01-02-2015, 03:58 PM
Hi Larry,
First of all, under all cases, find a way of holding both pieces of brass that you are trying to loosen. The last thing you want to do is to mess up the threads in where the first pipe attaches to the compressor. Here is a neat trick if you have the wrenches. Try to place the wrenches so that they are close enough to each other that you simply squeeze them together to apply the loosening force to the joint. You can generate an amazing amount of torque squeezing like that, and you great control on what you are doing. When the joint breaks loose, you won't bust your hand.
Second, if you used putty, dope, or even teflon tape, you have to be VERY careful not to get any of the above on the first threads OR it will end up downstreaam in the system. I highly suspect you have a contaminate in the check valve. I have not had any success in repairing a check valve. Also, make sure the arrow is pointing the direction of flow when you install the new one. I can attest, that they just don't work if installed backwards. I would order a new one pronto. Or, the Load genie I mentioned above is both check valve and unloader in one.
You might try gently warming the fittings with a propane torch if the wrench trick doesn't do it. . Caution being the key word.
Glad the compressor runs, the fix won't cost much money.
When I was having similar compressor wars with a ghost in the system. I finally figured out the compressor thermal overload protection was causing it to shut down. The compressor was overheating because the HWH system was telling it to stay on. That situation may be partially applicable to your deal. If the compressor outlet is blocked or partially blocked by the check valve, then from time to time the thermals may cause it to shut off, because the well pump switch is downstream from the check valve. If the check valve is letting the compressor to build system pressure, then the pump switch won't know to turn it off. It will run and run until the motor gets hot enough to trip the thermals, i.e. invoke the invisible ghost.
When
First of all, under all cases, find a way of holding both pieces of brass that you are trying to loosen. The last thing you want to do is to mess up the threads in where the first pipe attaches to the compressor. Here is a neat trick if you have the wrenches. Try to place the wrenches so that they are close enough to each other that you simply squeeze them together to apply the loosening force to the joint. You can generate an amazing amount of torque squeezing like that, and you great control on what you are doing. When the joint breaks loose, you won't bust your hand.
Second, if you used putty, dope, or even teflon tape, you have to be VERY careful not to get any of the above on the first threads OR it will end up downstreaam in the system. I highly suspect you have a contaminate in the check valve. I have not had any success in repairing a check valve. Also, make sure the arrow is pointing the direction of flow when you install the new one. I can attest, that they just don't work if installed backwards. I would order a new one pronto. Or, the Load genie I mentioned above is both check valve and unloader in one.
You might try gently warming the fittings with a propane torch if the wrench trick doesn't do it. . Caution being the key word.
Glad the compressor runs, the fix won't cost much money.
When I was having similar compressor wars with a ghost in the system. I finally figured out the compressor thermal overload protection was causing it to shut down. The compressor was overheating because the HWH system was telling it to stay on. That situation may be partially applicable to your deal. If the compressor outlet is blocked or partially blocked by the check valve, then from time to time the thermals may cause it to shut off, because the well pump switch is downstream from the check valve. If the check valve is letting the compressor to build system pressure, then the pump switch won't know to turn it off. It will run and run until the motor gets hot enough to trip the thermals, i.e. invoke the invisible ghost.
When
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
99 Newell, 512
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home
)