do and this is not a good time to loose my compressor.

 

there are some reed valves. at least on my little 10 gallon 3hp that appears pretty much identical to a Campbell Hausfeld model at Lowes does.. The head gasket did blow on mine. HF couldn't get the parts quick enough and it was in warranty ( hadda come from China ) so the head office made a call to my local store and told them to give me a new 1, which I got, and is the 1 I have had for a year or 2 now working hard and flawless.. 6 months after the return, I recieved a box filled with the parts I initially ordered for the old 1. so there in my tool cabinent just in case this 1 goes south

 

there are some reed valves. at least on my little 10 gallon 3hp that appears pretty much identical to a Campbell Hausfeld model at Lowes does.. The head gasket did blow on mine. HF couldn't get the parts quick enough and it was in warranty ( hadda come from China ) so the head office made a call to my local store and told them to give me a new 1, which I got, and is the 1 I have had for a year or 2 now working hard and flawless.. 6 months after the return, I recieved a box filled with the parts I initially ordered for the old 1. so there in my tool cabinent just in case this 1 goes south

They sent you a head gasket and a set of reed valves? :thumbup: That's the most common thing to happen to those little pumps and if you have the gasket and valves on hand you will be up and running in no time when those reed valves do go and they will eventually, because they have to flex to operate they will eventually fail from fatigue and are just a normal maintenance item.

 

They sent you a head gasket and a set of reed valves? :thumbup: That's the most common thing to happen to those little pumps and if you have the gasket and valves on hand you will be up and running in no time when those reed valves do go and they will eventually, because they have to flex to operate they will eventually fail from fatigue and are just a normal maintenance item.

Actually, I have a new cylinder head, reed valves, head gasket, and a new set of bolts.. I told them what happened to it ( blown gasket ), and my model number, and they created the order for those parts ( under warranty ). it was a week later or so, they told me that the parts were on order to there warehouse in California and that they could call my local store for a return/ exchange if I wanted, which I did. but evidently they never cancelled the repair parts order, because I have them in my tool cabinent.. I run the crap out of the compressor.. paid $120 for it on sale and saved a bunch. and the identical Campbell Hausfeld compressor is in the $300 range with the only diffrence being a diffrent unloader valve and a metal handle.

 

I pulled the check valve - it was sticking. I cleaned it the best I could and it was pretty free, but I put it back in and it still isn't holding so I guess I need a new one. This will be fun.