Compressor Air Regulator Leaking - Help!

M

Melbee

Guest
Hi Folks,
Does anyone know what this hole in my Air Regulator is for?
Mine is leaking air so my compressor keeps running. The hole is obviously purpose made but I don't have a product guide to tell me what it's for. Can I fix it or do I have to buy a whole new Air Regulator unit?

Air Regulator Leak 2-Forum-Small.jpg Air Regulator Leak 1-Forum-Small.jpg
I could take off the red ring and unscrew the Regulator part but it would damage the threads for the red ring so I thought I'd ask what you guys think before I start messing with it.
Thanks for any help, Cheers Mel
 
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The red ring is only a means attaching a mounting bracket, there is no further access to the works from this area, access is gained by unscrewing the glass section underneath.

My guess the is a self sealing gasket broken behind the hole, I wouldn't waste time on it, you can get a new regulator at praxis or a comp shop for around 12 euros although you need to swap the1/8 adaptor.
 
The hole is a pressure relief valve. Too much pressure and it will bleed the air out here. Unscrew the top half and look at the diaphram. It's either torn or stuck/gummed up. It's hard to do because of the ring and will usually break. Just get a new one if you aren't feeling adventurous.
 
The red ring is only a means attaching a mounting bracket, there is no further access to the works from this area, access is gained by unscrewing the glass section underneath.

My guess the is a self sealing gasket broken behind the hole, I wouldn't waste time on it, you can get a new regulator at praxis or a comp shop for around 12 euros although you need to swap the1/8 adaptor.

Really? I can go to Praxis tomorrow and get a new one if they are only €12 ish. Thanks Madbrush.

The hole is a pressure relief valve. Too much pressure and it will bleed the air out here. Unscrew the top half and look at the diaphram. It's either torn or stuck/gummed up. It's hard to do because of the ring and will usually break. Just get a new one if you aren't feeling adventurous.

Yes I thought it was probably a pressure relief valve because of the hole and hoped I could fix it. Luckily it's on my inline air tank so I can disconnect that and carry on airbrushing direct from my compressor. Then I can mess around with the regulator and see if I can do anything and then replace it when I realise I'm too pathetically weak to even unscrew it Ha Ha Ha!! lol:laugh: Thanks for the info Immortal.
 
I've had a similar issue, except it was the pressure relief valve between the tank and the pressure switch.
Mine can't be fixed and I need to replace the entire pressure switch assembly.

If you can get to it, a quick clean and lube might do the job. But regulators are cheap, so I wouldn't stress.
Try and fix it, you will learn something in the process. Just be prepared to replace the regulator if it doesn't go well.
 
I've had a similar issue, except it was the pressure relief valve between the tank and the pressure switch.
Mine can't be fixed and I need to replace the entire pressure switch assembly.

If you can get to it, a quick clean and lube might do the job. But regulators are cheap, so I wouldn't stress.
Try and fix it, you will learn something in the process. Just be prepared to replace the regulator if it doesn't go well.
HiCompleks, I took mine apart at the top last night but couldn't get past a diaphram looking part, maybe I was being too gentle. I eventually took the whole thing off the air tank and tried to take the water trap off the bottom and I couldn't budge it, Monkey Rench en all :laugh:. I can't get a good grip and turn it and the vice couldn't hold it either before it slipped out. Sooooo I gave up lol and I will buy a new one :D

Just make sure you get the 1/8" one.
Good point. I'll make sure there is a 1/8" adapter if it's a 1/4". I tried to take the adapter off this one but I couldn't budge that either, it started stripping the corners of the nut!! lol
 
HiCompleks, I took mine apart at the top last night but couldn't get past a diaphram looking part, maybe I was being too gentle. I eventually took the whole thing off the air tank and tried to take the water trap off the bottom and I couldn't budge it, Monkey Rench en all :laugh:. I can't get a good grip and turn it and the vice couldn't hold it either before it slipped out. Sooooo I gave up lol and I will buy a new one :D


Good point. I'll make sure there is a 1/8" adapter if it's a 1/4". I tried to take the adapter off this one but I couldn't budge that either, it started stripping the corners of the nut!! lol


LOL you need to heat the adaptor first, they all have thread lock on them, but if you can't get it off, Lion Art has all the fittings, I got one from him and he sent it in a normal envelope yo save on post cost, had it next day.
 
LOL you need to heat the adaptor first, they all have thread lock on them, but if you can't get it off, Lion Art has all the fittings, I got one from him and he sent it in a normal envelope yo save on post cost, had it next day.
Aaaah, I'll give it a go. If in doupt ..... burn it LOL lol:laugh: I've just put up another thread about rust in my air tank :( I think that's what could have damaged this Regulator because there are bits of rust in the Water trap when I looked closer. I'm wondering if the Air Tank is knacked too.:thumbsdown:
 
Hi guys, I've found out why my Air Regulator stopped working. Take a look at this!! :shock: :laugh:lol
I will harvest the parts and wait for the new one :):D I had fun taking it apart though and interesting to see the inside .... what's left of it lol
Inside Broken Air Regulator.jpg
 
Well I was right the diaphram was sticking lol. Just a little.this is why I run a moisture trap before and after my reg
 
Well I was right the diaphram was sticking lol. Just a little.this is why I run a moisture trap before and after my reg
I can see why the moisture trap before the Regulator is a good idea now!! lol:laugh: I might reconsider that option lol And yes your were right Immortal!!
 
One simple preventative measure is to lightly spray silicone into the regulator and wipe off the excess.
This stops moisture attacking the internal parts and also stops water building up where it'll damage stuff.
Makes the whole deal last longer in good working order.
 
Unless the silicone leeches into the air supply then contaminates your paint... if you just protect your reg from moisture it will be just fine. Drain that tank after every use. I drain mine every hour and it is hooked up to a 30ft shop hose then into a smaller 10 gallon tank then through water trap, regulator then pistol grip.
 
One simple preventative measure is to lightly spray silicone into the regulator and wipe off the excess.
This stops moisture attacking the internal parts and also stops water building up where it'll damage stuff.
Makes the whole deal last longer in good working order.

We need to be very careful when using silicones, all silicones give off a vapour even long after it dries, this vapour is detrimental to all paints except of course silicone based paints which we as painters and decorators would use in situations where silicone is present, it's easy to see if silicone if present, you will see cissing (fish eye) in affected areas similar to what happens with pigment migration.

In my job we have additive which is simply called "anti-silicone" which we can mix with our paint, one for water based and one for oil based, the problem with this stuff is that although it works fine it seriously reduces the original quality of the paints it's used for, it causes the paints to remain a little soft after drying and paints that are listed as being scratch proof are no longer scratch proof since the chemical make up of the paint has been changed, some water based paints will take up to three times longer to dry and the risk of runs will be a lot higher.


My advice is to avoid the use of silicones altogether especially where paint will be used, there alternatives.

These regulators are so cheap to buy and generally cost less, in some cases a lot less than a new needle depending on the airbrush, so I would recommend simply buying a new regulator and an extra one as back up, although with some more expensive regulators it's possible to buy separate parts for them, if I ever pull anything like this apart I do that only to find out how it works, anything under 20 dollars I would just buy new one unless it was a two minute fix.
 
This is why I like urethane lol, you can add a drop of transmission fluid to your paint and your airlines could be full of oil and it would still stick lol. Don't recommend it but it's realistic situation I've had experience with. At home I'm a clean freak for contamination. I have a home only airbrush and equipment as well with paints.
 
What does the transmission fluid do?
Prevent the oil contamination of the paint? Disperse it or break it down?
Wouldn't it attatch itself to the airlines and other components of the system?
Sounds like a severe remedy to me, but as you say, realistic solution to urgent problem.
 
It contaminates the paint so it becomes compatible with any other contaminates in the system. It's now marketed as fisheye eliminator, same stuff. I've had issues with fisheye doing kandy overlays in someone else's shop. Couldn't find the source of the contaminate for 3 days. Finally figures out he was using diesel fuel instead of karosene in the shop heater so the paint booth was full of oil in the air. So a drop to my kandy and no more issues. Drop in the clear and everything ok. It runs weekends all over the US in a pro class pull tractor and has yet to fail.
 
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