Air Venturi compressor

Wow 2 years and only 3 hour use? Wouldnt it save more money by just paying like $5 to get your bottle refill if you dont shoot that often. Imo the point of having a compressor is to have infinite air supply so you can shot as much as possible. Owning a $1400 compressor and only using it like 3 -5 times in 2 year isnt worth it but it's your money. As for the topic, first thing to check is leak. Then check high piston o rings in the high pressure cylinder. I dont have the air venturi but I do have the hatsan lighting which is basically the same compressor. Mine is a year old and have 40 plus hours on it and I havent rebuilt it yet cause it's still pumping all the way to 4500 psi.i dont see why yours would have any problem if you only used it like 3 hours total. 

I have an AV compressor and I feel your pain. Mine croaked after 5 hours, it was "almost" a year old. PA did take it in on warranty. They said the low pressure valve plate was faulty. They also replaced the high side piston rings.

It doesn't look too difficult to repair. Be sure the pressure gauge is OK on your tank. Put a dead head on the AV fill hose, start the cooler, and turn it on. The pressure on the AV gauge should go to 4,500psi pretty quickly. If not, you'll need to do some repair work. There are pics of what a crusted up valve plate looks like online somewhere. It seems if it isn't actually broke it can be cleaned up. Obviously take a look at the piston rings. PA is usually pretty good at giving you some help over the phone.

With that dead head in place and with whatever pressure you can generate, turn off the pumps and check for leaks. Good Luck, and let us know how it turns out.

I don't have an AV Compressor, yet... Looking to get the new EC-3000, but for compressors in general, check the hoses and any filters you have attached for leaks as well. I have found leaks in the quick disconnect fittings and the o-rings in filters will start to leak when the pressure gets above 3000 psi, and they can exhibit the same symptoms.

My low hr AV did same (3600) after sitting unused for 6 months or so. Then one day I needed 300 bar and got it. Been fine ever since. I don’t know, but imagine that would tell an expert something. Don’t recall under exactly what circumstances it came unstuck. But when you mentioned 3600, thought I should jump in with some anecdotal anyway. Good luck 

EDIT: Flgunner comment above got me thinking and now I remember, I was filling a 300cc titanium tube, not a tank when it finally functioned properly. Points to leaks after the compressor as he mentioned 

Just went thru all of this with my Lightning, and I posted up a fix it tread that’s just a few pages back. Knowing what I know now, I would check for leaks first, then check the low pressure head second for any sticking on the intake reed valve. Take it apart and clean any soot or gunk build up, replace any seals with new. Then test fire.

If that helps but still doesn’t build up to 4500 or takes longer to do so, then I would replace the piston rings and all seals in the high pressure head. 

While your at it, replace the filtration parts with new filters and seals. Might as well, and makes it easy to log down on your maintenance notes.

My opinion is letting these compressors set for extended periods of time is not good for them. A person should let it run for a few minutes every couple of weeks. I shoot a lot so my Tuxing twin cylinder is being used every week.

A lot of mechanical things don't appreciate being ignored for extended periods and benefit from being exercised regularly - compressors and HPA devices seem to be particularly needy.

I don't shoot my PCPs much in the (cold Canadian) winter but I make a point of shooting a couple of shots and freshening the oil film on the metal parts at the beginning of every month (gives me an excuse to fondle them LOL!). 

Find it helps to have a list and a schedule to follow. For routine maintenance, I run my compressors (HPA and shop) and air conditioners (house and vehicle) for a couple of minutes the first Saturday of every month if they are not seeing regular use (good time to put the boat batteries on the charger as well).

My AV compressor started not wanting to put up over 3000psi. Ended up being moisture corrosion on the low side reed valve. If you notice the spare parts that come with the compressor are for that cylinder. There is a new reed valve and gaskets. You will need to polish up where the reed valve seals. I didn't have to use any new gaskets. I also built a filter bottle filled with dessicant to try and knock the moisture out of the incoming air. Hope this helps you.

Have had my share of issues- worked well for 5 hrs. total runtime- then checked filter, only to find it was NEVER installed from factory-@ 5 hrs. pressure not building past 2500- Found#15 on hi-side broken, #12 valve plate carboned up(replaced both) & built up to 3600, went into low side & found#18(valve plate) was severly rusted( probably due to NO FILTER from factory. Have got them to agree to replace( I was 1 month past warranty) & after shipping back mine , received a **** Nomad WTF??? Now waiting on RMA & correct unit- if not corrected properly, will contact VAL(pres. of AV & request refund & get MCH6 from NUVAIR. Waiting to tune 3 diff. guns & NO AIR!!

Got they're attention with e-mail- picking up Nomad today & new correct unit arriving tomorrow, along with apology for screw-up- have xtra hi end rings on hand for next time around- will check for filter this time & switch to Synthetic oil instead of AV oil