Dead Air Tool

Hello Guys and Gals. Have several "Cheap" air tools in my shop that are
somewhat new but have stopped working. I have oiled them before each use and all they will do now is blow out air and not do any work. Nothing sands,drills or hammers.I'm sure someone on the board has run into this deal and may have fixed the problem some how.Tried "Search" on sites but
have nothing that will help. I even tried the "Garage Jour."but have found nothing.Thanks so very much for your time and talent.

 

I have taken them apart and found the vanes stuck or broken... stuck, you can clean and maybe get them working again, broken..you can recycle the aluminum and look for a new cheapie

 

I have a 90* angle grinder that needs a "spin start". It frustrates the heck out of me... It is a good brand too. I believe it is from water going through. I have some buddies who work with big compressors and they say the only dependable way to get rid of water is an air drier...

 

Thanks Willy. That is a good start.

 

Stuck vanes and or stuck ball bearings. Both from water.

The vanes move in and out on each revolution because of the off center of the bore that they need to operate. So some vanes are in all the way when not in use, and if stuck, they can't be pushed by the air. The air just blows by, like missing piston rings.

Take them apart, might as well try. The worst one I did was an air ratchet...lots of little pieces and they were tough to get back in there...but I got it

 

A friend of mine had an old Snap-on impact gun that stopped working, he took it apart and honed the cylinder and resurfaced the vanes and then re***embled it. He said its been working great ever since.

 

What are you oiling them with? There's specific air tool oil of course, but if your air supply had enough moisture in it I could see it reacting with a lesser grade oil and maybe gumming up the works. Seen guys use Marvel Mystery Oil too. Don't know if it works any better or if they just like the smell after they hit the trigger for the first time. Seen A/T fluid used as well.

 

My CP impact got weak on me over time, turns out my auto oiler was set too high. Cleaned it out and it runs like a champ.

Sounds like you need to tear into it to find out what's up.

 

Thanks fellows.I have used CP air oil for 30years.I think
that they may need just a good cleaning as you all have stated.
Thanks so much again for helping an old man !!!!!!! LOL

 

I use Marvel mystery oil because it usually overcomes the water if you put it in right before you store it or if you see alot of water coming through. I have a dryer but when you are using airtools all day, you still get some, need to work out a better cooling loop for mine.... the cheap tools seem to get like a black graphite built up in the residual oil on the vanes and this is what makes it stick....mostly if they sit for a while it tends to loose the oil and harden a bit. I look at it as periodic maintenance, I do it to my cheaper tools and my Snap=on and Mac airtools, all very similar in design...

 

also it is best to oil your tools at the end of the day and then give the trigger a quick blurb this will get the oil into the tool and hopefully displace the water
Jesse

 

i always run some wd40 through mine...

 

Great way to ruin air tools and the o-ring seals.

 

I got pissed off and stopped oiling my DA sander because it would spit little droplets of oil out on the car. Then I'd hit them with the disc, and I'm spreading oil all over the car. I figure I'd rather wear out the cheap DA, than have an expensive paint job fail. I hate not oiling it, because nothing beats a DA, but I don't know any other solution.

 

5 little drops of that stuff is all you need for a day's worth of work...

 

I have had this problem before. I figured out that if it does that to take a little lacquer thinner and pour a little in where you hook the air hose up to the tool. just a little, less than a teas**** usually. Shake it up, pour out and maybe do it again. last time you do it it'll be cleaner. The re-oil and use it. It cleans out all the oil and sludge that builds up and freezes. Drain your airline and tank quite often

 

You definately have moisture in your lines. Run a small bit of laquer thinner through the tool sure to shake it and get it in all the nooks inside.Empty it out and oil it up. Repeat if necessary. I dont reccommend this as a daily practice, but should suffice well enough to get your tools working again.

-Preventative measures- Purchase an in line moisture filter and drain your tank from the bottom bleeder after every 6 hrs or so of run time. $20 and 5 minutes of your time will save you $100's in air tool replacements and constant cleanings.

-Good luck

 

Thanks again Guys. Will try everything you all said.

 

PBblaster makes an air tool conditioner, seems to work O.K.

dave

 

When I used to buy my air tools at work from the Snap-On guy, he always gave me a little bottle of snap-on air tool oil.. That stuff works great! I ended up buying a BIG bottle of it which I still have today..

 

hahahaha 5 little drops is all it take to screw up a new paint job!! My DA and air files only get oiled after Im done with the job right before I put them away and I always hold a rag over the air outlet so I dont spit oil all over

 

Yeah, I do the same thing!! I hate havin' that oil all over my hands when I want to have a tight grip on things...

 

When one of my pneumatic/electric tools is beyond resurrecting I'll leave it laying in the middle of the bed of my pickup and hope someone steals it.
If they're caught in the act you'll get a chance to teach them a lesson, and if nothing else it'll deter them from breaking into the cab.

 

Tried the "Thinner" idea today. It seems to work great. Saved three of my tools from the trash.Thanks again everyone.