Air Hammer Problem

Larry Withrow

Larry Withrow

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
Messages
878
I have a air hammer made by Ted Banning (Parkersburg, WV). He recently moved to Richmond, VA and does not have a phone yet. One day the hammer worked fine and the next day it started leaking air from under the solenoid. I installed a new solenoid and gasket and it still does the same thing. Any help would be appreciated. I am attaching five pics of the hammer. As I remember BF's will only let me put five on a thread.





 
I cant help you with the problem sorry,but I do want to thank you for posting the pictures. I always enjoy seeing shop made machinery. Theres a lot going on in that hammer.

Good luck on the fix.

Brett Mathews
 
Im sure its something simple,it seems like something is not opening and closing when the air is applied
 
Without being there, it is nearly impossible to diagnose the problem with any certainty. I would have suggested you look at the solenoid...but you already have. Be certain that the seals are properly fitted, and bolts equally and fully torqued.

If air is leaking all the time, it may be a seal, a cracked plate, a bad/loose fitting, or a bad/loose hose. These would be on the supply side ( compressor side) of the solenoid valve.

If it is intermittent as the solenoid opens/closes, then it may be one of those things on the cylinder side of the solenoid valve.

Try blowing smoke at it and seeing exactly where the leak is. I bet that will tell you a lot.
 
Thanks, Stacy. I definitely need a different set of eyes to look at it. It is hard to diagnose this problem not being here. I can put air to it and it will not leak until I turn the power on. The solenoid is torqued down tight and evenly. I took the bellows off yesterday and took it apart and oiled it and blew air through all the air inlets and outlets, but that did not solve the problem. As Bill said, it may be something simple that I am not seeing.
 
Ok, so no leak when the air is on, but the solenoid is inert. When the power is on, the air leaks. The question then is: when the power is on, what changes in/on the solenoid? It sounds like something is being energized in the normal position...

Questions ( I should have asked this first) -
Does the hammer run the same as it did before, run weaker, or not run at all?
Is the solenoid linked to a mechanical valve or is the solenoid and valve combined and built into the solenoid ( a base plate)?
What is triggering the solenoid?
Is there a by-pass or pressure relief on the solenoid?
 
Ok, so no leak when the air is on, but the solenoid is inert. When the power is on, the air leaks. The question then is: when the power is on, what changes in/on the solenoid? It sounds like something is being energized in the normal position...

Questions ( I should have asked this first) -
Does the hammer run the same as it did before, run weaker, or not run at all?
Is the solenoid linked to a mechanical valve or is the solenoid and valve combined and built into the solenoid ( a base plate)?
What is triggering the solenoid?
Is there a by-pass or pressure relief on the solenoid?
 
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