Craftsman Air Compressor - buzzes and wont fill?
Question:model information: 125 PSI 4 Gal 1 HP Craftsman Air Compressor.
When I plug it in it makes a buzzing sound but then nothing. No motor noise or anything.
Anyone have an idea what I can have checked? Sears doesn't have a repair facility here so it will be way drawn out to send it in for repair there.
Answers:
the buzzing noise is your motor trying to start until knocks its overload.on some motors there is an external overload you can push to reset about 5 minutes after it knocks.It will be a little red button on the back or side or the motor...on other motors it is an internal overload and will reset itself in about five minutes.there is a few problems that can cause this buzzing noise...1 start capacitors are blowed...these are under the caps on the top of the motor if it has one...will be black in color and will be reated in Mfds .2 bad start switch or govenor inside of motor...3 bad motor start windings 4 if your compressor has air pressure in the tank and this pressure is not bled off the compressor heads the motor will not be able to start it until pressure is very low...there usually is a check valve between the compressor and the tank that keeps the pressure off of the compressor heads once your pressure switch bleeds the air out of your compressor..if your compressor bleeds the air off, your switch will have a small copper tube going from the compreesor to the side of the swtich...
sound's like you have a motor problem how old is it? I would call sears 800 # maybe you can talk to a tech.
If you are trying to run that thing off a thin electric cord it wont work I have an compressure like yours and it does that when I plug it directly to the plug socket its fine. Also the filter needs cleaned once in awhile, the tank should be drained of any moisture buildup to.
If it is still under warranty anything you do could void it.
That said here is some of the things I might try.
Make sure nothing is blocking the belt or pulley or if it is a direct drive make sure the shaft and coupling isn't jammed with something.
Unhook the motor from the compressor and see if it turns by itself. If it does then you know the motor is OK, if not the motor is cooked.
If the motor works when not hooked up, the compressor has something wrong with it. If you can get to the shaft try to turn it, if there is a coupling there use a pry bar or a big screw driver in the jaws to get leverage. Try it back and forth to see if you can turn it by hand. If it turns, you can really start scratching your head because that means nothing is wrong.
Good luck
that is the pressure control switch on the side.If the motor was bad..it would continue buzzing..when you initially plug it in the switch kicks in, and then is sensing that it needs no attention then cuts back off..also do not start a compressor on a already partial or full tank...that will lag the motor as well..if you want to make sure it isnt the motor out of curiosity... make sure tank is @ zero pressure..take the cover off of the little square box mounted on it(pressure control box/switch)loosen the screws coming from the motor..plug them directly into a receptacle...yess you can twist the wires and insert directly in ..and see if that motor spins for you.usually a bad motor will hum constantly instead of humming a few seconds then quit
If this is an oilless compressor you need a rebuild kit. Easy to do.
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