Why is My Craftsman Compressor Frozen Up?

goo.gl/EpntPN Click Link to get Fluid Film. Fluid film is an excellent rust inhibitor and plastic renewer. In this video I do an investigation to why a craftsman air compressor is frozen up. Disclaimer:
Doublewide6 has a Master’s Degree in industrial technology with a specialization in Manufacturing, due to factors beyond the control of Doublewide6 and anyone featured in his videos, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Doublewide6 assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video or any of Doublewide6’s videos. Use this information at your own risk. Doublewide6 recommends safe practices when working on equipment, power tools, chemicals, electronics, electrical systems, vehicles, and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Doublewide6, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Doublewide6. Please support Doublewide6 by donating to his Patreon Account / doublewide6

[@rewolfffej1689]

I'm building a fence. My Craftsman compressor worked yesterday. This morning it was frozen solid - motor hummed, no compressor. I followed doublewide6's directions - specifically about aligning the plates and the reed vales. In UNDER 20 minutes, I was back in business. Doublewide6 - I'm tipping a cold beer in your direction. Thank you!

[@girohead]

Good job, I just got the same model from someone who didn't want to bother. I was hoping it was only a gasket, but it did the same humming, I suspected the motor but saw the mechanics of the piston, but then you walk through the whole thing. I like how you showed each troubleshooting step, not just the one that worked perfectly.

[@MrPavS]

Thank you doublewide6! You helped me fixing my air compressor! Had the same issue. Saved me so much time...

[@sammylw7694]

Awesome! I wasn't sure how the valve plate went back on because I wasn't paying attention when I took it off. Thanks for the vid!!

[@tylertessitore6112]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have same issue. About to go take apart a craftsman 3 gallon.

[@Goomer]

I have the same one, change oil with non-detergent. It helps. Nice to see it broken down if I need to ever do it, thanks,

[@rickbailey4517]

I just freed my craftsman air compressor. Thanks for the video. I had to take the fan off to get vise grips on the shaft then wiggle it back and forth. I removed the air intake and sprayed some lubricant in on top of the piston instead of removing the piston cover. Thanks for the video.

[@nrgsmrt1]

Doublewide6, Well done! Stellar, stick-with-it-ness. Seeing that it's a "oiled" compressor, I sure would like to know the absolute reason why it froze. Great idea using the vice-grips. Tim. ( I appreciate the fluid film fyi ).

[@BigGoldLincoln]

Hey doublewide6! Just wanted to say thank you! My compressor did the same thing. I watched this video, and I did what you did, and now it works again! Thanks a MILLION!

[@ttoddh1]

Thanks. Really. Thanks for posting this. I have 2 of mine that need attention and the motor buzz is on both of them. When I was working and something went wrong I just bought another one. Now, I need to fix what I have. Your patience and work is appreciated. I will post on here how my time with them went.

[@ttoddh1]

Hey, wanted to let you know as a follow up. I did as you instructed and your fix took 30 seconds to correct. Taking off the hood and re aligning after fixing it on my setup took anther 30 minutes. Thanks so much.

[@joshuadoty3275]

Thank You So Much for This Man. Exact Same Problems From Start To Finish. Fixed And Good To Go Now. 🙌

[@aleblanc3547]

Nice...patience pays off again. Great job, man!

[@doublewide6]

A LeBlanc Persistence: If your doing small engines and your teaching yourself the trade you need it.

[@MajorHorstPower]

My favorite question to friends and family who bring me stuff like the compressor in the vid, "how long since you used it/had it running last?" My favorite answer from them "I don't know" :-) great vid man. Keep them coming!

[@doublewide6]

Dave Horst Thanks for watching!

[@jackperu123]

Tried what you did in this video and it worked perfect, found this 5 gal. compressor in the trash, it looked new, i cleaned it up, now i'll sell it for 150 thanks for the info

[@earthstewardude]

that was my compressor that you found in the trash - my ol lady tossed it out. Can I come over and get it tonight?

[@dougpedersen5594]

Just watched the video after my Craftsman 3 gallon compressor "froze". I took off the cover, was able to get the vise grips on the motor shaft at the fan end. I rotated the the shaft and it "freed up". Got lucky! Thanks Doublewide6!

[@geojor]

thanks for sharing...

[@nojumper4712]

Just repaired my compressor thanks to you

[@velcroking1]

great video - thanks for sharing

[@Nderak]

i just picked up a compressor very similar to this one off the side of road all seized up. I drained about a quarter cup of rusty water out, and also drained the oil and opened the end to expose the motor shaft and piston and rod. Because my unit has the pressure regulator and switch facing the back of the unit, and the handle bends in at an angle over the that plastic motor cover, i think ill have to take the regulator/switch off to get at the fan. Very helpful video

[@wlaukaitis]

If any of you are wondering, just remove the other 4 bolts that hold the motor/compressor to the frame and slide the whole assembly out of the way to get the shroud off. You can remove the regulator vale assembly if you want to reseal everything. I resealed mine and it has been at 100 psi for 2 days. I didn't even need a Master's degree in industrial technology with a specialization in manufacturing to figure that shroud thing out.

[@Gator400]

I have a beautiful 40 yr old 2 hp craftman classic air compressor that has also jammed just lately .. I'm hopin i can get that sucker going again .. If it's the electric motor i will remove it and get it rebuilt.. thanks for the video.. i like the fact that you can change and add oil in these older compressors.

[@chevywilliams6005]

i just found one on side of the street, tried tapping around with hammer lightly. Decided to drop it from half a foot fired right up. Originally let it run for less the a minute and got lucky do it again after a couple tries dropping it and tapping. Let run for ten minutes or so with drain open. Working great!

[@williamcrews1766]

Doublewide6, how did you remove the regulator assemble/pressure switch? Did you remove the fitting going into the tank? That shroud is giving me grief trying to get it off.

[@peru206]

thanks alot man.exelent video.god bless

[@gabrieldelacruz9015]

Thanks man !!!!

[@knighthawk86855]

Yeah had the same problem, the bearing on the motor, near the fan sometimes gets sticky and a little pb blaster and it frees right up, then oil it.

[@dalesworld1308]

Picked up a Craftsman oil filled hot dog compressor and it has a seized motor. Gonna try what you did - Thanks!

[@reneeobrien6205]

Thank you for sharing!! Worked perfectly. Saved me from purchasing a new one.

[@1weirddoe571]

Have to run them level?? I had mine tipping up when I ran it started smoking a little bit and now it's frozen just like yours. So do they have to run flat level?

[@genehensley767]

Good job as all ways keep them coming

[@doublewide6]

Gene Hensley Thanks Man!

[@pikachu12983]

thank you bro you help me fix today

[@spudth]

Glad you like fluid film. However the preferred item for plastic is silicone spray. PB Blaster sells a heavy duty spray as most silicone sprays have very little oil. Fluid Film is actually "wool oil" its the oil removed from wool when it is sheared from sheep. Good product for rust inhibitor as it doesn't evaporate over time as many light oils do like wd-40.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

Nice compressor. Nice job fixin it. Great vid!

[@doublewide6]

Love2boat92 Thanks man!

[@tannertuner]

My larger one was making the same sound and tripping the breaker. I finally pulled it out and took it apart. The motor and pump were turning freely. Found the hot wire connection from the cord to the pressure switch burned through (by that time it was just flashing a spark and throwing the breaker). So I replaced the blade connector and tightened up the others. Turned it on and it ran for about 7-10 seconds and shut off again - this time without tripping the breaker. Thermal protection in the motor is tripping. So I’ve got more to figure out.

[@yetivanmarshall9880]

DW, Did you get that from a junkyard in Edison. Thats where I brought mine when I had the same issue. I really liked that compressor. Now I have a shifty hdx oil less pancake compressor. Great vid. Greg in NJ

[@doublewide6]

Yeti Van Marshall No got it from my dad's friend in Macungie PA

[@earthstewardude]

I have the same compressor... made a real nice anchor for my pontoon boat.

[@johnmilner7603]

Fluid Film is available at Canadian Tire stores in Canada.

[@m45680]

Good video , This helped me out , But watch where you spray Fluid film , on rubber , I use Lps 1 2 or 3 .Will FLUID FILM adversely affect plastic or rubber? FLUID FILM has no adverse effects on plastics. Caution should be used around non oil-resistant rubber goods. May cause swelling.

[@matthewclay474]

Excellent Job! Love the Fluid Film.

[@jerrydineen2827]

I always learn a lot from you and Bruce Pender. That was an impressive fix on the compressor. I have been using fluid film for several years now and you can't beat it. If you want to restore black trim more permanently, try Solution Finish. It works wonders.

[@santosrodrigueziii8454]

Have that same compressor that did the same thing. I don't think I had 10 hours on it. I was so disappointed in Craftsman. I had a Riding mower and both were owned just over a year , just long enough for them (Sears) to be free of any responsibility. I am so glad I never through it out. I now have hope ,Thanks.

[@sycamore471]

Hey doublewide6 I have been trying to fix my dads air compressor. He bought it brand new several years ago it worked fine for a few months then out of now where it stopped. It turns on and everything like its working but doesn't get any pressure. The Gage's stay at zero. Any ideas?

[@retrorestore]

Fluid film is really dear over here in the UK about 3 times as much as WD40. Good fix. Sounded like dry bearings. Cheers

[@doublewide6]

retrorestore I love fluid film. It is awesome on snowblowers and snowplows.

[@anthonybarbee8828]

It's cool how if you put it back the way it was how things work

[@toknowlj]

start by changing out the oil - vise grips?

[@Buck1954]

I'm just wondering if you added any oil to the compressor. That would help the bearings, which sound very dry.

[@robertmaybeth3434]

you'd think he'd at least mention the level of the oil - right OP? DONT use motor oil either! It'll ruin your compressor since the fcompressor is designed for non detergent oil only, motor oil will cause ash to form. I use synthetic compressor oil, and put a couple drops down the oil filter hole before running.

[@ernestbarker1095]

Brad Taylor i

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

great fix man..

[@doublewide6]

ShawnMrFixit Lee Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@heribertoestrella1869]

doublewide6 I have a craftsman compressor but I doesn't stop it keeps running did you know what could it be

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Pressure switch is bad !

[@heribertoestrella1869]

ShawnMrFixitlee ok thank you very much

[@rickeykeeton4770]

Hope I have not asked this. How do you remove that cover? Model 919.167241 Looks like it was designed to not be removed. I have removed three screws around the cover and one under the bottom near the cord. The top superstars, but something is preventing the bottom from coming apart. I even tried to slide the whole thing forward and backward through the hooked parts of the tank itself with no luck.

[@danseybert3811]

This video saved me $300 today. Bought a 10 gal. craftsman air compressor on ebay. It was a store model. Like an idiot i didn't check to see if it had oil and proceeded to use it to shot blast a mini bike frame. 10 mins. into it the breaker popped and the compressor just made a humming noise. Sure enough no oil. Took top off of cylinder and sure enough it had seized. Shot some lithium lubricant into the cylinder around the piston. Let sit for about five minutes and got it to move again. I thought for sure it was ruined. Back up and running in about 20mins.

[@kevins1983]

Just a quick question I have a craftsman 5.0 22 inch snow thrower and cleaned the carberator and replaced almost everything on it but I just can't get it started any suggestions? Thanks

[@doublewide6]

Kevin Sossi Either no spark or most likely not enough compression.

[@rickarmagost3884]

Check push rods to see if they are bent or slipped off the rocker arm

[@triumphmanful]

did you check the oil level and make sure it has oil. That is if its an oil type .

[@SachiWI]

You can fix anything I swear LOL - Wish I lived near you because I may be needing a lawnmower

[@doublewide6]

Sachi WI Thanks for watchin!

[@JeffreyCoumbe]

Check the capacitor

[@m45680]

Good video , This helped me out , But watch where you spray Fluid film , on rubber , I use Lps 1 2 or 3 FLUID FILM has no adverse effects on plastics. Caution should be used around non oil-resistant rubber goods. May cause swelling.

[@d.j.9961]

Did u check if it had oil in it?

[@doublewide6]

Yes, I added some.

[@angelschivas93]

Thumbs up just because he didn't hide his mistakes, we all f### up sometimes.

[@pavilreutov1821]

My compressor turns over fine but when turned on it hums for a few seconds then breaker pops. Most likely capacitor?

[@girohead]

Um, most likely a stuck piston, did you watch the vid?

[@pavilreutov1821]

I replaced the capacitor and it runs. But dosent pump air. I wonder if it’s piston rings are stuck or gone

[@lestudio76]

Has there ever been a broken machine you couldn't figure out?

[@doublewide6]

lestudio76 Yeah, There are plenty of them. The nice thing about video is you only see my successes.

[@Michaelvurgrinovich]

My compresser does the same thing

[@rocknme3102]

the oil less compressors suck ive had nothing but trouble with them

[@spudth]

Rock n me this one has oil in its crankcase.

[@Pushyhog]

Had oilless for years, no problems at all, rebuilding kits on ebay.

[@Pushyhog]

Theres a thing called youtube, it can help sometimes.

[@brandonwoodford579]

Should have let it run with the air bleeder open for 15min.

[@ff5gus]

I've been trough 2 of those..... Trash....

[@tjames2778]

commercial every minute? ill find another video.

[@gsjunkie4320]

Just nabbed one from the trash. 1 hp, 3 gallon model. Front bearing tight. Spent 15 minutes with WD 40, then oil. Win.