Projects Air Compressor Help

I am finishing setting up my shop so I can work in it for the cold winter monthes and am having issues with my compressor, a 20 year old 5 hp HL series CH with a 60 gallon tank. I picked it up cheap a few monthes ago and am only now getting the shop organized enoug to plumb it all.

I just replaced the limit switch (it had the wrong one on it) with the proper CH replacement part and hooked up the little plastic line to it that is supposed the relieve the pressue in the compressor head to the port in the new limit switch.

When initially building pressure from an empty tank, the unit works perfectly. However, as soon as it cuts off, the port on the limit switch starts dumping pressure and won't stop. I know its supposed to dump pressure from the compressor head so it can restart easily, but it will just dump pressure until the compressor trys to start again and blows the breaker.

Am I missing something here?

I would really like to get this going so I can get some work on the cars done and make some space.

 

Sounds as if you have a weak reed in the pump.

 

Wait, how's the check valve between the pump and the tank?

 

Where would I find this check valve?

The head pressure release line comes from a little T on the bottom of the feed line to the tank from the compressor. There is a little valve there at the T.

 

Should be either in the feed line from the pump to the tank. I have seen some that are sunk into the tank and not really noticeable.

 

Yep + 1 for the check valve into the tank.

 

The tank check valve is right on the tank where the discharge from the head goes into the tank.you can get em cheap at grainger or mc master carr.and yes that is most likely your problem.

 

Read this: http://www.about-air-compressors.com/pressureswitch.html

Terry