ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
Two years ago I was in need of an air compressor, money was tight and Harbor Freight happened to have a 2hp with 8 gal. tank on sale for $79.99. Not much, but enough to pump up a tire or blow off a little dust. So, yesterday I needed to pump up a tire, plugged up the compressor, turned on the switch,nothing happened. Hmmm, what could it be? Then I realized the tank had full pressure. OK dumbaxx, hooked up air hose and when pressure dropped it turned over about half dozen times and quit. Flipped switwh on and off two-three times, nothing. To heck with it, I went into the house. This afternoon I drug it outside where the light was better and plugged it up. Took cover off switch, contacts closed ok, checked with multimeter, voltage in, voltage out, switch ok. I removed the cover from the motor to check the wiring,and realized that it had a reset button on it. Don't remember seeing this in the instructions. Pushed the reset button, turned over about half dozen times and kicked out. I had already turned the motor and compressor over with the fan,so I knew it was not stuck. Each time I hit the reset button it would turn over a few more times. After repeating this several times it took off, ran ok. Now, when I bought it I filled it with compressor oil also from H-F. It has not been that cold here this year, but only thing I can think of is that the oil was cold enough and the powerful "2 hp." motor is so weak that it just would not pull it until it got the oil stirred up good. But I gained a little more experience along the way, so all is not lost. Guess I will just have to keep my heat gun on the shelf above the compressor so I can warm it up.