My seldom used F10 Shoebox that has worked flawless for two years (only has about 25 hours on it) has started blowing lubricant out Part #38, the High Pressure Output Fitting. I found this issue when I bled off pressure from my Joe B. Alpha Filter. The filter blew out a little bit of grey lube so I started investigating. I have since purged and cleaned my micro bore line from the compressor to the filter inlet and have been running the compressor with no output line trying to clear the lube but this has not worked. I have only used silicone grease and oil as per the mfg. recommendations. I have emailed shoebox but have not received a reply so I'm reaching out to the forum. Has anyone else had this issue and if so, what is the fix?
F10 Shoebox blowing lubricant
- Thread starter beercanshot
- Start date
I had the exact same experience with my 2 year old F10 at 10 hours of use. Cracked the valve on the JB Alpha and found a grease coating on my hand. About the same time it wouldn't hold pressure above 1500lbs without venting air out of the transfer block hole where the pressure relief screw lives. Turned out one of the o-rings was missing. I don't know how the screw was sealing at all but it did for a while. Anyhow,during the repair I found plenty of white grease from assembly inside the block. I think there is excessive grease from assembly migrating through the system and it is probably nothing to worry about. I didn't like the idea of it so I cleaned the Alpha filter and dropped in a new cartridge when I hooked it up to my new Daystate/Coltri 110 I bought last month.
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beercanshot,
I've experienced the same thing with my F8 from time to time. I've resorted to only putting a thin film of white grease (lithium) on the piston rods. It makes no sense to over-grease them as I used to do. I also, once in awhile, scoop out the accumulated white grease from the packing nuts where the pistons enter the cylinders (I use a toothpick and a paper towel). The grease accumulates there over time and eventually finds it's way into the cylinders. No biggie. I suppose your silicone oil is migrating through the compressor over time. Simply run it with nothing connected to the outlet fitting. If nothing comes out, then there's nothing left to worry about by my estimation. In any event, your Alpha filter will absorb it before it can migrate further.
Surprising that Tom or Carol have not yet answered your emails. They're usually very prompt. They must be on vacation or something. Give them some time and they'll answer.
BeemanR7
I've experienced the same thing with my F8 from time to time. I've resorted to only putting a thin film of white grease (lithium) on the piston rods. It makes no sense to over-grease them as I used to do. I also, once in awhile, scoop out the accumulated white grease from the packing nuts where the pistons enter the cylinders (I use a toothpick and a paper towel). The grease accumulates there over time and eventually finds it's way into the cylinders. No biggie. I suppose your silicone oil is migrating through the compressor over time. Simply run it with nothing connected to the outlet fitting. If nothing comes out, then there's nothing left to worry about by my estimation. In any event, your Alpha filter will absorb it before it can migrate further.
Surprising that Tom or Carol have not yet answered your emails. They're usually very prompt. They must be on vacation or something. Give them some time and they'll answer.
BeemanR7
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Gray grease is the white lithium grease interacting with the metal in the piston rods. Most guys think they are applying it sparingly but in fact are overlubing. A light coat every two hous actually means you can feel the grease but not see it on the piston rod after it is applied. If it looks white, you've overlubed. The newer Shoebox models with silicone oiler pads and 10 hour application intervals avoid this problem.
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Yes, Tom and Carol have always been prompt with the exception of the last time I contacted Tom. For some reason my email did not go through the first time and upon recontacting him, it worked. So, try it again.
There is a ShoeBox Forum as well with lots of answers. Launch it from the ShoeBox site.
There is a ShoeBox Forum as well with lots of answers. Launch it from the ShoeBox site.
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