Brad nailer not working.

[LCHIEN]

I have a Craftsman 2" brad nailer.
351.184240

When I pull the trigger, the air hisses but no brad is fired.

I'm not real familiar with how these things really operate. What should I look for/do to troubleshoot it, or should i just get a HF for $18?

link to parts diagram:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...dMod=351184240

The manual suggests possible causes:
1. Needs oil - I put 6-7 drops of oil in the air inlet - done, no change.
2. insufficient air - airs OK, fires other air nailers
3. damage or broken head valve o-rings
4, damaged head valve spring
5. head valve binding in cap

for 3,4 and 5 I need to disassemble the four screws on top... any advice before I dive in? do these things freeze up if not used for a while?

[Dal300]

I haven't rebuilt a Craftsman, but I have rebuilt PC, Bostitch and a couple of others. There isn't anything really difficult about a rebuild, but if you are unsure, take pictures as you dismantle it and use them to help rebuild it.

Oh, and use petroleum jelly on the O-rings or they can get pinched and leak.

[cabinetman]

The cause is usually "O" rings, or a stuck piston/drive pin. If you bought the gun new, you likely got an extra set of "O" rings.
.

[Pappy]

Bad O ring would be my guess, too. my PC finish nailer acted the same way. Most any tool dealer/service center should be able to fix you up with the right replacement fing.

[chopnhack]

I have a slew of PC nailers and the only maintenance for years is a few drops of oil after each use and capping the air inlet before returning to the box. This seems to keep the oring from deteriorating as well as preventing rust. Let us know how the rebuild goes.

[LCHIEN]

Looks like a broken head valve.
$6 from sears parts, Should probably replace all the o-rings. O-rings no longer available from parts direct.

By the time I spend $6 plus $8 shipping,, then go dig around the HW store for the right sized o-rings plus time and labor, will I be better off with a HF $18 brad nailer which is functionally equivalent? Will I miss the C'man?

P.S. I have to confess, I actually picked up the HF unit this afternoon when I was driving by...

Should I bother to fix the Craftsman?

P.P.S. The HF seems to work pretty well, no real complaints. I wonder if the internal parts (e.g. head valve) are plastic like the C'man.

Anyone have any trouble with reliability of the HF units?

[chopnhack]

Keep the craftsman and when you "happen" upon the parts in the course of your work or travels, then you'll have the cman back in action, because you never know when the HF will crap out ;P

[gsmittle]

P.P.S. The HF seems to work pretty well, no real complaints. I wonder if the internal parts (e.g. head valve) are plastic like the C'man.

Anyone have any trouble with reliability of the HF units?

The guts of my HF nailers are metal. I haven't had any trouble with any of them, except for the pin nailer not firing. After a complete disassembly, I discovered I hadn't turned on the compressor. It works much better with an air supply!

g.

[cabinetman]

By the time I spend $6 plus $8 shipping,, then go dig around the HW store for the right sized o-rings plus time and labor, will I be better off with a HF $18 brad nailer which is functionally equivalent? Will I miss the C'man?

That's the premise. It's not worth the money. You won't miss the Craftsman. Most of my guns are Duo-Fast and Senco. By the time I pay for parts, or a bench fee, I could have a brand new HF gun. They are as reliable as any brand, and they come with rebuild kits, and use most any brand fastener.

.

[Dal300]

You might want to pick up a couple of the HF O-ring assortments. I have all their different sets in metric and SAE also in Nitrile, Viton and standard.
300 O-rings in each kit, and they have been worth their weight in gold just in gas savings and time spent at a parts place looking for the right size.

[LCHIEN]

You might want to pick up a couple of the HF O-ring assortments. I have all their different sets in metric and SAE also in Nitrile, Viton and standard.
300 O-rings in each kit, and they have been worth their weight in gold just in gas savings and time spent at a parts place looking for the right size.

Dang, that's a good idea, wish i'd thought of that while i was at the store yesterday. Its a good 45 minutes fro the house and 45 minutes from the office. I just happened to be at a training session which was 1 mile from HF and we got out early.

[chopnhack]

Dal300, I have often thought of the same thing for small hardware but never got around to getting much of a set together. Do you have a decent setup of nuts and bolts? Just curious what sizings you went with.

[Dal300]

C&H,
As a sideline business, (use to be my main business before getting hurt), I converted big buses into motor homes.
When I closed up shop I gave away tons of parts and pieces but still had to haul a bunch of parts with me.
Because of that I seldom buy a nut, bolt, hinge, drawer slide, drawer pull, or many other parts. I have boxes and boxes full of parts.

My problem is that I forget where I have something stashed and I spend days looking for it, then as soon as I buy a replacement it will turn up, usually laying on the work bench in front of me.

Dal300, I have often thought of the same thing for small hardware but never got around to getting much of a set together. Do you have a decent setup of nuts and bolts? Just curious what sizings you went with.

[dbhost]

Loring,

If you can get the head apart without tearing the gasket, you might try oiling the O rings directly, reassemble, and try it... Not a brad nailer, but my old Snap On / Blue Point AT500C long anvil impact wrench was blowing by with no actual action until I did that...

[LCHIEN]

not o-ring failure... the head valve (plastic part) was in two pieces. Should have been metal.