This is not a standard compressor issue, I have a Lawson Tshirt pre-treater which is air powered. It basically uses a 2qt hvlp canister.

So here is the story, I bought it without a canister, the guy told me he was just using a 1/2 gal mason jar. I could not find a mason jar that was large enough to make a seal. Called the company they moved onto a newer model and a refurbished canister would be $175..... I knew that was the guts of a paint sprayer. Go to HarborFreight and grab this kit. but the threads do not match. Still the same system so after hacking away and finding parts to fit, this is what it looked like:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbhcjj09xms1qq5/IMG_20190713_101646.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cu9692axkvtpphu/IMG_20190713_101652.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4h1zosa6bq7k0u/IMG_20190713_101706.jpg?dl=0

Not pretty but it was able to fit in the machine.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i86r8uvvnbkkih0/IMG_20190713_101744.jpg?dl=0

There is a regulator on the machine which is set to about 42-43 PSI

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fryjqsn37ltwxrw/IMG_20190713_101818.jpg?dl=0

This is what the original setup looked like

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s2fak3y274l654o/IMG_20190713_102021.jpg?dl=0

So for whatever reason it does not work, I close the valve on the regulator on the cup and nothing when I activate the machine. I open that valve and it just starts releasing air from the relief valve and it will not pick up fluid. How can I bypass or disable the regulator that is on the cup lid? I have also ran into nothing but issues trying to match threads for the center fluid takeup line. Looks like a 5/16 MIP but it is slightly finer thread, I just jammed a 5/16 flared fitting in there to make it go with a fair amount of pipe dope.

Any help with getting this machine up and running would be a huge help.

Lol, I actually had it backwards at first. Now it is being fed into the inlet side

Any other ideas?

You guys are awesome! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!!!