OK Guy's, I must confess. Now talking about my "Kalitte Carette" compressor. I did not buy it from Joe B. It worked fine for a few months, then got slower and slower filling, then got to where it wouldn't go over 3000psi and took forever to get there. Ordered, and received new high pressure piston and sleeve, and gaskets etc. from Bosun Hu (bosunhu1984@gmail.com). Very nice kit. Installed, and saw no difference in performance. The more I tinkered, the worse it got. Had to walk away several times. Finally, it got to where it wouldn't make any air at all! I mean "0" on the gauge, and nothing coming out the whip! I had replaced the ball check valve and spring, at the top of the high pressure cylinder, so I knew it was working, so while it was running, at "0" psi on the gauge, which BTW is located on top of the first stage condensation collection tube. I took a wrench, and started to crack open the stainless steel line coming out of the high pressure cylinder, to see if anything was coming out there. As soon as I cracked the nut, it blew the line out from the ferrule and nut, Knocked a dent in the wall, and wound up bent totally upside down. Noise as loud as a 38 special fired from a revolver! After cleaning my pants, I discovered there is/was a check valve at the bottom of the condensation tube, "where the line goes in from the top of the high pressure cylinder" that is one way "in". I presume to prevent back pressure getting to the compressor if you open a partially filled tank, etc. etc. That little check valve was STUCK CLOSED !!! The poor compressor was trying to work, but couldn't get past that first check valve. All the pressure was being built up in that small stainless line, between the cylinder head, and the bottom of the condensation tube. Took the whole tube off, and cleaned it out. It's just hollow, nothing inside. The check valve had a small green "O" ring that looked out of place. I lubed it, reinstalled, but it still would not open ?? So I took the green "O" ring off, and reassembled, and she's been working like a champ ever since. How in the heck that little check valve was holding all that pressure, I'll never understand. Yes, it was installed in the right direction. Blows my mind. Now I feel sorry for the poor thing, all this time it was trying. Now I'm using it more than my newer DAVV.
No problem, in the pic, it's the fitting on the bottom. That stainless steel line comes directly from the top of the high pressure cylinder. It goes into the bottom of that black condensate tube, then out the line on the top, over to another tube, that has all the filter stuff in it, and from there the whip. I dunno about the green "O" ring. Besides, it seems as if it were a rather redundant check valve, as it has a much larger ball and spring check valve at the top of the cylinder. I dunno, and almost too old to care! Ha! Keep us posted as to your progress with your compressor. We might learn something new.
Aw man that compressor looks sweet, unfortunately I bit the bullet today and bought the Carette compressor from JoeB (My Chinese Fast Filler was not up to the task for hogging up a 45 minute tank). Anyways, He looked stressed to heck today at the shop and I mainly got help from the assistant. The compressors working at the moment and hopefully will get back to working on the Hercules that's on the back burner. ): Overall the information being posted on the Carette compressor is very supportive. Thank you
Quote from: Acetek2 on August 10, 2020, 09:15:42 PMAw man that compressor looks sweet, unfortunately I bit the bullet today and bought the Carette compressor from JoeB (My Chinese Fast Filler was not up to the task for hogging up a 45 minute tank). Anyways, He looked stressed to heck today at the shop and I mainly got help from the assistant. The compressors working at the moment and hopefully will get back to working on the Hercules that's on the back burner. ): Overall the information being posted on the Carette compressor is very supportive. Thank youCharle...I STILL advocate the Carrette ....it's a darn good compressor that I, (and others) used a LOT!....maintenance and rebuilds if/when needed are easy....it was just time for me...to worry less about air, and dedicate more time to shooting (and buying)!PS ...they are releasing a fanless design soon....DJ
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