Retired UK.
Aluminum
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2012
- Location
- Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield, UK.
Hi,
Has any member got one of these Hydrovane compressors and had problems with it? I've just bought mine and feel like I've been conned because when I collected it the seller ran it for me and I watched as air pressure came up to around 110 psi in about five seconds which was most impressive; once it reached this pressure the seller opened the air outlet valve fully venting to atmosphere and I was amazed to see the pressure drop to around 85 psi and hold there so I happily handed over £300 cash; this Hydrovane appeared perfect for me and would replace my extremely noisy 3 hp twin cylinder compressor.
However when I switched the compressor on at home I found if I left the air valve closed the pressure came up correctly to 110 psi then after a few seconds it started to slowly increase until it ran into the red zone on the gauge. I have the correct Hydrovane manual and this states the usual cause of this problem to be the "unloader Valve". I've stripped the valve and initially cleaned the dirty PTFE valve sealing washer and replaced all the associated "O" rings but the problem persisted. I then removed the valve again and made a new valve sealing washer out of Whale Tufnol. The problem still persists so yesterday for the umpteenth time I removed the valve and turned a new valve piston out of meehanite giving tighter tolerances because the original piston is showing signs of wear between valve stem and valve guide bore. Still no luck and it's highly frustrating to watch the pressure gauge needle climb so slowly into the red. I've also serviced the Servo Valve. After ten minutes running the compressor starts to feel quite hot on the vane casing.
After running the compressor for about ten minutes not allowing the pressure to reach the red zone then switching off shortly after oil begins to drip from the bottom flange hole of the motor?
Given the amount of work already carried out on the two valves I think the fault now surely to be elsewhere; although at the moment I feel like I've been mugged I still like this Hydrovane and intend to repair it one way or the other.
Any suggestions please as to what could be wrong with this compressor?
Kind regards, Col.
Has any member got one of these Hydrovane compressors and had problems with it? I've just bought mine and feel like I've been conned because when I collected it the seller ran it for me and I watched as air pressure came up to around 110 psi in about five seconds which was most impressive; once it reached this pressure the seller opened the air outlet valve fully venting to atmosphere and I was amazed to see the pressure drop to around 85 psi and hold there so I happily handed over £300 cash; this Hydrovane appeared perfect for me and would replace my extremely noisy 3 hp twin cylinder compressor.
However when I switched the compressor on at home I found if I left the air valve closed the pressure came up correctly to 110 psi then after a few seconds it started to slowly increase until it ran into the red zone on the gauge. I have the correct Hydrovane manual and this states the usual cause of this problem to be the "unloader Valve". I've stripped the valve and initially cleaned the dirty PTFE valve sealing washer and replaced all the associated "O" rings but the problem persisted. I then removed the valve again and made a new valve sealing washer out of Whale Tufnol. The problem still persists so yesterday for the umpteenth time I removed the valve and turned a new valve piston out of meehanite giving tighter tolerances because the original piston is showing signs of wear between valve stem and valve guide bore. Still no luck and it's highly frustrating to watch the pressure gauge needle climb so slowly into the red. I've also serviced the Servo Valve. After ten minutes running the compressor starts to feel quite hot on the vane casing.
After running the compressor for about ten minutes not allowing the pressure to reach the red zone then switching off shortly after oil begins to drip from the bottom flange hole of the motor?
Given the amount of work already carried out on the two valves I think the fault now surely to be elsewhere; although at the moment I feel like I've been mugged I still like this Hydrovane and intend to repair it one way or the other.
Any suggestions please as to what could be wrong with this compressor?
Kind regards, Col.