Oh Bu**er!

[mailee]

Well I thought I was lucky of late getting so many bargains but I guess the law of averages rings true today. My compressor has gone on the blink and wouldn't you beleive it it is out of it's guarantee....just! Has anyone any idea what the problem may be with it? so far the symptoms are: It won't build up pressure above 50PSI and just keeps pumping, when I stop it with the red button on the top it bleeds air out of the switch for about 15 secs or so and once it has stopped air can be felt escaping from the filler to the crankcase? I am assuming it is the rings at fault which would surprise me as it has hardly had any use so far. It is a Sealey compressor of 3HP with a 'V' twin direct drive pump mounted on a 50 LTR cylinder and was brand new back in April 07. Not too happy about it I can tell you.

[colincott]

Mailee

I dont know a lot about them but have you tried giving Sealy a ring or email about.
Some company's can be surprising

I will cross my fingers as well
Regards Colin

[engineerone]

if it was only bought in april 07, and was brand new to you, then i would suggest you write to them and claim under warranty.

although i stand to be corrected, the law basically says that goods must be of merchantable quality for a reasonable period of time. a 6 month warranty which is what you imply, is not i think a reasonable period.

there have been plenty of times when car companies have been made to take back cars outside their warranty periods because they were at the time unreasonable.

it could be a problem with seals since i would think the piston does not have rings in the old fashioned manner. have you checked the electrics too if it is not switching off, then that may cause all your other problems.

call sealey, and have a dialogue with them.

as an example many computer manufacturers and electricity retailers only offer 12 month guarantees/ warranties but many of the components have 3-5 year manufacturer warranties, so you have to check that out.

paul

[Scrit]

I'd hazard a guess that it's the pressure (release) switch, like this one. This switch turns the pump on when pressure drops below a certain point and off when a threshold level has been reached. You could try adjusting it, but I've found these switches to be somewhat cantankerous and prone to premature failure

Scrit

[mailee]

Yes Scrit I think you are right it is very similar to that one having a red raised button on the top of it instead. I don't want to play around with it yet as I have just e-mailed the company I bought it from to see what their response is. Engineer one is correct in saying it should still be under a warranty as it was purchased in April of this year so I will go for that angle. I have however replaced the line guage as the other gave up a few weeks after buying it! Sounds like I could have a Friday afternoon job here doesn't it?

[engineerone]

mailee can't remember whether you are a full time chippie, but some of the rules in relation to the sale of goods act do not necessarily apply to the tradesman. however that is no excuse, the product is not fit for purpose, and the retailer has to replace it. they cannot put the blame on the importer or manufacturer.

i guess a lot depends on whether or not you are a big customer of the retailer.

use a big stick and talk to trading standards if you need to.

paul

[pj]

Could possibly be a sticky non-return valve between the heads and tank, if one is fitted, or sticky/dirty valves in the one of the heads. A sticky valve will let air from the tank blow by the rings thus pressurising the crankcase and also not allow you to build up good pressure.


Philip

[mailee]

Got a reply back from the shop I bought it from yesterday and he suggested I try the non return valve to the tank after consultaion with the Sealey engineer, I tried it already and notified him now he is going to have another word with the engineer and has also asked for my address to get it picked up if necessary to repair or replace under the warranty.