Kobalt 26 Gallon Air Compressor Won't Build Pressure Fix (Anti-Throw Away Society)

[@ghooper18]

Excellent video - I got the sucker end of a deal and ended up with the "husky" / home depot version of this. Same exact terribly designed piston. Was about ready to just make it into a reserve tank as well and buy a brand new compressor... I had actually found a piston ring I thought might work and figured Id give it a go but didn't know how to go about getting the pressed aluminum rim off. Then I found the forum and this video, and hope is restored. Anyway hopefully mine works like yours!

[@josephe5146]

Garrett, could you share any more info about the piston ring you found that is the right size? Thanks.

[@davidgortney9902]

I actually used your video to see how to change the belt. Worked great! Thanks!

[@TheVintageEngineer]

David Gortney I do that sort of thing all the time. Looking at other repairs to see how stuff is together. Thanks for watching, and now you know what to do when your seal goes bad.

[@z1522]

There must be a lesson hidden here somewhere, regarding the demise of dependable equipment which was eminently owner serviceable and rebuildable. The concept of disposable machinery made intentionally cheap, and which fail when any internal part breaks or wears prematurely, is so ubiquitous that average consumers don't even throw fits anymore. It should be criminal, but instead it's just business as usual.

[@TheVintageEngineer]

The bigger problem is it has gone on for so long that entire generations have been exposed to the "throw away society" since birth.

[@maddmavic]

It's called planned obsolescence

[@chordiepa.9268]

I bought this compressor in 1998. It has worked flawlessly until a couple weeks ago when I fired it up and had the air rushing out from under the cover. I came to YT to find out if anyone had the same unit with the same problem. I guess I'll open it up and have a look before I replace it. Thank you.

[@dennishayes1505]

i ahve the kobalt 20 gallon. it keeps shutting off early. I feel like its either a thermal fuse or a check valve (unless you feel differently). problem is IDK where a proper schematic is for this one

[@davidstroud9374]

Is there anyway you can tell me the belt number?

[@PYehl1]

I have same compressor- mine will come up to pressure but I hear hissing coming from around the on/off switch. Any ideas what to look for? I think I’ll take off the cover and maybe use some soapy water to see where the leak is happening. I’m no mechanic by any means but I love to try to learn and fix things when I can.

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Soapy water test is your best bet. Obviously disconnect power before hand.

[@craighart4186]

I have same compressor, mine builds pressure to 120psi and shuts off, problem is I kept hearing an air leak I thought was coming from the regulator knob, took top cover off and checked the reg knob, that wasn't the problem. With tank over 50 psi, the air leak is coming from area between the switch housing and the metal plate to the regulator valve slightly to lower right of the on/off switch. there is a screw on the right side of metal plate I tried to tighten but did not stop the leak. Do I need to take off that entire piece to see if its a gasket failure??? It seems once tank loses pressure to about 40psi, the leak stops and pressure stabilizes at 40.

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Unfortunately I sold the compressor some time after fixing it, so I don’t have one to look at in front of me anymore.

[@craighart4186]

@@TheVintageEngineer Since Kobalt does not offer tech service for this older model anymore, I took off the entire metal piece for the air supply and release valve and regulator valve, this allowed me to take off the 2 screws for the switch housing. There was another metal face plate that fit up against the black switch housing with 4 screws that also had a diaphragm type gasket piece under it. The air leak is coming from this area, the diaphragm maybe is for a small air hole in the face plate to allow pressure trigger for auto shut off when at 120psi. Anyway, I reseated the diaphragm with liquid gasket maker and then reattached the metal cover plate, also added gasket maker to the small air hole in center of the face plate that fits up against the air supply line metal piece. Will fill the tank to 120 and test for leaks again. Nothing else I can do here.

[@AlbertoGonzalez-pf5kz]

en donde compraste el empaque del pistón y cuál es que medida

[@AlbertoGonzalez-pf5kz]

sería de mucha ayuda

[@josephe5146]

Hi Anthony, thanks for the video. Curious to know if this repair held up? About to try this on mine. Thanks!

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Did a stress test by cycling a few times and ran with the valve open for 30 minutes. No issues. Used a couple times and ended up selling because I had another one I liked.

[@josephe5146]

@@TheVintageEngineer Great, thanks Anthony

[@binzsta86]

I was thinking about buying a Kobalt Quiet Tech 26 gallon air compressor but it seems like finding replacement parts for it is difficult compared to Dewalt's products..I guess I probably go with Dewalt air compressors instead.

[@johnysilver1853]

My compressor starts working and builds pressure up to 150psi but sometimes during work it will not start and won't keep tank charged. Sometimes it turns on only for a few seconds then goes quiet. Sometimes I hears something that it wants to start like air going somewhere through the pipe for about 2 second and then quiets and stays like that. Fails to keep up pressure in tank when I use it. Pressure goes low as 50psi but compressor doesn't start. Then I had to open drain valve to release remaining air pressure in the tank. Disconnect it from AC power for few minutes and it starts working again build up to 150psi again. I don't hear any air leaks. What could be wrong?

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Sounds like an unloader valve issue. It’s job is to vent off pressure from link from the compressor to the tank. If it doesn’t unload this pressure it, the motor/compressor will have a hard time trying to start working again (even as far as not being able to start at all).

[@stevearbogast8556]

I have the same compressor. I've had it for at least 12 years. Ran fine until a few years ago, and started making the same noise. Finally got around to start disassembling it today, and suspected it was this same issue. On the DAC-308 pre-formed gasket, is it necessary to purchase the O-Ring that some sites say "Also purchased with this item" ? I want to make sure i order everything i need so i get the job done right the first time. Please let me know. Thanks, and great video!

[@TheVintageEngineer]

No, you just need the piston ring seal, and some wire to center it. Don’t know what the oring is they are referencing

[@mauricejohns3635]

I have a question. I don't know if you still have your 26 gallon Kobalt air compressor but I'll give this a shot. I came across one of those Kobalt 10 gallon air compressor tanks just like that one. Wondering where can I go to find a 26 gallon tank so I can hug braid my 10 to the 26. II the display on mine is shot to Heron. Is there anyway I can find that liquid display or change it over to something else. Or do you know of a Kobalt graveyard where I can get parts. Search the web and all of them say it's a discontinued item but there has to be parked somewhere

[@dorispowers9060]

Kobalt clearly has a problem. I have bought two of these compressors and one failed after a yr and the other did not last 6 months. Both only used to blow off lawn mower ,clothes and air for tires. Lowes did step up on the 2nd one and gave me my money back.

[@aftech7268]

What is the part number of the seal and where was it purchased ?

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Links in the description

[@aftech7268]

I don’t see a link on your description

[@TheVintageEngineer]

@@aftech7268 click “show more”

[@aftech7268]

@@TheVintageEngineer thanks , the seal arrived yesterday - to center it instead of using the copper wire I used the 3m double stick tape around the center of the piston lip and used a dap of super glue to hold the seal in place before pressing the piston seal ring down then I removed the tape - relatively easy install only took me 1 hour - now it runs like new ! I almost used it as a tank reserve

[@keganshaw5717]

Where can I order parts for kobalt

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Which part? This compressor?

[@nickvolpe3475]

Anthony, I have this exact compressor and looking to replace the wheels, I cant figure out how to get them off

[@aftech7268]

@@nickvolpe3475 just drill 3 or 4 holes all around each tire and fill it with spray foam u won’t have issues with flat time ever again

[@jaimerodriguez3438]

where can i find the piston seal i need one

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Check description

[@puppet015]

i Was able to fix the seal, but like you said they break easy so I ended up snapping mine in half. In way it’s still fixable ?

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Christian Sandoval where is the break? When you say in half are you saying the whole rod broke in two? Like the bearing part is now separate from the seal end?

[@puppet015]

It broke right in the middle of the rod so basically it broke in two.

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Christian Sandoval you maybe able to fix it by aluminum welding/brazing. Home Depot sells alluminum welding rod for like 5 bucks for 2 sticks (item# 203710179). Hopefully the break is clean enough to hold the two pieces together correctly. Just clamp them together and heat the hell out of them using propane or map gas. Then apply the aluminum rod all the way around the break and build up a decent amount of material. You can try getting some in between but you have to do it quick as it sets up as soon as heat is pulled away. Also remove the bearing first before heating it. Just take a socket to hammer it out using the outer races. If you are unsure about it make sure you put the cover on it before testing it and also have you hand ready to unplug it.

[@puppet015]

Crap seems like a lot of work for some who doesn’t even weld lol. Thank you for the ideas though, I think I’m going to take it to a machine shop and see what they can do Hopefully I didn’t trash this compressor.

[@puppet015]

But I’m going to look up your method and see what works. Kinda scared to push the bearing out now that it broke in half lol

[@aftech7268]

Made in the USA - Gives the country a bad name on crappy products ! I have the same compressor same issue- pissed! We buy USA products because of quality this is one of the exceptions only worked for 3 months - wasted money

[@havdoug]

Broke head can not find one model B 700060 it is a 2022 02-k4

[@TheVintageEngineer]

Unfortunately most new compressors don’t have easily available replacement parts and if they do they want outrageous amount of money to the point you might as well buy an old unit. By head you mean the aluminum head with the heat fins? Cracked or broke into multiple pieces. Depend on the extent of the damage you could use aluminum brazing rod to repair it. Had really good success with brazing broken aluminum castings. I use the Hobart brand and get it from Northern Tool.