Sullair 375 Compressor with John Deere Diesel

[Dave Varabioff]

I have a compressor, about 8k hours. Running fine for past 3 years and now have a weird issue and hoping for some insight.
I can fire it up first thing in the morning and it will run about 30 minutes or so, then it just dies suddenly like its a fuel issue (in fact it REALLY seems like a fuel issue because I cant restart it right away), I need to let it sit for about 30 seconds and then it will restart, but when I flip the switch to run it dies IMMEDIATELY.

I am assuming "overheat" on compressor, I am not a mechanic, I am a gold miner lol. I have changed the compressor oil (it was in fact pretty dark color so indicative of over heat) and filters.

Any other insight? What to look for, what can I do?
Thanks tons!
Dave

 

[Coaldust]

Dave,

I used the same model of compressor for tank testing in Yakutat for a few seasons and spent way too much time keeping it running. I got fairly familiar with it.

I would first determine if you are dealing with a fuel problem or an electrical problem with the shutdown system.

Bypass the electrical circuit to the fuel injection pump run solenoid with a fused jumper wire to the battery and see if it works OK.

Then report back. But, I know gold miners. You will run it that way until freeze up. Happy diggin’ !

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Thanks a ton, yes we been working on it today and I strongly think fuel issue, we do get 4 flashes for "Low speed" as the error on the shut down module.
There was a "Black Gunk" (almost like tar) in the bottom of the tank and the first fuel filter.
We have replaced both fuel filters and cleaning out the lines and injectors.
We crack the injectors, bleed the air, it fires up and runs for about 1 minute then stops (Like its run out of fuel) but it could be the electrical.
Will try your trick if cleaning lines doesn't fix it!
And apparently you were a gold miner once too ;-) (takes one to know one lol)

Dave

 

[Coaldust]

Dave,

Gold Fields Operating Company! Golconda NV.
Good luck with your troubleshooting.

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Colorado Quartz Gold Mine
in California
Rare specimens
Anyways, it was electrical, jumped the fuel solenoid and its fixed! So what's the "REAL" fix?
Speed Sensor?
Thanks for the input at least we can run for a day or 7 until I fix it for real!

dave

 

[Coaldust]

That’s good news! At least you have it narrowed down. There are a few safety switches that shut off the engine in case it overheats or low oil pressure and a couple other devices that are related to the compressor.

You need to take the wiring diagram and test each switch and do a good visual inspection of all the connections of the shutdown circuit.

I might have a diagram. I’ll look for it.

Check the oil pressure switch, first. It’s located near the oil filter on the side of the block. Spray it clean with BRAKLEEN and make sure the switch isn’t leaking oil.

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Excellent! Thank you, we will "run" today and fix after hours, lol....yea Gold Miner

 

[Dave Varabioff]

heres another epic piece i found

 

[Dave Varabioff]

That’s good news! At least you have it narrowed down. There are a few safety switches that shut off the engine in case it overheats or low oil pressure and a couple other devices that are related to the compressor.

You need to take the wiring diagram and test each switch and do a good visual inspection of all the connections of the shutdown circuit.

I might have a diagram. I’ll look for it.

Check the oil pressure switch, first. It’s located near the oil filter on the side of the block. Spray it clean with BRAKLEEN and make sure the switch isn’t leaking oil.

So I did switch out the sensors and it does seem like there is an issue. The sensor is now working properly in that when we fire up the lights for the SSAM are not flashing (they were before), we can run about 3 hours and then is shuts down with the "Compressor Temp" flash warning and YES its VERY warm. In fact the oil tank feels hot, and I do hear a gurgling sound (almost like an overheated car radiator) but its the oil tank. My thoughts are that it must be the "in tank" oil filter? We did just change the oil recently but not the in tank filter. I am open to other things to look at as well?

Thanks

 

[Coaldust]

Might not have enough air flow through the unit, plugged radiator, plugged vents, fan belt slipping, running with the doors open.

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Might not have enough air flow through the unit, plugged radiator, plugged vents, fan belt slipping, running with the doors open.

Uhhhhh, figured it out. My "guy" recently did a service on it (at my request). All new filters, oli, compressor oil. The compressor was tilted to the right (uneven ground) and when he refilled compressor oil because of the angle of the machine put in 3.5 gallons too many....when I realized he probably over filled it we leveled the machine, drained the excess and we are back to "golden"

Thanks for the input!

Dave

 

[Coaldust]

Good to hear! Thanks for the update. Time to get diggin’.

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Good to hear! Thanks for the update. Time to get diggin’.

Indeed! In fact tomorrow (Mothers day) I have the main USA minelab rep bringing me the newest and latest and greatest detector!

Mlgdave

 

[Dave Varabioff]

Good to hear! Thanks for the update. Time to get diggin’.

Well..........
So I thought we had it fixed, and about to put 25# in it and shoot it.
We drained the compressor oil to proper volume.
We have replaced all sensors except the oil temp sensor on the compressor.
We cleaned the "Oil return" line filter (it was about 90% plugged.
Topped off coolant.
It starts, and runs and produces air. Sometimes it will run for 10 minutes, other times for 2 hours.
The SSAm on this machine has 2 sets of errors (1 flash or 4 flashes)
It WAS giving us 1 flash which was "Compressor temp" and that was fixed with the oil issue
Now its 4 flashes which is "underspeed" - what would YOU look at or repair if you saw that?
Battery voltage is 12.89, both fuel filters are new.....I am at a loss

Thanks!
Dave

 

[mg2361]

Check your engine rpm with a photo tachometer? What is the engine serial number?

 

[PanchoVilla]

I realize this is a few years late but I just saw your post. I've been having identical issues with my 2007 sullair 185. I was wondering if you ever resolved this issue. I'm getting ready to change out the SSAM module because it seems like thats the only possibility. bypassed everything and it keeps telling me its either low oil pressure, speed to low, or compressor too hot.

 

[Simon C]

Better check the oil pressure with a gauge hooked up to the main oil gallery, as I have tested one to find out the oil pump failed. Have you cleaned out the rads. Has the oil water separator been changed as it is part of the necessary maintenance, if it has enough hours on it.
Is the discharge valve being opened too much and working the unit too hard.
Simon C

 

[PanchoVilla]

Well as it turns out I did just today put a oil pressure on a tee with the oil pressure switch. So when i fired it up the oil pressure was reading just below 60 lbs. after about 5 mins though it started slowly dropping. I was opening the valve a little off and on to simulate typical air usage and the oil pressure continued dropping. I had bypassed the oil pressure switch wire and just ran the harness wire to ground so it stayed running but when it got down to a hair above 40 I shut it down. That was after it had been running a little over 20 mins. Since I've owned this the radiator has been drained and refilled with antifreeze, the engine oil and filter was changed out with 0-40 synthetic, and the compressor fluid and filter was changed. But not the air/oil separator in the sump tank hasn't been touched. The air coming out of the service outlet is clean-no oil at all. But as for the oil pressure dropping IDK, but I was afraid to keep it running not sure of what the acceptable pressure range is even. Does this sound like a bad oil pump? Do they drop off like that, or would the pressure start off low and stay low?

 

[PanchoVilla]

I forgot to mention it has a JD 4024 motor..

 

[mg2361]

If you checked oil pressure on the opposite side of the engine from the engine oil filter, then you are plugged into the timing advance circuit. Tha circuit will have engine oil pressure cold, then drop to zero when warmed up. Engine oil pressure needs to be checked on the filter side of the engine (use the port just in front of the filter just under and behind the lower radiator hose).