Troubleshooting the Harbor Freight 21 Gallon 125 PSI Air Compressor

My Harbor Freight Air Compressor has been acting up for awhile. I finally dug in and am trying to get it fixed. Let me know if you have any ideas in the comments, and thanks for watching.
Central Pneumatic
Model :61454
Power: 2.5 HP
Stage: 1
Tank: 21 Gallons

[@danielking7133]

Hello there, I have just started the search for information to fix my air compressor Makita AC1300. Your film is the first one that I have come across. Can you help please. The problem I have with my compressor is that it will not restart after it has run low of air. It will start from the beginning with no air in the tank and build up to the required pressure. But once the air as depleted down to a lower level it struggles to restart. It just turns over slowly and does not restart. If the air is completely emptied from the air tank it will then restart. I have had the compressor for some years.!I bought it off eBay and it was only a matter of months old. It was stated that it was an ex display model ??? It may be better if I take a film of what I'm saying is going on with the machine. If I upload it onto KZbin I can then let you know the link. Might be can be for other people to repair their machine with the same problem. Do you think it might be some pressure valve or sensor. Thank you for any help. Kind regards, Daniel King.

[@danbrownellfuzzy3010]

Just changed the start up valve and the 15 A reset switch. No change. On an empty tank, it comes on instantly and hits 125, shuts off. Use the gun and drop the pressure and it Will Not restart until you empty the tank. Update cahanged the capacitor, restarts when the pressure drops......mostly

[@billykanatzer2205]

I had the same problem both the things for the top turn out to be the electrical cable to the wall was not strong enough to handle it so we kick it off. Try bigger power. Wire.

[@bobbyoakes1324]

Hey, I just wanted to let you know I watched your video, and I had the exact same air compressor, giving me the exact same problem. I figured out what it was. If you are able to, and have the ability to do it. you can pull the cooling fan blade off , remove the End housing and separate the rotor and stater. if you sand both of them with sand paper or use an emery cloth. And put it back together it will work. I did it just because I wanted to know what the root cause was myself. I was expecting to throw it away and get a new air compressor. When I put it back together it worked perfectly immediately. All you need is slip ring pliers to remove the cooling fan and an 8 mm socket and wrench.

[@practical1372]

5-30 synthetic pull brass valve off on top run compressor to clear debris

[@smoke_stackz3168]

Replace the circuit breaker.

[@shr0p]

Yep, here’s the follow up. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZWnomOAjLWiiac