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Based on the comments and questions on this site about why Porter Cable pancake compressors will not build pressure, it’s an ongoing problem. Here are a few more.
If you have your own about a Porter Cable pancake style air compressor that won’t build pressure any more, you can post it at the end of this page and get some help.
Porter Cable 6 gal pancake compressor wont build pressure
by Frank
(Ottawa Ontario Canada )
Hi my porter cable 6 gal pancake compressor type 2 only builds to 40 psi and won’t shut off , any suggestions ? thanks.
Porter Cable WILL NOT BUILD UP ANY PRESSURE
by Joe Picard
(Burkburnett, Tx)
Bill,
I have a Porter Cable 25 Gal upright 135 PSI Model # CPF 6025UP.
Motor runs great, pulling air thru inlet but no pressure at all. Checked all plumbing no leaks. I really can’t figure this one out. Ant ideas ?
_____________________
Hello Joe.
You’ve ruled out the valve issue by checking that the intake port is actually drawing in air and not blowing it back out. That suggests that valve is fine.
Do the same for the line that goes to the tank from the pump head, and be sure that air is being pumped out strongly. Try to stop it with a gloved finger. You shouldn’t be able to.
If there are no leaks, all other things being good on your air compressor as they seem to be, my guess would be a gasket failure under pressure inside the pump.
Cheers,
Bill
Porter Cable air pressure will not build past 60 psi
by ryan
(calgary )
the tank air pressure will not build past 60 psi, and the regulated pressure will not go past 60 as well. bought the tank new ran for 2 years.. 5 days a week. i am thinking piston ring,
Add a question about your Porter Cable compressor and its problem with building pressure?
Use the form below. Add a photo or two too, K?
My Porter Cable pancake compressor has ridden in the bed of my pickup (under a bed cover) for about a year. I wanted to use it last weekend, and it won’t pump up. I hear only hissing, not the normal growling, and no pressure builds. I have checked the front pressure release valve. I’m not sure what to try, and does hauling it cause damage?
Thanks, Richard
Could’ve rotted out…did you close the tank drain valve?
The hissing is coming from the top.
If there’s a 1/4 or so tube running from near the tank back to the pressure switch, that would be an unloader. The pressure switch leaves that open when it’s stopped, and is supposed to close when the motor is running. If that’s not the case, you may be able to repair the switch, or replace it. A repair would probably be un-jamming the mechanism that got messed up bouncing around in the pickup.
Do you have a model for this thing?
My compressor struggles to reach 50 psi then keeps turning off and on. It doesn’t seem to leak, but doesn’t build enough pressure.
Sounds like the motor is overheating, then auto-resets, ad infinitum.
Got a model number for it?
You say struggles – as in motor sounds bad, or it just builds pressure slowly as it approaches 50psi?
My compressor go up to 70 psi ,even if I let it run for awhile.What is the problem ?
It’s not working right.
Have you checked any of the things mentioned above?
If that doesn’t lead to a fix, give model number along with test results.
Bought a porter cable 6 gal pancake and it will not build any pressure from out of the box! Leaks from the top!
Gerald
Online? If not, take it back.
Otherwise, what model and leaking from the top of what? Pix are better than words.
I have the 6 gallon pancake. I would not build pressure over 110 pounds. I replaced the piston ring. cylinder, valve plate, gaskets, outlet tube seal, and regulator(my old one didn’t adjust too well). Now it will go to 120 if I let it run long enough. lol Never shuts off. I thought for sure all this would make it like new again but no!
Sure sounds like you got a leak.
It’s supposed to cut out at a 150psi or so?
Yeah, I know but I sure can’t find one even with liquid soap. I guess I will play some more. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow. lol
A couple of admittedly unlikely possibles…
Gauge that leaks (badly) internally at 110 or so.
Wonky check valve that doesn’t seal above 110.
Is this a c2006? Which version?
Really funny. I took the head off again yesterday and just inspected stuff. Put it back together and walked away from it as it is loud. I swore I could hear a hissing noise. Walked back over to it and felt around all the fittings and didn’t feel anything. All of a sudden I hear a little snap like noise and hissing went away and it built to 150 psi and shut off. Can’t be sure but it sounded like the little snap came from under the pressure switch. Could be that little fitting there I guess. It is a… Read more »
Almost for sure what you had there a was a stuck-open unloader valve (in the pressure switch).
Solid chance it’ll be OK without doing anything. If you’re adventurous, you could take it apart to see if maybe some lube or removing a foreign object would help/fix it.
In any case, good luck.
Bill my 6gal 2.6 SCFM Will not build pressure past 50psi, any ideas
Hey Bibby. Have a look at the following pages, and if you still have questions afterwards, please leave a comment with them, K?
https://about-air-compressors.com/compressor-why-not-build-pressure/
Pancake compressor, replaced tube seal, head gaskets. Still won’t pressurize, plus hose going into tank seems to be really warm, quite a bit more than I remember, Any thoughts/ideas?
Runs and runs but doesn’t build pressure? Hose / pipe going into tank getting hotter is a by product of the pump heating up, possibly because it’s running too long and heat also building from a too hot motor.
You replaced the head gaskets, but were there valves there as well? What condition were they, if so?