Air Tank not blowing up tires

Tree-Farmer · Jul 31, 2021

I bought a used air bubble, 10 gallon, Powermate, but it's not working right.

It blows up a tire very very slow. I was able to blow up a riding mower tire, but the air doesn't come out very fast. I tried to blow up a tractor tire, but I can't hear any air go into the tire and the gauge stayed at 80psi after I held the end on the tire for 2 minutes.

What would be the most likely bad part? Do you think it would be the black rubber hose with the end?
Or would it be the gold colored valve that screws into the tank, and the rubber hose screws into it? What does that valve/connector do? Could it be bad?

Or what do you think is wrong with it? Why won't it blow up a tire very good? If I push the little valve inside the end, air does come out.

Thank you!

TimV · Jul 31, 2021

On your fill valve there's usually a piece (often plastic) to turn that switches the tank from fill to empty. These often go bad or fall off and I've picked up several free tanks over the years because the previous owners didn't realize this and thought the tank was bad. Can you gently turn the valve one way or the other and see if you can get it to switch? You'll know when it has switched as you will get pressure at the outlet hose.

Roger Tomfohrde · Jul 31, 2021

Little stem where you added the air can act as a shut off if I remember correctly, unscrew a turn.

DoubleO7 · Jul 31, 2021

"Tree-Farmer"](reply to post at 20:54:15 07/31/21)

Do you have a spare or old cut off valve stem with core in it?
You can use in your chuck to confirm chuck lets air. Into stem like it should.
I see the gauge is at 80 and also at near zero so where is that air loss going if not into tire?
Will take several portable tanks to fill a fullsize tractor tire.

Make sure that yellow coiled hose is not kinking shut. They do that more prevalent when stretched out too far.

Hay hay hay · Jul 31, 2021

Check the replacement date. If it explodes in your face, you are dead.

Jeff NWOH · Jul 31, 2021

You are missing the red plastic knob to
turn the air on and off. Use a pliers to
turn the piece with the fill valve counter
clockwise to open it and you should be
good to go.

Tree-Farmer · Jul 31, 2021

Thank you for the great replies!
Jeff, thank you for the picture and good explanation. And Tim and Roger for the same explanation.

Yes, I didn't know that, that the input valve also turns the air on and off.

Actually, that was leaking when I first got it. I filled it and the air leaked out in about an hour. So I dribbled water on it and saw it was leaking, so I was able to turn it, so it stopped leaking, but I now see that I also turned the air off.

I'm wondering if that valve might be bad. I will try that. I will leave it screwed in, but see if I can turn the little round thing encircling that valve.

Gracias!

Stephen Newell · Aug 1, 2021

You might take that tee off the tank and replace it with a plumbing tee. It should accept 1/4 standard plumbing parts. If you put a cut off valve on top you could just put a male coupler on it and just hook the air hose up to it to air up the tank. It should then
allow the same air flow you would get from your compressor.

JIM MN · Aug 1, 2021

Do as JEFF NWOH tells you.. And remember, you need 80 psi in your tank to end up with 40 pounds in your tire..

GordoSD · Aug 1, 2021

Lots of defective chucks that are brand new, Install a known good one from another hose.

Air Tank not blowing up tires

Tree-Farmer

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TimV

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Roger Tomfohrde

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DoubleO7

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Hay hay hay

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Jeff NWOH

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Tree-Farmer

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Stephen Newell

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JIM MN

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GordoSD

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