Air compressors are vital power sources for many businesses, and they have a variety of applications for use. From start-and-stop use in an auto repair shop to 24-hour daily operation in a factory or other industrial setting, the process of pressurizing air is a common business operation, and it needs to be efficient.

Air compressors can work long and hard depending on your environment, so it’s important to keep the internal workings of your air supply system well maintained to benefit your business production and profits. Every part has a specific function. If those parts aren’t maintained properly, it can affect air supply, energy consumption and service frequency.

Keep Air Flowing With Fluids

Air compressor motors are splash lubricated, pressure lubricated or oil injected. The quality of the oil will be a major factor in the frequency of service and replacement of parts.

If you are mixing compressor fluids, not changing the oil often enough or running your compressor with low oil, you could be dealing with an unnecessary amount of repairs or possibly a complete system failure. Such situations will not only result in additional equipment expenses. They will also cause a loss in production and income.

Create a Maintenance Schedule for Your Working Environment

Regular and proper maintenance should not be overlooked. Maintaining the integrity of your compressed air system will not only avoid interruptions in your business operations but will also keep your parts in good working order for as long as possible.

The parts of an air compressor eventually become worn, but you can reduce the frequency of replacing parts with a regular maintenance schedule. Depending on your compressed air demand and the environment you’re working in, the frequency of basic maintenance and outside service will differ. Our service specialists will be able to work with you to create the proper maintenance schedule for your business.

Air compressor operation requires some basic knowledge of the parts that make up your system.

Know the Parts of Your Air Compressor

This alphabetized air compressor parts list consists of parts from our reciprocating piston models and rotary screw models to help you become more familiar with the functions of your air compressor:

Actuators: The actuator creates rotary or linear movement and is what outputs the compressed air to the tools or processes that use pressurized air for power. Any leaks or other deficiencies in the air movement coming into the actuator will result in a decrease in the air force coming out. Small particles that have found their way into the air will cause blockages in the actuator, as well as many other parts of your air compressor.

Bearings: Industrial-class bearings ensure a long operating life for the most demanding of operations. Quality bearings will give you peace of mind as your air compressor operates at high revolutions with high pressure. Bearings are highly dependent on the proper lubrication at the right viscosity.

Belts: Belt tension should be checked every 40 hours for wear and operation. The belts need to be of the highest quality and fit properly, as they work to drive the operation of your compressor.

Bumpers: Valve bumpers surround the valves for added protection from accidental contact. Replace this small shielding part when needed to prevent the more expensive replacement of valves.

Bushings: Bushings create some space between moving parts and are used in the internal components of the air compressor. Your bushings offer protection from serious breakdowns, minimizing side-to-side play.

Connecting rods: The connecting rods take a heavy workload and are used to move the piston up and down in the crankcase. They are a highly durable part of your air compressor. You may never need to replace connecting rods unless proper maintenance is not performed regularly on your system.

Couplings: These parts are used on internal components to prevent leaking from the high-pressure system.

Desiccant dryers/Q-sorb: Our air dryers purify your compressed air by absorbing water vapor. A flow of ‘wet’ compressed air is passed through two pressurized tanks that contain our highly absorbent desiccant. Q-Sorb is an advanced formula of activated alumina that significantly reduces operating costs. Keep your air dryer operating efficiently with regular checks of desiccant and filters.

Gaskets and seals: For reliable airflow and to maintain intended pressure, your air compressor should be air-tight with quality seals and gaskets. There are various sections of your air compressor that have gaskets and seals: valve plate to head gasket, crankcase gasket, intercooler gasket, oil seal and the shaft seal, to name a few. These small parts keep contaminants out and the pressurized air inside.

Gauges: The gauge on your air compressor measures the pressure of the air in your tank. Your gauge is informative in a number of ways, specifically for daily checks to ensure your pressure is at the intended level so you can attend to any deficiencies as soon as possible.

Motors: In general, your air compressor has an electric motor to run the operation of compressing air. Different compressors require different sizes of motors (hp). If you’re replacing a worn-out motor, be sure to have the recommended replacement motor installed.

O-rings: Used for a tight seal, O-rings help keep your system running at peak performance.

Piston rings and rods: Our reciprocating piston models create air pressure with the movement of the piston and connecting rods. These parts are under great pressure when in motion and require a lubricant free of contaminants and the highest quality. Fluid analysis of your QuinSyn fluid in a rotary screw compressor is important for overall function and to detect possible issues early. It’s also especially important to use Quincy oil to prevent premature wearing of your piston rings that prevent excessive oil carryover.

Rotors: In our rotary screw air compressors, assembly consists of two interlocking helical rotors that compress the air coming in through the inlet valve. With proper operation, these rotors have an extremely long life.

Shims: Adding supporting spacers in the installation of your air compressor may be necessary. These metal shims will provide you with the needed support for a reliable system.

Springs: Various components of your compressor use springs for the mechanics of the system. Determine when to replace springs with regular service checks.

Valves: Allowing air in and out, draining water and regulating airflow, valves are an essential component that require regular inspection during your interval checks and regular servicing. Our quality engineered valves are designed for resilience and a long life. They operate with the highest efficiency, using Buna-N or Viton seats and seals.

Familiarize Yourself With Regular Replacement Parts

You’ll need to keep up on checks, maintenance and replacements of these compressed air system parts:

Air/oil separator: Regular checks of these elements and the regular replacement of filters should be part of your maintenance schedule before they become clogged, resulting in a loss of performance.

Inlet air filter: As another preventative measure to keep foreign particulate matter from entering the air compressor system, the inlet air filter should be replaced at regularly scheduled intervals or if an inspection indicates the need to replace the element.

Oil filter: Maintain the necessary quality of your lubricant with appropriately scheduled fluid changes and oil filter replacements that are geared to the activity of your system and working environment. Our fluid sampling program for rotary screw compressors will provide you with the necessary information to define the appropriate schedule for your air compressor.

Understand Available Air Compressor Accessories

You’ll also need a few additional air compressor components for your operations. Consider these top air compressor accessories:

1. Filtration Systems

The compressor’s air filtration system uses several filters to remove unwanted particles from the air, delivering clean air for efficient results.

Air compressor filters remove the following impurities:

Moisture

Gases

Oil

Condensate

Standard and high-pressure filters are available, as well as mist eliminators.

2. Air System Piping

Air system piping often comes in a variety of sizes to fit your air compressor. Years of wear may require replacing these pipes. Using air system piping that is perfectly designed for your particular setup can make a significant difference in air compressor performance. Pipes are meant to deliver an uninterrupted supply of air from the compressor to wherever you’re using it, all while maintaining air quality, flow and pressure.

3. Hose Reels

A hose reel is another helpful accessory that can make your work a lot easier. Hose reels keep air system hoses coiled neatly out of the way. These accessories are especially helpful if you are using a replacement hose on your air compressor that is much longer than the standard hose. Hose reels help maintain an accident-free workplace and enable air compressor operators to work more efficiently.

4. Air Compressor Attachments

Adding air compressor attachments to your arsenal of tools can greatly increase your capabilities. Having the right tool on hand also saves time when the need for a specific task arises.

Some of the most used compressed air system parts and attachments include:

Nail guns: Industries like construction and roofing use nail gun attachments to quickly drive nails.

Drills: When you need to drive a hole through a piece of wood, a pneumatic drill attachment on your air compressor can finish the job in mere seconds.

Sanders: Pneumatic sander attachments replace sand blocks and reduce physical strain while working. These attachments are made for wood and metal applications.

Blowguns: Blowguns utilize compressed air to dry surfaces or remove dust and debris.

Paint sprayers: These attachments have various applicators for creating smooth finishes instantly. The automobile, construction and machine manufacturing industries use paint sprayer attachments often.

5. Air Pressure Regulator

Air pressure requirements vary by application, so your air compressor needs to meet the demand. An air pressure regulator is an attachment that provides your tools with the right amount of pressure to avoid wasting air. This function enables you to maximize your efficiency.

Air pressure regulators can increase or decrease air pressure to tools when needed. This can also extend the life of your hoses and pipes since these attachments can wear more quickly if they receive excessive pressure.

FROM:Quincy Compressors