Compressor won’t give its rated CFM output anymore

by Maxime Emard
(Jonquière, QC)

Hi!

I've looked for an existing thread with the same problem as I but the guy's compressor was costum built so it might not help me.

My Ingersoll Rand’s SS3L3 air compressor won’t give its rated CFM output anymore. I looked for that kind of issue in the troubleshooting section of the manual to find what could be the cause but I can’t seem to find anything which describes my problem exactly. These days, the compressor won’t even run a simple 4 CFM mini air die grinder which worked flawlessly during the last 2 years. It’s even worse when I try to use tools that are almost using the maximum rated flow output entirely. I can assure you that even those tools worked flawlessly in the last two years.

Here’s what I tried to fix the problem:

1) Checked line voltage.
2) Cleaned/checked beltwheel, motor pulley and drive belt (checked tension also).
3) Changed air filter.
4) Inspected lines for leaks.
5) Lubricant drain and refill (I do this twice every year).
6) Inspected safety valves.

The lubricant level is constant so I don’t think the cylinders or pistons are scratched. I’ve never used anything else than Ingersoll Rand’s T30 Select Synthetic lubricant in the pump and there is more than 12 inches between the compressor and the walls.

I wonder if you could help me with this problem because now the compressor can’t even keep a 90 PSI dynamic pressure for tools I have used continuously at this very pressure during 2 years. In the case of smaller tools, the compressor would even take over and stop its cycle at 135 PSI while running the tool. Now for a 4 CFM die grinder the pressure drops to 60 in 2 minutes even thought the pump seems to be running at full speed.

My guess is that there is something wrong with the valves at the top of the pump, but since the compressor is almost brand new and hasn't been used excessively during the two years I've worked with it, I would like to be sure before opening the head of the pump and have to replace the gasket.

__________________________
Bill says...

Bonjour, Maxime;

When you have no air draw from the tank, to what level does the pressure in the tank rise to, the normal cut out pressure?

If it does get to the normal cut out pressure, does it do some in about the normal time frame?

There are a great many reasons why any compressor will not build pressure and those are linked from the troubleshooting page, under the "won't build pressure" link.

Cheers,

Bill