I CANNOT FIGURE THIS OUT...

this is so frustrating. i have a viair 380 on a 5 gallon tank. a while back the check valve in the leader hose stopped working. ordered a new leader hose, it also stopped working. put a SMC check valve on the end of the leader hose. couple months later, it stopped working. replaced it with another SMC one a couple of weeks ago, and you guessed it, now it has stopped working.
 
the check valves are facing the right direction. i have mounted them vertically and horizontally, wondering if water was getting in them and causing problems. and air is still leaking back through the compressor. any ideas, besides switching to hydraulics... 

moisture = FAIL  solution run nitrogen

water trap.

i forgot to mention that i have a second 380 on a 5 gallon tank with the same check valve and everything that has never given me problems. oh well.   thanks for the quick responses. i don't have anywhere to put a nitrogen bottle and my compressors still pump fine. i don't have water traps, but I do drain the tanks every couple weeks to compensate. i have been doing it like that for 3 years and no problems until now. but i guess its worth a shot. would it be best to put it in front of the check valve or on the tank?

if water is in the tank its already done its damage to the check valve.. put your water traps between the comp and the check valve.. thats how i have mine set up and they're great... but im running an edc  

I would suggest getting a good check valve from Grainger or a similar store....I've never had very good luck with SMC check valves. I have a york that is passing major oil right now cause it's not mounted properly yet and i haven't done the oil mod.....I've never had water traps....and i've never had a problem wth my "Industrial Grade" check valve. I say ditch the plastic SMC check valve and get ya a good one.

--------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Lagz if water is in the tank its already done its damage to the check valve.. put your water traps between the comp and the check valve.. thats how i have mine set up and they're great... but im running an edc   --------------------------------------------- if the trap is in between the check valve and compressor, wouldn't all the moisture from the tank still be able to get in to the check valve? should the trap be between the check valve and the tank?    BIG - i checked out grainger's site and they have hundreds of check valves and some are $150. i was a little lost. do you have any specifics on the ones you run?

I have some really nice parker check valves. They were 35.00 each i think.. I'll try and get a PN for ya

THats wierd. Ive been running Viair compressors for years and never had a problem with the check valves, and my tank always has water in it, and i dont run a water trap.

Had the same thing happen,one bad check valve,. Got 2 of these 1/4" Viton seat,part # 7768K52,$10.86 ea.,from McMaster-Car www.mcmaster.com  Problem solved!!