Leaking compressor Master airbrush

[john3m]

I’m having trouble finding this leak. I found one a few weeks ago in a connection by using a spray I made that created bubbles when i  found a leak I have a slow leak now The compressor kicks on once every 40 minutes or so without being used so I’m at a quandary finding this leak I sprayed all the connections and the hose and no bubbles

[Tojo72]

Is this a small hobby compressor,or a big garage type one?

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

Have you checked the moisture/water trap?

[john3m]

It's a master airbrush compressor with a tank I checked all fittings including the water trap and drain valve on the bottom of the tank. I even checked the hose???

[keavdog]

Could it be the attached airbrush itself?

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

Jun 12, 2024 11:47:33 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Could it be the attached airbrush itself?

that a what I'm been wondering. OP do you have another brush to attach and test?

[keavdog]

Or a way to clamp the hose

[john3m]

i have a few airbrushes it is not them also happens when not attached
looking to make a better liquid with more dish soap

[Tojo72]

So if you can't find a leak,just shut it off when your airbrushing session is done,I shut down and release the pressure after I'm done.

[lyle]

I’m thinking the hoses may have a leak somewhere. Does it have a drain in the bottom? Could be something with that. And because I always look for the weird stuff, let it run to full, feel the tank. It it warm? Compressors generate heat. Maybe, if so, as the tank cools the pressure drops?

[TJ]

If its a braided hose. Check down the entire length, you may have a crack

[maverick]

If you have checked Your regulator, all fittings/relief valve, drain and tank seams (yeah had one of those leak on me)...If the feed line to the compressor tank has a one way check valve. it may be your leak source. Leaking back to the head/diaphragm. Does your compressor start up easily when it fires off?? If it seems to labor on that initial kick. Could be the check valve. If no check valve and all else is leak free...Its the diaphragm under the head...

[keavdog]

Jun 12, 2024 17:45:49 GMT -5 lyle said:

I’m thinking the hoses may have a leak somewhere. Does it have a drain in the bottom? Could be something with that. And because I always look for the weird stuff, let it run to full, feel the tank. It it warm? Compressors generate heat. Maybe, if so, as the tank cools the pressure drops?

Lyle whips out the ideal gas law - props 

[john3m]

Found a leak… not certain if it’s the leak but the glass bulb that hangs upside down And behaves as the water trap had an air leak. Apparently, it was a minor one to begin with and just got worse and today I could actually hear some hissing it turned out to be that the glass itself was not completely tight its container hangs upside down so when I sprayed various junctions I couldn’t see any bubbles because it was hidden hanging upside down but today I could hear some hissing I took the aluminium cage off the glass and found the glass itself was loose so I tightened it and it seems to be holding for now

[keavdog]

Good news John!

[john3m]

Actually, not good news. I found another leak. It’s in a pressure regulator that I have mounted on my desktop not on the compressor. I’ll share a picture.


So this time I decided to submerge everything else in water and found bubbles coming out the side of this dial two little buttons I don’t know what they’re for but anyway it’s pretty excessive. Thanks for all the help.

[project510]

hmmm I may have one of these laying around in the garage somewhere. Ill try to find it tonight.

[TJ]

Jun 13, 2024 16:32:42 GMT -5 john3m said:

Found a leak… not certain if it’s the leak but the glass bulb that hangs upside down And behaves as the water trap had an air leak. Apparently, it was a minor one to begin with and just got worse and today I could actually hear some hissing it turned out to be that the glass itself was not completely tight its container hangs upside down so when I sprayed various junctions I couldn’t see any bubbles because it was hidden hanging upside down but today I could hear some hissing I took the aluminium cage off the glass and found the glass itself was loose so I tightened it and it seems to be holding for now

Why is it something so hard to find is always so simple.  I believe you can just replace the regulator if needed

[project510]

If you still need to swap this out I found the one I had layin around. If I remember correctly, my old compressor seized up so I salvaged all the good parts off it. Should work fine. Just message me and Ill get your address. 

[john3m]

Thanks James very generous. I found a replacement in my stash.