air compressor regulators

[rb]

Trying to figure out if my regulator works or not.

[Tony]

OK, do you have a pressure gauge before and after the regulator?

[rb]

"do you have a pressure gauge before and after the regulator?"

No. That's why I was asking this question. I think if I use an open line, it will shut itself off if I crank it hard enough.....

[Tony]

I'd get some gauges. For some reason saying "if I crank it hard enough....." doesn't sound like a good way to take care of your regulator. Get some gauges.

[Bob F]

Without a guage, how are you going to tell when it's right?

If the regulator is just tightened a little, the air pressure should be low. Use your air nozzle - it should have a weak jet of air. Turn it up, it should have a strong jet of air. Open hose settings are meaningless. If you are going from high to low settings, the hose pressure may stay high until you've let out some air.

[Tony]

I think he is trained to put his thumb over a cut air hose and measure the pressure. He don't need no stinken' gauges. Just crank that thing as hard as you can. That's the way to test it.

[Ken]

I've tested the regulator on my compressor with bike tires. The tires on the bikes in the garage range from 40 PSI to 120 PSI. I set the reg to the desired pressure, pump up a bike tire, then measure the bike tire with a tire gauge. At least lets me kow if the regulator matches the tire gauge. Although I don't know for a fact if either one is actually accurate or not.

Ken