How do I replace the reeds in my craftsman air compressor

SOURCE: air compressor won't run

Don't run it with the head off! the cylinder will just up and down with the piston and ruin the seals again. I have three Craftsman compressors in my shop and I've torn them all down at least twice. Rather than pay for the kit, I went to NAPA and got a roll of cork gasket material and made my own seals. They don't last as long but they work great.

I'd be willing to bet your seal it just too tight. I made this mistake the first time around too. it's not a very good design as the piston tilts through the stroke. I would try putting a light coat of heavy weight oil on the cylinder wall and move the piston by hand to lube the seal.

SOURCE: coleman compressor no build up of pressure

Parts for coleman are available at www.mastertoolrepair.com your compressor is listed as L0502710. If however you like to tinker, you can make a pretty good reed valve out of aluminum can material or other (any ideas?). It is fairly easy to cut, does not last as long as factory stainless steel, but for short term, why not? Good Luck

SOURCE: install reed valves hitachi air compressor need pics

I believe in your model of air compressor, when you take apart the head portion to your compressor you should have four reed valves. When you have it apart, there should be two "grooves" on the bottom "plate" and two "grooves" on the top plate (where the reed valves go). the bottom part is easy (as you should already know) to set in the reed valves, but as i have also found out, as you probably have, that its a little more difficult to line up the other reed valves to thier "grooves" on the upper "plate". What you do to make sure that they stay in place is dab a little oil or grease on the reeds and place them in the upper "plate grooves" and carefully set the upper plate back in place where it goes on the compressor. It will hold them in place long enough to install it on the compressor and the small amount of grease that was there will quickly be burned up with no effect to the opperation to the machine.
Sorry, long winded explanation. hope this helps and if it didnt get to you soon enough i hope it helps out in the future. :-D

SOURCE: 3gal craftsman horizontal compressor wont build pressure

Without knowing specifics of your unit, If there are three reeds, then two are probably for intake and one for exhaust. Intake reeds should be on the piston side of the valve plate, discharge reed should be on the head side.

There should be a divider in the head side to separate the inlet from the discharge. Make sure the valve plate is turned so that the air from the air filter side goes to the side with the intake valves, and the air from the discharge valve should go to the side with the pipe to the tank.

mickey813

• 472 Answers
• Posted on Nov 19, 2009

SOURCE: Instructins needed on piston ring replacement on air compressor

GO TO SEARSPARTSDIRECT ENTER THE MODEL NUMBER AND IT WILL SHOW IT ALL TO YA LET ME KNOW IF THIS HELPS YOU