Bike in the air.

[Eckhard Grohe]

I changed the fork seals yesterday and when I went to lower the bike there wasn't enough air left in the compressor tank. So I plugged it in and the compressor turned 1/4 turn and stopped. There is voltage at the motor but no turny. Everything is closed till Tuesday up here and I did want to ride this long weekend.

 

Anyone know anything about electric motors?

[beemerFROG]

Any chance you can take your tank over to the nearest gas station and fill it up with air? Also, and this may seem silly, but did you plug the compressor into an extension cord that is too small for the draw? I have seen that happen too many times to the most advanced mechanics!

[paulcbrowne]

My compressor motor has a red button on the side of the motor. When I've used the compressor on an extension cord, this would sometimes pop. You just have to push it in. This circuit breaker works on heat. If it just popped, you might have to wait for it to cool.

 

Make sure the compressor turns and hasn't had an internal failure. You might need to slack off the belt from the motor to do this.

[BMWRich58]

Does the motor have a start capacitor? Possibly bad.

But first try the "red" reset button.

[Eckhard Grohe]

Has 2 start capacitors. Maybe they are bad.

Isn't there some switch in these motors also.

 

I pushed on the red button and it seems OK. How far should they stick out?

[Kroref]

(Has 2 start capacitors. Maybe they are bad.)

If you have a digital volt meter that reads capacitance, you can check your start capacitors by disconnecting the terminals from the capacitor and then use a screwdriver and short the two terminals to each in other to completly discharge the capacitor. Now hook up your digital volt meter (in the capacitance mode, one probe on each terminal) and watch the display until the reading stops climbing and then compare that reading to the rated MF printed on the side of the capacitor. If your within 5-10% of the rated capacitance your capacitor is good.

(I pushed on the red button and it seems OK. How far should they stick out?)

There is no set length they stick out. If it is tripped, you will feel/hear a click when you push in the button at which point the overload will be reset. If there is no click, the overload was not tripped.

[Eckhard Grohe]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.

[ESokoloff]

So you state that you have voltage to the motor & that the (red) overload is not tripped (or it will not reset) & no movement or noise comes from the motor?

 

I'm thinking that the overload (O.L.) could have tripped & now will not reset.

 

With 2 capacitors, Im thinking its a CSCR motor but don't quote me on that.

 

Regardless it should still try to start unless the overload (or an open connection) prevents voltage from "truly" getting to the motor.

 

Don't destroy the overload reset but try pushing harder AFTER YOU UNPLUG the compressor (if the O.L. did trip it may not reset with the unit still plugged in)

If still no joy, then access the wires of the O.L. & check for continuity (UNPLUG UNIT FIRST)

 

If the O.L. turns out to be bad then you still have to find out what took it out. Good luck & let us know how it goes.