Air compressor regulator gone bad

[ranger7]

I have just replaced my third (3) air pressure regulator in four years on my Craftsmen air compressor. What could cause them to go bad? Thanks for any help you could lend. Ranger7

 

[guido]

Wellcome ranger7
When was the last time you drained the bottom of the tank to remove moisture from the system?
Moisture and rust will run havoc on a regulator!
Guido.

 

[Gary from Muleshoe]

Mine started acting up last year and i just cleaned it good and shot some WD40 on it and it is working great.

 

[Bob Collins]

And while it is not a big deal to drain the tank, it is even easier if you put a 1/4 turn ball valve in place of the petcock. Hook a hose to it and you can spray the water out in 20 seconds and do it more often.

 

[GA Dave]

Is it the contacts failing or the diaphragm? David..........

 

[Revredneck]

I just replaced the regulator on my Craftsman, too. Instead of buying one from Sears, I got a reulator with a water separator at Harbor Frieght. It was about half the cost, too. I went ahead and put a ball valve on there so I could shut the air supply off without having to work the regulator all the time. My original regulator failed from stripped threads from using it to turn off the air supply.
Good Luck and God Bless,
Tommy

 

[ranger7]

I am not sure. How can you tell? Ranger7

 

[ranger7]

Thanks every one. I will start to drain out the air and water every day instead of when I think of it and see if I will get a longer life out of this new regulator. Ranger7

 

[markiz41]

A regulator should be downstream of a good filter/water trap. Both should be as far away from the compressor as possible. A reg mounted directly on the tank port will not last very long.

 

[Farmerpete2400]

This may be a dumb question, but I do not care . when you are done using the air compressor do you just leave the air in the tank or pull the pin to release most of it and then open the drain valve. I am new to my air compressor and I still can not figure out how to use the impact wrench . I know I need to use the regulator but I am clueless to how that works. If any one cares to reply TIA.

 

[GA Dave]

There are no dumb questions. Just shut it down. It takes a long time for moisture to build up in air tanks. You'll know when it happens. David..........

 

[guido]

Hello Bob.
Yes you are wright.
I have the same set-up on my compressor, but he doesn't. A good reason why he keeps replacing regulators!.
Guido.