California Air Tool compressor problems

[David Shombert]

A bit off topic, perhaps, but maybe some of you can offer some guidance. I have a small air compressor made by California Air Tools, model 2010A. It’s not capable of much beyond blowing chips out of a hollow form or cleaning up around the lathe, but I use it for those things quite a bit. I’ve had it for about ten years. A few weeks ago, it developed an air leak right around the red-handled valve that acts as a regulator (I think). At that time, I tried to call the factory for their suggestions but no one ever answered the phone. Left a message and no one called back. It looked to me like it was just the O-ring seal around that fitting, so I got a new one at Ace and that did the trick - until now. It started leaking again, and a new O-ring isn’t doing the trick. Tried to call the mfr. again and got the same recording; my call "was very important to them and I was number one in the queue", but no one ever picked up. Looks like they’re not going to be much help.

I live in Harrisonburg, VA, and so far have not been able to locate anyone who might be able to fix it. If the mfr. has an authorized service center anywhere in the Shenandoah Valley, I’ll happily take it there but I have no way of finding out if they exist. I like this little machine, it’s served me well and is in fine shape otherwise. Does anyone know of a place to get it serviced in my part of the world? And if that doesn’t work out, can anyone recommend an alternative - something more or less the same size (but NOT made by California Air Tools)?

 

[Gord Cameron]

This might not be the same leak, but I have this compressor and it developed a leak in the regulator shortly after I got it. The notable thing about the leak was that it only leaked while the compressor motor was running, so it was a leak in the unloader valve. The CAT service people were prompt and helpful, but for some reason I can't recall I ended up solving the problem fairly inexpensively by ordering a new regulator from Amazon. I was in contact by email, but I don't know if this email address is still operative: customerservice@californiaairtools.com

 

[Dean Center]

California Air Tools doesn't do support work. For a while, they told people to go to a third party service outfit, but that second group got tired of customer complaints. They had never agreed to be the official customer support arm for Cal Air. Until they got tired of it, they were pretty good help. As Gord points out, most of the components are standard items which can be obtained from Internet sources. The switch is such an item, it's the least expensive one available, and reasonably easy to replace. If you've gotten 10 years out of your compressor, you've done real well.

 

[Gord Cameron]

David, start by using some dish soap or soapy water to see if you can find the leak: the water will make soap bubbles where the air is leaking. If replacing the O ring worked for a while, that connection was probably the leak and it might just need another O ring.

But if the problem is inside the air pressure switch itself, it is cheap and easy to get another one. The one I got from Amazon for my little CAT compressor was called "Lefoo Quality Air Compressor Pressure Switch Control 95-125 PSI 4 Port w/unloader LF10-4H-1-NPT 1/4-95-125". It was about $20 and it has worked since I installed it a few years ago. Note that you probably need a 4 port switch such as the one described above, but just take off the one on your compressor and match it with the pictures of those for sale, I found it to be a simple swap.

 

[Brian Gustin]

As Gord and Dean mention, you could pretty much build your own air compressor from available spare parts on Amazon if you ever wanted to go that route, but it'd cost far more than buying a new one... but if you got several years out of the original pieces, extending the life of your machine would likely be well worth it , until you find you'd be spending 40% - 50% -60% of the cost of a new one... I have an ancient 1960's era air compressor that still runs and makes air (Though tank has developed a pinhole air leak in the bottom so its days are numbered anyhow) I've replaced control units a couple times over the last 40 or so years... If I get around to replacing that beast, I'll probably part it out as the pump, motor, etc are still in perfect working order....

 

[Mark Jundanian]

tank has developed a pinhole air leak in the bottom

Does a pin hole leak increase the chance of the tank rupturing?

 

[David Shombert]

Wow, thanks fellas. This is all very helpful, I’m glad to know so many components of this thing are available on Amazon. Even better news: I put the thing back together today with a new O-ring and so far (knocks on wood) it’s working fine.

Looking at the Lefoo parts on Amazon, I’m not sure I understand what the various components are. Here’s a photo of the part that was giving me trouble:



I assume this is the pressure regulator - ?. I didn’t see this part by itself on Amazon, but maybe I just didn’t scroll far enough down. But there’s the entire assembly that this is part of for about $30, and from more than one supplier. Good to know.

 

[Paul C. Jackson]

Does a pin hole leak increase the chance of the tank rupturing?

By "rupturing" I assume you mean failing in a way as to send chunks of metal flying. Chances of this are very low but not zero. Steel corrodes slowly and develops pinholes rather than failing catastrophically. If the pinholes connect into a fissure, then bad things could happen.
As Brian said, "its days are numbered".

 

[Mark Jundanian]

By "rupturing" I assume you mean failing in a way as to send chunks of metal flying. Chances of this are very low but not zero. Steel corrodes slowly and develops pinholes rather than failing catastrophically. If the pinholes connect into a fissure, then bad things could happen.
As Brian said, "its days are numbered".

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of the "fissure" idea, but accompanied by a really, really loud bang.