ARB Air Compressor - Problem
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 14:47
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Old Bushie
Gday
I am wondering if anyone has had problems with recent model ARB Air Compressors.
I purchased
mine 18 months ago and it has had only moderate use pumping tyres from beach to road pressure. It is installed under bonnet (with ARB mounting system) in 100S TD and doesn't get unduly hot.
It recently failed while inflating a repaired tyre in the bush (350km from anywhere).....loud grinding then no air. Removing air filter I found heaps of ground up plastic bits.
ARB, as expected, were excellent, pump sent to
Melbourne for repair and even lent me a Max Air in the interim.
I purchased this compressor because of its reliable reputation. My concern is now trusting the repaired pump if there maybe a common problem with them.
Would like to get an idea if this is an isolated failure or widespread.
Regards
Reply By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 15:03
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 15:03
I had an ARB unit under the bonnet in my old GU and had it fail too (plus numerous times it blew the 30 amp fuse), so my new truck carries a Bushranger MaxAir and I coouldn't be happier with its performance.
However, I haven't heard of too many problems with the ARB units failing in general so I suspect yours might have been an isolated incidence.
Regards,
AnswerID:
198871
Reply By: Darian (SA) - Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 15:18
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 15:18
Mine is about 5 years old and has at times worked hard for me - been great all along - installed under the bonnet and the outlet is plumbed to the rear/exterior of the vehicle (I use an in-line 5L
tank too) - the only snag has been that if the pump gets very hot (stinker of a day, or a hot day and the bonnet is left down maybe) it may blow a fuse (draws extra power when running hot and hard). There is no thermal overload/cutoff in my model - just the 100psi pressure cutoff.
AnswerID:
198872
Reply By: Member - Jiarna (NT) - Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 23:19
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 at 23:19
Hi OB
I have the ARB compressor installed under bonnet, and after about 10 months it spat the dummy. When I opened it up, the inlet valve had disintegrated (it's made of plastic). The graphite
bore and the alloy piston with Teflon compression ring really impressed me, so I bought new valves and fixed it up (a lot cheaper than sending it for repair under warranty!). The new valves have gone great for over 12 months now, so I'm thinking it's a weakness in some of the valves. They only cost about $1.25 so I carry a spare in the 'bits box'.
Cheers
John
Hermannsburg
AnswerID:
198944
Follow Up By: Longreach - Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 17:15
Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 17:15
I assume you got the valves from ARB ? Is there more than 1 to replace ?
FollowupID:
457801
Follow Up By: Member - Jiarna (NT) - Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:40
Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 19:40
Yes ARB have the parts, in fact every piece of the compressor can be purchased separately. I'd give you the part numbers, but I've moved house since I bought them and have 'filed' the information.
I had to replace just the inlet valve plunger, but bought the retainer and the coil spring as
well, all for less than $4.
Cheers
John
FollowupID:
457818
Reply By: Longreach - Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 17:13
Friday, Oct 13, 2006 at 17:13
I have had exactly the same thing happen except after about 4 years and the compressor had only just been started at the time, hence not hot. The inlet valve disintegrated and then a horrible grinding noise. I went back to where I bought it (an ARB reseller) and they fixed it free of charge. Like the rest of you, my concern is that it might happen in a very inconvenient place at the wrong time. I asked the guy if he had seen it before and if I should get spares but he said no. Think I might get a spare inlet valve (or 2) like John.
Cheers.
AnswerID:
199039