Electrical is fine but will not start

by Nick
(Melbourne, Australia)

I've checked the electricity source and is all in working order, however the compressor isn't could it be an issue with the oil? could a compressor not start due to an oil issue?

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Bill says...

Hi Nick:

The first thing I would do is turn it off and/or pull the plug, open the tank drain valve, and bleed the air to zero. Close the drain valve.

Plug it back in and/or turn it back on. Anything happen?

If the compressor starts, that often points to the Unloader valve as being the issue. Check out that page linked from the Valves page.

If nothing happens, then you need to give me some more info. When you plug it in, or flip the pressure switch toggle or the on/off switch to on, does anything happen at all?

And yes, if you have run the compressor for some time without oil, and it is an oil lubed compressor, just like a car engine, the pump might overheat and seize. If that happens, and the motor continues to try to drive the pump and cannot, then the motor can overheat and also self-destruct.

Post a bit more information about your compressor on this thread, and myself, as well as the thousands of other people that visit this site, will try to help.

Cheers,

Bill