Air compressor problem

Does anyone know anything about the above?
Ive had mine for a number of years and never had a problem with it.
Used it for air tools etc, and has proved to be a good one.
It has been laid up in my auld man's garage since moving back in with my parents at the end of september.
I went to use it today, and it just clicks and blows the plug in the fuse. Changed the fuse 3 times in case it was a faulty fuse, but it seems to be seized or something.
There doesnt seem to be anywhere that can be grabbed to check if it has seized, like a pulley.
Help please.
I'll add the make and model once ive been back in the garage, coz I forgot. :oops:

Bought it at Machinemart.

Photo please.
Some of them have a wee cover over the back of the electric motor to protect the wee plastic fan. You should be able to pop it off and see if the motor turns.
Some have a spring loaded decompression valve on the cylinder head so that the pump can get up to speed without resistance but usually these fail and it doesn't compress rather than sticking shut and stopping the motor turning.
When was the last time you purged the tank to get rid of water from condensation?
:ttiwwp:

Last edited by Kevin1964 on Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Sounds like the electric motor has got damp inside keith...I had that on my old compressor ages ago and it turned out i would have been better to have covered up the electrics before storage...I didn't and ended up with your same problem. You maybe able to pull the motor apart and force dry it out or stick the motor in the airing cupboard for a few days as i did....Normally clarke compressors are very reliable but you do get the odd rogue unit. Model is of help but try turning the motor pully unless its the oiless type and won't have one you can get to

It happened to mine, it had run out of oil, so with nothing to loose I started to strip it but first filled up the oil and turned it by hand, then before taking the top off tried it with the wiring, it made a horrible noise but kicked into life, been working great since

Has it got an RCD on the circuit in your fuse box, only its unlikely that a damp motor would blow the fuse and not trip the rcd if its low insulation...

Have you got a meggar that you can use to test the motor?

Also where is it clicking before it takes out the fuse, and I am guessing you are replacing fuses with 13a jobbies not 3's or 5's :wink:

Some knowledgeable replies here rifleman. Mine squawks when the belt gets loose and it needs to be drained of water regularly and the oil needs to be checked now and again. Sorry not to be more helpful.

Thanks for the replies guys.
Yes the correct fuse size is being used.
The click is coming from somewhere on the main body.
This one doesnt have a belt.
The air tank is drained regularly and the valve is left finger tight until next in use.
Greg, dont know what a meggar is mate, and the RCD on the garage wall wasnt tripped.
I'll have a decent look at it when I can and see what I can come up with, and let you all know what happens.
I appreciate the input very much.
Just thought, I havent checked the oil level. :oops:

Only been a mechanic for 34 years too. :oops:

Pull the head and see if the piston can be moved, if its seized then unsieze like you would an engine (lubricant down bore, not 2x2 and a hammer the pistons are fragile!)...
Clicking though....makes me think that your compressor has a cutout of some sort...has it got a relay/switch unit attached to the tank...sounds like that could be clicking...cant see a motor clicking, normally compressors use an induction motor and cap so nothing to click..
disconnect the motor supply from the switch/pressureswitch/cutout thing and hard wire to your plug and see if the motor then fires up...

They do have a cut out. Mine in the winter has frozen a couple of times when it was -8, I had to put the heater in front of it before it would kick over. It would do exactly as you described. try to turn then cut out. It could be rusted up a bit. You will have a plastic shroud on the direct drive type covering the fan, just a few screws to get it off. try turning the fan. Check the reset/overload button.

Some good info in this thread. Mine was getting a little out of puff. When I drained it after reading this thread there must have been at least a litre of water in it. :oops:

Last edited by Rifleman on Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

OK, got it sorted now.
I removed the protective top cover and turned the fan by hand to make sure the motor was free. And it was.
Checked and topped up the oil level, although it wasnt too low.
I then removed the air filter cover, and got the shock of my life. The inside of the cover was covered in a thick black oily substance, so I cleaned it all off. I removed the air filter, which is a doughnut shaped sponge, to find it covered in the same stuff.
It also has fell apart in its housing and bits of it had fell into the manifold intake holes.
Cleared it all out, replaced the fuse in the plug, and "hey presto". I now have a running compressor again, yipee.
Ive put the air filter cover back on without a filter until I can source a new one.
Nice cheap repair. :dance:

Well done fella, glad you got it sorted :wink:

CheersGreg, ive just realised i didnt put up the photos, so i'll just go and edit it. :oops: