Sears Compressor trouble

[fdmars]

I have a small sears air compressor, says draws 10.5 amps, when I try to run it, it just clicks on and off. There is a contact behind the fan that will not hold and allow it to start and run smoothly. any ideas as to why?
Thanks Fred

 

[PILOON]

Probably that contact thing is a circuit breaker.

Could be it is border line rated and start kicks it out.

You could always try to jumper bypass it as I had to do on my cheepy compressor.
That being said you would no longer have protection but perhaps a usable compressor that you would then watch closely for overheating.
(Mine has been bypassed for years now without issues, besides your household circuits are protected at the power pannel.)

Good luck.

 

[Raspy]

PILOON,

Are you running it on an extension cord? If so try plugging it in directly.

 

[jimmer2880]

I had a portable compressor, that needed to be plugged directly into the wall. If it wasn't, it would pop the breaker every time (either the one on the compressor, or the one in the panel).

 

[Thomas]

Sounds like dirty contact,can you remover and lighty clean w/plumbers cleaning pad.

 

[whistlepig]

Is it one of the "oil less" models?

 

[skipmarcy]

Another possibility not mentioned yet is if it has an unloader valve like my Craftsman that is stuck - it won't let it start if the valve is stuck an didn't dump the last time the compressor cut off. Mine will stick maybe once a year or so.

 

[fdmars]

will try to plug in wall, and post a few pics shortly. Thanks

 

[Qapla]

If you are going to plug into an extension cord, make sure it is at least 12 gage. Smaller wires will not carry the load correctly.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would also check to make sure nothing is stuck. I had a Campbell Hausfeild one that had a stuck motor or something and I had to remove the cover and just give it a little budge and off it went.

Chris

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have one of those Sears oiless compressor and the little on/off switch got jimmied up and I had to take it apart and clean and reset it before it would run. Someone had forced it to turn in the opposite direction and contact were messed up.