Posted: 4/16/2008 3:58:15 PM EDT
| My wife and I have a small business of cleaning out foreclosure homes for some extra cash. You would be amazed what people will leave behind. I have gathered some great tools from this side job. Well, at our most recent job I found a Craftsman 33 gallon air compressor. I was stoked until I noticed the sound of liquid sloshing around inside. I figured that the idiot just never drained the air and that liquid had built up. However, I removed the plug and nothing came out of the tank. How could this possibly be? Any ideas? I really want this compressor, but don't want one that will be a rust bucket in a few years. |
| You say that you "removed the plug"-- or did you open the valve and nothing came out? I have to tip my compressor with the valve open to so that the drain hole is at the true bottom of the tank. If you've removed the brass valve completely and nothing came out, I'd try tipping the tank appropriately so the hole is really at the bottom. You might be able to poke something up into the whole with the valve removed to clear any accumulated crude. Also, make sure that the tank output nozzle is open, so there isn't a hydraulic lock inside the tank preventing draining, or even turn on the compressor with the output air valve closed and the drain open to slightly pressurize the tank and blow it out. |
Are you sure that you aren't hearing oil in the compressor? Not all compressors are oil-free -- the good ones take oil! And you have a good job -- you will be busy for the next few years. You should get positioned to hire a few folks and work for more banks. I am serious. I remember the Texas oil crash -- people made good money that way when there was no work to be had. |