20 Most Recent Coleman Powermate 11 Gallon Air Compressor Questions & Answers

Sometimes the initial start up with the tank at 0 psi electric power is adequate. However when the tank is full or the garage is cold it is a bigger load for start up. Check your overload (reset button) and breaker. If 220 volts one side of the breaker could be tripped without showing.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN TIGHTEN THE OUTSIDE OF THE REGULATOR UP A LITTLE. OR THE REGULATOR IS BAD. OR THE REGULATOR IS SEEING BACK-PRESSURE JUST AS IF IT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. DO YOU HAVE IT CONNECTED TO ANOTHER COMPRESSOR DOWNSTREAM THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A LITTLE HIGHER PRESSURE AND BLOWING BACK THRU THE REG. HOPE THIS HELPS, JODY

Make sure you are plugged direct. No extension cords

check gauge it could be bad. but if it is working the compressor is bad they sell parts to fix if you are handy

if you have power, the pressure switch is stuck or bad.

sounds like regulator is stuck or bad.

check that a cord around the coil hasnt come in contact with the crank

A lot of motors have circuit breakers built into them--look for a push button on the end of the motor shell opposite the shaft end and push it in. If it clicks, then retry to start. If the button doesn't exist, or has no effect, try to turn the compressor by hand (power shut off). It should turn fairly easily. Most compressor motors use a capacitor to allow more power at start--if bad the motor will not run, but will hum loudly until the circuit breaker trips. Be sure to check the circuit breaker for the circuit that the machine is connected to. It's possible that the air pressure switch has failed causing no start. Hope some of this helps!

I suspect the check valve is stuck closed causing excess high pressure in the cylinder and too much load for the motor. The check valve is OFTEN right at the tank where the compressor output line goes into the tank.

Nothing makes me grunt like "Tim the Tool Man"more than having a air tool in my hand." More Power!" The first (andonly) compressor I ever bought was used and failed to build up pressure. I hadlittle idea how it worked. Anyone with a little mechanical knowledge can workthrough it with the parts manual. The. Coleman Powermate Manuals are here. With the parts manual your search will befruitful. Do a internet search for suspect part numbers. You will find suppliers. OneI've used is "Arkansas Outdoor Power Equipment" They have many parts list for you to dig through. The odds are there is a "Tool Supply and/or Repair" in your area where you can take your defective part.Diagnostics: After you let it pump for a couple minutes turn it off and listenfor leakage.Listen quick and close. If it is leaking bad it may only be obvious for a couple seconds. Lines and connections can leak. The Regulator (adjustable knob) can leakinside. The "Pressure Switch" can leak (usually at the valve bleeder). If it's under pressure it canleak. All leaks must be fixed. All these parts can be rebuilt or replaced. The "PressureSwitch" controls at what (low) pressurethe compressor kicks on and what (high) pressure it stops compressing.A compressor that pumps and fails to build up the pressureis leaking air as it pumps. Watch the gauges as it pumps. Does it reach acertain pressure and then no higher? If you do not hear leakage when it is offbut it fails to build up 80~90 psi in a reasonable amount of time it is quietlikely it is leaking at the piston as it pumps. A (piston assy, O Ring, and cylinder)repair kits is available online. Or you can check with local "Toolsservice/sales" stores for parts.Remember a dusty environment requires the filter element becleaned more frequently. Run it without a filter and you'll be replacing thepiston assy sooner. Repairing it yourself is much more manly (and less expensive) than replacing it

Link to Coleman Powermate Outdoor Power Equipment manuals.

is it straining to run?is the compressor running on a extension cord that will cause more of a draw exp if the cord is to small

When mine hums and trips, it is one of two things, Not warm enough, only does this when it is cold out, and 2 would be not enough juice, I have to have a 20 amp breaker or it doesn't run. And if I use a cord, it has to big. The slightest drop in amperage and it will not run, yours might have the same problem, mine is only 1 1/2 HP. It draws some 16 amps at start up and then idles down to 13 to run. A 15 amp breaker, forget it. Cold out, forget it. It wasn't just mine though, we did a house last winter and made one bathroom heated with a gas heater with 3 compressors in there just to keep them warm, there was no room for us. Hope this helps.