Compressor pump blowing oil out the breather hole.

by Johnny
(Cedar Bluff,VA)

Bill,
Ok let me try this again.I am talking about the thing the arrow is pointing to.
Johnny

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Bill answers...

Hi Johnny:

What a marvel a photo is. Now I can clearly see what it is you are talking about. I thought from your first question that we were talking about the black inlet filter we can see on the top right of the compressor head in your photo.

In terms of the hole (where you used to have a vent plug) beside the arrow in the picture, you can either visit your hardware store and ask for a vent plug (usually made of sintered brass) or visit your local fluid power shop and ask for a brass valve muffler that's the right NPT size to fit the threaded hole where your vent used to be.

Lubricating holes commonly have a vent plug since the lubricating oil / grease gets consumed in the normal operation of the unit, and if there were not a vent, then in time, the oil that was consumed would leave a vacuum, creating problems.

So the vent plug you need provides both a method for letting air and not crud into the lube area, and stops the oil from splashing out when the machine is operating.

The vent shouldn't cost more than a couple of bucks.

Hope this helps, and thanks for writing back in.


Bill

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Original inquiry:

I have an older model Speedaire air compressor with a Speedaire 2Z499B compressor pump.I let a freind borrow it and he somehow lost the breather to it and now it blows oil out of the hole when running.I have looked all over the internet for a replacement breather for it but i have had no luck.Is there a way i can fix this or another brand breather i can use.Thanks for any help or suggestions.

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Bill answers...

Hello Johnny:

When you talk about the breather hole, I'm understanding that you are talking about the air intake?

If so, I see that you've got two problems.

One, your air intake isn't protected with an air filter (which would normally be in the "breather cap") and two, what's with the oil blowing out the hole?

It sounds like you've got oil blowing by the piston seals, and then, the reed or check valve that's inside the intake port isn't working, allowing that oil to get exhausted out through the intake when the piston is in compression stroke.

As to parts, please visit the home page, click on the Speedaire link in the nav bar, and follow the guidelines to locating your local source for Speedaire parts.

I'm thinking you've got quite a bit more to be concerned about than just the intake cap though.

Good luck,

Bill