Compressor issue

[Del640]

Hi gang,

My Iwata professional compressor has started 'topping up' at 30 sec intervals which it never used to.

Everything is working fine but it's so annoying.

On closer inspection I can hear a faint sound of air so it looks like I have a leak somewhere but I simply cannot find it!!!

Any suggestions to troubleshoot?

TIA

Del

[Steven000]

When putting together (house) gas-pipes we spray over the connections with a spraybottle filled with soapy water, any gas leaks will result in bubbles, hope you find the leak, cheers

[pjgtech]

As above soapy water, and spray it near any pipe/fitting, if leaking you will get lots of new bubbles appearing.
Could also try tissue paper on/near any joints. Cheers

[scottie3158]

I concur soapy water around the joints including the Air brush.

[pjgtech]

You can buy proper leak detecting fluid, but its bloody expensive and soapy water is (almost) as good.
In a former life I was Corgi Registered plumber, but many, many years ago..... (not even called Corgi anymore, Lol)

[stillp]

Have you drained the condensation from the tank recently? If not then the capacity will be reduced so it will need to top up more often.
Pete

[Tim Marlow]

You can buy proper leak detecting fluid, but its bloody expensive and soapy water is (almost) as good.
In a former life I was Corgi Registered plumber, but many, many years ago..... (not even called Corgi anymore, Lol)

Used both professionally. Bioreactors had to be leak tight to less than 0.05bar/hr before we could use them…some leaks took ages to chase down. We found soapy water (especially savlon solution) was far better than the canned stuff. It holds a bubble beard longer so can show a leak more accurately. Apart from anything else, large leaks don’t show bubbles, but a paintbrush soaked in soapy solution can be held on a suspect joint to show a leak…can’t do that with a spray.

After saying all this, the most likely place for this leak is actually on the airbrush to hose connection. All the other joints are not moved around so are unlikely to develop leaks in use.

[Del640]

Thank you all, I release the condensation after every session.


I shall try soapy water!

I let you know how I get on

Del

[Del640]

Well, everything checked, no bubbles so it maybe something more sinister, shame as I like that compressor even if it is over 15yrs old.

[Steven000]

Perhaps it's the valve behind the piston head that doesn't seal off as before? (The piston pushes air into the tank, and the valve keeps that air inside the tank so it doesn't return to the piston)

[Steven000]

I use a non-airbrush compressor so I don't know about your model, but it should look something like this: youtube video

If you're handy you could unscrew the bolt with a wrench and take a look at the state of the seal?

[stillp]

It has to be something inside the compressor if the bubble test didn't show anything.
Pete

[Del640]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I intend to take it apart later..

[Del640]

OK, found the issue, thread broken off between tank and psi adjuster, totally fubar.

So, any recommendations for a good all round compressor gents?

Del

[Tim Marlow]

If you got fifteen years out of it I’d go for another of the same….love my Smartjet pro, by the way.