Compressor Pressure guage

[Jonno]

I just acquired an MCH6 petrol driven compressor and am in the process of checking it out. It is second hand, clearly done quite a bit of work so I am going to give it a basic service and get the output tested.

I ran it up the other day after servicing the engine and it seemed ok and was pumping air, though I did not put any tanks on it. My focus on this point was the honda engine. I left it outside, it was a sunny day and when I went back the gromet on the guage had popped out and the oil in the guage had leaked out. I can order a new guage, not a problem but I am curious as to what the oil does. I am assuming it is 1. a damper and 2. an airspace filler in order to stop the space becoming pressurised with air in case of a leak and letting go stored energy. If so, and if there are no leaks can the oil be replaced as it will take some time for a replacement to arrive here. Thanks in advance.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

As far as I know (which isn't a ton) it's for dampening the vibrations from reaching the needle.

New gauges are $15. Not sure why it "popped" though, that's interesting.

 

[prid1279]

Quite a few of my gauges have "popped" over the years. Not always a problem. They can be run dry or refilled with glycerine(mostly), generally a sign of a leak in the gauge tho. I usually keep using them, if they seem to read consistently, until the replacement arrives.