Motor runs great, but pressure does not build in the tanks

by Darwyn Koch
(British Columbia)

Hi

I was given a Kawasaki 2 tank 5 gallon compressor by a friend who is frustrated with the fact that the motor runs fine but it seems like there is no pressure building up. It is only a couple of years old and worked fine for him for about 6 months.

I suspect that it is a check value problem, but I have never had to troubleshoot air compressors. Can you suggest what the problem, or problems are?

Also, do you know where I can get a owners manual for this air compressor?

It is an 840703 Kawasaki 5 gallon twin tank air compressor.

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Bill says...

Darwin, regarding the manual, go to the troubleshooting pages and open the one that says Manual Needed, and post your request there with full info on your compressor.

When your compressor is running, you say there is no air going into the tanks. Carefully remove the intake filter and feel if there is suction or huffing. If suction, that part is working good. If huffing, then you may have an intake valve failure.

Quite often the problem of a compressor running with no pressure buildup is a failure in the gasket inside the head of the pump. If your unit is pulling in air, that's where I would look next.

Good luck,

Bill