LW100 E1 eco - 20l/min

[omnismares]

Good day to All,

I am writing to you with the hope that somebody has some ideas to assist me.

Long story short:
Compressor LW100 E1 Eco - was working well for approx 400hrs (oil and filters - as per service manual).
At some point, mechanical issues. Send it to an authorized service... came back in worse condition.
Send it to a friend engineer, he manage to revive him.
The compressor started working just fine but after a few hours, during the process of filling a cylinder, I hear a weird noise... and since then, the compressor is behaving like this:
- from zero to 200bar, with the cylinder valve close (pressure only on wipe and manometer) - approx 3-4 minutes.
- with the cylinder open, from approx 150bar up... it takes ages. Calculated, the flow rate is approx 20l/minute instead of 100l/min.
- I can hear a noise, like air coming thru a broken O-ring... but cannot identify the location (during operation) due to the overall noise and airflow from the cooling fan.
- when full under pressure at 200bar, if the compressor is shut down and the cylinder valve is closed - no pressure is lost or any other noise of escaping gas.

Any hint?
Super very much appreciated your time and support!

Stay safe!

 

[iain/hsm]

Rule of thumb with these typical 3 stage L&W Alkin Coltri and the like small sport diver compressors is:

Use no more than 40 hours a year running filling around 80 fills a year for a long happy life of 10 years.
That way as most give up diving in the 3 to 5 year period you are still happy with its performance when you sell it on eBay and the second hand buyer is also happy getting the remaining 5 years use.

By contrast if your a dive shop then you bought the wrong compressor.
Either way 10 years life or 400 hours running whatever comes first and your done its dead.

An alternative in the 3 to 6 scfm high pressure range would have been a Mil Spec designed compressor where 8000 hours is the required minimum life expectancy but that would be a very different animal.

As for the L&W replacing the final stage inlet and discharge valve would resolve the problem
for now but you at the beginning of the end.