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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: aaronjb on 12 February 2012, 14:01:58

Title: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 12 February 2012, 14:01:58
Still trying to figure out if it's the pipework (which I just replaced) or the windy gun that's broken - all it does is go 'pssshhhh' and let air out when you pull the trigger.

Don't suppose anyone nearish me has one I could borrow to see if the compressor isn't man enough (50L 3hp 14cfm V-twin, so it ought to be up to the job!), the pipework is too small, or my windy gun was DOA (guess who didn't keep the receipt either, d'oh!)?
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: skyblue on 12 February 2012, 14:52:34
Sorry mate cant help ya out as I dont own any posh tools.... just a cheap and cheerfull chap Im affraid  ;) :)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 February 2012, 15:58:34
Yep got one here you can borrow. But stear clear for a couple of days, I have the black death/yellow fever/Altzhiemers strain of man flu. :'(

Sounds like a lack of air through the gun or the gun has seized. Does the gun get oiled regularly?
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Andy H on 12 February 2012, 16:27:28
+1 for seized air motor.

Domestic air compressors tend to produce air with lots of moisture droplets. If you don't squirt oil into the tool before you pack it away the vanes in the air motor will rust to the bore of the motor.

I have an air ratchet which is prone to doing it but it is easy to strip down to free it up if necessary.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 February 2012, 16:35:40
I have one. Could  bring it as far as Fleet during the week?
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 12 February 2012, 16:50:31
Yep got one here you can borrow. But stear clear for a couple of days, I have the black death/yellow fever/Altzhiemers strain of man flu. :'(

Ooh I don't want to catch that - manflu is a terrible thing! In no rush though and you're probably closer to me than Kevin (thanks for the offer though Kevin!) - if you're feeling brighter later in the week?

The gun is brand new - never been used, although to be fair I didn't oil it before I tried to use it. First time I tried to use it it was hooked up to the airline with the dryer & oiler on it, though (now hooked up to the short airline straight to the compressor though as I'm trying to eliminate things).. but maybe it is seized internally.

I just swapped out the quick release fitting on the compressor (because I've no idea what it is) with a Lüdecke ES fitting and matching airline, which does seem to blow through more easily than the fitting on the compressor originally - but it's still only 8mm ID hose I think..
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Andy B on 12 February 2012, 21:35:24
.... - but it's still only 8mm ID hose I think..

My windy gun needs a proper 1/2" reinforced hose for it to run properly.  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 12 February 2012, 21:45:26
.... - but it's still only 8mm ID hose I think..

My windy gun needs a proper 1/2" reinforced hose for it to run properly.  :y

I'll admit I sort of discounted the hose as the ID of the quick release fittings can't be more than 8mm I wouldn't think - the OD is only 11mm. The compressor itself has maybe 12mm pipework on it (1/4NPT fittings?)..

[edit] Come to think of it, the reely hose is significantly bigger OD, I wonder if it's ID is bigger as well.. must check  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Andy B on 12 February 2012, 23:08:07
.... - but it's still only 8mm ID hose I think..

My windy gun needs a proper 1/2" reinforced hose for it to run properly.  :y

I'll admit I sort of discounted the hose as the ID of the quick release fittings can't be more than 8mm I wouldn't think - the OD is only 11mm. The compressor itself has maybe 12mm pipework on it (1/4NPT fittings?)..

[edit] Come to think of it, the reely hose is significantly bigger OD, I wonder if it's ID is bigger as well.. must check  :y

My smaller coiled air hose uses the same fittings as my bigger reinforced hose.  :y :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: flyer 0712 on 12 February 2012, 23:21:22
8mm internal diameter air hose will be enough to run a 1/2 sq  drive air gun....to remove the moisture from getting to the gun just fit a water trap to the wall  and connect it to the air hose from your compressor and then the hose from there to your gun will be free from the water that collects in compressed air..then just empty the filter bowl from the water trap as required...air tools need their daily drop of oil to keep them up to scratch.. :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Andy B on 13 February 2012, 05:51:20
8mm internal diameter air hose will be enough to run a 1/2 sq  drive air gun.......

Depends how long the hose is ......  ;) ;)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 February 2012, 09:24:06
8mm internal diameter air hose will be enough to run a 1/2 sq  drive air gun.......

Depends how long the hose is ......  ;) ;)

I've only got an ickle one  :'( .. I jest - but I was only using the short (maybe 1.5m) section of hose to test, rather than the longer 5m or 15m hoses.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 February 2012, 16:17:27
Well I think I've eliminated the hose as a potential cause now - I plugged the windy gun directly into the quick release outlet on the compressor and .. pssssshhhhhhhhhh but no windy :(

Took the gun apart and nothing seems seized and the vanes on the pneumatic motor inside seem free to slide in their grooves and so on, but nothing's happening when I pull the trigger aside from air coming out around the little 'forward/backward' button.

Boo.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Andy H on 13 February 2012, 20:35:17
Sounds as though either a seal has failed inside the control valve or there is a blockage inside it. :-\
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: fiend61 on 13 February 2012, 21:29:47
aaron i know it sounds silly but have you a speed setting on the gun, just asking incase it is inbetween speeds that would cause it not to operate and just let air through  :-\
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: fiend61 on 13 February 2012, 21:31:43
oh and also work that forward backward button a bit in case that is stuck inbetween  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 February 2012, 21:34:17
Sounds as though either a seal has failed inside the control valve or there is a blockage inside it. :-\

That's the sort of conclusion I was coming to.. I'll steal borrow Chris's gun and test it at some point..

aaron i know it sounds silly but have you a speed setting on the gun, just asking incase it is inbetween speeds that would cause it not to operate and just let air through  :-\

Nah - there's just the trigger, the 'forward/backward' button (which I've pushed 129387123 times ;D) and the torque setting wheel (which I've repeatedly fiddled with) :(

It is only a 'PowerCraft' make, mind, so it was cheap..
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: fiend61 on 13 February 2012, 21:36:10
Quote
PowerCraft
theres your problem  :y
sorry couldnt resist  ;D ;D ;D
on yhe plus side if it still looks new you should still be able to exchange it from  where you bought it from with or without receipt  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: tidla on 13 February 2012, 21:36:45
just get yourself another one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windy-Gun-/200711981018?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item2ebb5dc7da

might need a bigger hose. ;D
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: fiend61 on 13 February 2012, 21:39:07
Quote
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windy-Gun-/200711981018?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item2ebb5dc7da
think thats the bugger the gorilla mechanic done my wheel nuts with  :(
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Lazydocker on 13 February 2012, 21:41:38
just get yourself another one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windy-Gun-/200711981018?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item2ebb5dc7da

might need a bigger hose. ;D
Not clear if it is 3/4 or inch drive from the picture, but they're a bit on the heavy side either way ::)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 February 2012, 21:47:41
Aye, there's an old adage about never buying cheap tools, I'm sure..  :-[

just get yourself another one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Windy-Gun-/200711981018?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item2ebb5dc7da

might need a bigger hose. ;D

 ;D And a bigger compressor, I should think!
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 13 February 2012, 22:49:11
Sounds as though either a seal has failed inside the control valve or there is a blockage inside it. :-\

That's the sort of conclusion I was coming to.. I'll steal borrow Chris's gun and test it at some point..

aaron i know it sounds silly but have you a speed setting on the gun, just asking incase it is inbetween speeds that would cause it not to operate and just let air through  :-\

Nah - there's just the trigger, the 'forward/backward' button (which I've pushed 129387123 times ;D) and the torque setting wheel (which I've repeatedly fiddled with) :(

It is only a 'PowerCraft' make, mind, so it was cheap..
£200 deposit on tool hire.  ::)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 13 February 2012, 22:59:17
£200 deposit on tool hire.  ::)

Cor, you don't come cheap, do you ;D I could buy a whole new gun for that  :P

'course if I do that it's bound to turn out to be something else ;D

I realise Sealey & Draper aren't 'top tier' brands like SnapOn, but there's some decent looking ones here: http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Tool-Shop/1-2-Drive-Air-Impact-Wrenches

Not that I know the first thing about windy guns, really, aside from knowing mine doesn't work  :'(
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 14 February 2012, 01:02:57
£200 deposit on tool hire.  ::)

Cor, you don't come cheap, do you ;D I could buy a whole new gun for that  :P

'course if I do that it's bound to turn out to be something else ;D

I realise Sealey & Draper aren't 'top tier' brands like SnapOn, but there's some decent looking ones here: http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Tool-Shop/1-2-Drive-Air-Impact-Wrenches

Not that I know the first thing about windy guns, really, aside from knowing mine doesn't work  :'(
mine cots £30, runs off a 25 litre tank on a 30metre retractable line. Only problem I have is it doesn't quite have enough oomph to undo wheel nuts at 110nm.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 10:53:23
mine cots £30, runs off a 25 litre tank on a 30metre retractable line. Only problem I have is it doesn't quite have enough oomph to undo wheel nuts at 110nm.

I wouldn't mind betting yours looks a lot like mine, too - all the cheaper ones seem to be identical (I imagine they come out of the same Chinese factory).. feeling any better yet so I can come 'round and borrow it? ;)

Or you round here, if you don't want to let it out of your sight.. ;D
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 14 February 2012, 11:24:41
mine cots £30, runs off a 25 litre tank on a 30metre retractable line. Only problem I have is it doesn't quite have enough oomph to undo wheel nuts at 110nm.

I wouldn't mind betting yours looks a lot like mine, too - all the cheaper ones seem to be identical (I imagine they come out of the same Chinese factory).. feeling any better yet so I can come 'round and borrow it? ;)

Or you round here, if you don't want to let it out of your sight.. ;D
Pm me your address A.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 11:44:19
You have a PM, Chris  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 16:17:16
Thanks to Mr Gixxer I can now confirm that the problem is, in fact, my windy gun .. which is a big bag o' brown stuff.

So I've ordered a new one - nothing too fancy, but at least it's a reputable make this time ;D (No, not SnapOn ;D ;D)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Lazydocker on 14 February 2012, 17:49:16
Having owned a Snap Off windy gun and now owning an Ingerssol Rand one I know which I would recommend (and it isn't the Snap On one) ;)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 17:52:05
Having owned a Snap Off windy gun and now owning an Ingerssol Rand one I know which I would recommend (and it isn't the Snap On one) ;)

It's not one of those, either ;D Although I am watching a 'new old stock' IR one on eBay.. if it doesn't go up too much I might get it anyway - but I've ordered a Sealey GSA01, bit more in my price range than new IR (or SnapOn) tools!
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Lazydocker on 14 February 2012, 17:55:46
Having owned a Snap Off windy gun and now owning an Ingerssol Rand one I know which I would recommend (and it isn't the Snap On one) ;)

It's not one of those, either ;D Although I am watching a 'new old stock' IR one on eBay.. if it doesn't go up too much I might get it anyway - but I've ordered a Sealey GSA01, bit more in my price range than new IR (or SnapOn) tools!
To be fair, I bought mine on the drip when I was in the workshop. The air tools took a beating when used for a large chunk of the day, every day so always went for quality ;)

But if I was buying now for occasional use I wouldn't spend as much :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 17:59:59
I figure the Sealey has to be better than the (broken) PowerCraft .. ;D Though I went for the lower torque model (GSA02 is 500lb/ft, I've no idea what you'd do up with that!) .. and ordered a decent air ratchet at the same time, which I can see me using more than the windy gun most likely.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 February 2012, 18:15:06
The Clarke air guns are pretty shite, so thats another one to avoid. 50l (I think) tank, 8mm (ID) hose, won't touch wheelnuts.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 14 February 2012, 18:18:36
I'll let you know what the Sealey one is like when it turns up ;) I'll need it to get the nuts off the Omega when I want to put the summer wheels back on, I imagine, as the tyre place air gunned them on.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 16 February 2012, 14:04:33
Well my new stuff arrived last night - both work fantastically (well, with 0 load ;D haven't tried them on wheel nuts yet!).. Sealey GSA01 impact wrench and Sealey GSA21 air ratchet. Lighter than my old tools and have nice rubber handles to keep your hands warm when it's cold (like now!).
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 February 2012, 14:37:39
You could have knocked me down with a feather when my cheapy Lidl windy gun took the hub nut straight off the Westfield when half an hour of grunting with a breaker bar achieved nothing. Only tried it for a laugh.

Makes me wonder if I'd really tightened it to 310-350 nm. ::)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 16 February 2012, 14:47:36
So what spec air kit to we need to undo 110 nm wheel nuts?
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 16 February 2012, 14:50:10
If I get home at a decent time I'll try it tonight, Chris - whack the air gun on the Omega and see if a wheel nut spins off.. If it does then what I have should do it - since these nuts were airgunned on, they must be well over 110Nm...
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 16 February 2012, 15:00:00
Cheers Aaron.

Mines a 25litre tank, on a long line...  even fully charged it won't touch a wheel nut.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 16 February 2012, 19:51:50
I got home late :( So .. tomorrow, or Saturday since it's a car-day anyway :)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: TheBoy on 16 February 2012, 19:54:01
Cheers Aaron.

Mines a 25litre tank, on a long line...  even fully charged it won't touch a wheel nut.
My 50l (I think), 200+ PSI, on a 10m ID 8mm hose and Clarke windy will only move wheelnuts if they have very recently been done up.
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 16 February 2012, 21:18:57
Depends on the rating if the tools apparently
Psi/cfm (cubic feeet per minute)
http://www.powermate.com/air_compressors/buying_guide.php
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: Lazydocker on 16 February 2012, 21:32:24
Depends on the rating if the tools apparently
Psi/cfm (cubic feeet per minute)
http://www.powermate.com/air_compressors/buying_guide.php
Yep, and (unfortunately) I can't remember the minimum flow rating for any of my air tools so it's going to be hit and miss when I get the compressor ::)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 16 February 2012, 21:37:11
That's why I bought the biggest (2.5HP, twin piston) compressor I can realistically run off a household supply (admittedly I could go bigger - there's a 20A commando socket in the garage)..

I'll try un-gunning the wheel nuts on the omega soon - I'll try with my gun and yours, Chris :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 26 February 2012, 17:43:33
Cheers Aaron.

Mines a 25litre tank, on a long line...  even fully charged it won't touch a wheel nut.

Finally got around to this after spending a bit of time working on my own car instead of someone elses ;D

The verdict is .. all three guns (my Sealey, my Ingersoll Rand and your Sealey) will take the wheel nuts off my Omega - even though they were last done up in a tyre shop with an air gun back in November.

I'm using this compressor: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rhyas-50L-14CFM-Compressor-3HP-V-Twin-240V-Compressed-Air-Tank-/250951774278
With an enormous reely hose from Aldi (ahem) - 10mm ID IIRC
I've replaced all the quick release fittings (which aren't the best on the compressor or hose) with decent fittings from Lüdecke - DN 7,2 ES fittings with one-way shutoff (page 136 here http://www.luedecke.de/english/blaetterkatalog/english/12Quick-Disconnect_Couplings/blaetterkatalog/index.html). Rectus series 25/26 are easier to get in this country and compatible with these, though (e.g. http://www.threadandpipe-catalogue.co.uk/browse_product.aspx?mode=level1&level1=270258&level2=271455 )
My gun(s) are Sealey GSA01 and Ingersoll-Rand IR235
Oh and there's an in-line oiler & water trap with a regulator set to 6bar


Chris, your gun struggled a bit more than either of mine but still span them off in the end - it just took a few more hammer blows before they came free. Once I remembered to turn the torque up to '4' (it was on '1') ;)


I wonder if it makes any difference that I have steelies on right now and not alloys?


Oh .. as I mentioned my IR gun - I got this as an absolute bargain on eBay; new old stock, never used:
(http://i42.tinypic.com/34e810w.jpg)
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: feeutfo on 26 February 2012, 18:41:05
Yeah I played with the torque setting to give the best output before hand, to make sure it worked. Didn't pay attention to what number it was on though, but that seemed most grunty, although it wouldn't undo a wheel nut.

Ir looks handy.  :y
Title: Re: I don't suppose anyone has an air-powered windy gun near me?
Post by: aaronjb on 26 February 2012, 19:15:13
Now all I have to do is get your windy gun back to you  :-[ :-[