Some time ago I purchased a refurbished Porter-Cable 6 Gallon air compressor and tool combo (PC3PAK).  I actually only paid about $20 for it, because I got it on sale, refurbished, and used my health plan’s gift certificates (for having a healthy lifestyle).

Then it ended up sitting around for a while because other priorities intervened.  By the time I got around to using it (well past the return period) I discovered it would not hold any pressure.  This greatly disappointed me.  I read through the manual and went online, and even tore most of the compressor apart (shh… don’t tell anyone).  It still wouldn’t work.

Then while reading the manual again – carefully this time – I noticed the information on the check valve, and that the most common reason the compressor would not build pressure was due to a stuck check valve.  So today I finally took the check valve off of the tank.  It was stuck.  About 10 seconds later I had it unstuck.  I put it back on the tank and reattached the hose from the motor.

The tank held pressure.  Everything works now.

I had spent a month and a half agonizing over what to do with this compressor and whether it could be repaired or not.  And if I had just spent a little more time reading the manual the first time, I probably would have checked the check valve on the first day, and have had the use of the compressor since.  Trust me, using a foot pump to inflate tires or the kids toys is no fun.

Now I just need to figure out the correct nails to buy, and I can finally finish installing the trim in the house.  The trim that has been sitting in the garage for over a year.  My wife would really like the trim finished.