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.
Depending on your application, you can select a Quincy compressor in either the reciprocating piston design or the more common large industrial solution known as the rotary screw design. They each have a different method of achieving the same result: creating compressed air.
Contact Us Learn More Find a Dealer Near You
Keep Air Flowing With Fluids
Quincy Compressor offers one of the most extensive ISO viscosity grade ranges for both reciprocating piston and rotary screw compressors. Our wide selection of lubricants operates at peak performance in various environments, suitable for the most demanding industries around the world.
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.
Quincy Compressor offers fluids specifically designed for our rotary screw models and for different working environments. We also offer reciprocating fluids for our pressure lubricated and splash lubricated models, as well as aftermarket fluids. With the appropriate fluid for your compressor and work environment, you’ll extend the life of your parts and save on labor costs.
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.
A Quincy Compressor service representative can best perform your maintenance and repairs, but in a pinch, you may also want to perform your own service. Interval checks and ordering common replacement parts will be helpful.
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.
At Quincy Compressor, we offer AIRnet, an air piping system constructed of an extruded aluminum alloy for reliable performance. Corrosion resistance and superior sealing technology for a leak-free system help ensure efficiency and a lower total cost of ownership.
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.
Where to Buy Air Compressor Parts
Generally, you can purchase air compressor parts from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a big-box retailer that stocks your equipment brand. We recommend buying air compressors from the OEM for a few reasons.
Every air compressor requires part replacements throughout its lifetime, no matter how robust it is, and you’ll need to purchase parts to replace those that wear out or don’t function as efficiently as they used to.
However, you have an important decision to make when deciding where to buy air compressor parts — not all air compressor components are created equal. If you replace your existing parts with lower-quality ones that are not from the OEM, you’ll notice a difference in machine operation and the quality of the compressed air. This issue could have wide-reaching effects for your business operations and your clients or business partners.
Below, we expand on a few more reasons why it’s best to stick with your OEM.
3 Reasons to Purchase Air Compressor Parts From the Original Manufacturer
Buying air compressor parts and accessories from equipment manufacturers comes with many significant benefits for your organization that you can’t get with aftermarket parts. Some of these advantages include:
1. Quality
Original compressor parts are made specifically for your air compressor. That means they’re manufactured to match your compressor’s unique quality and performance standards.
When you switch out worn parts with genuine components from an OEM, you can expect them to function exactly as the ones you’re replacing. This sense of predictability eliminates the risk of improper operation or poor quality that often comes with aftermarket parts. You’ll also protect your brand reputation by continuing to give the quality performance your peers and consumers expect.
2. Performance
Since genuine equipment parts are designed with your compressor in mind, they deliver better performance and more reliable operation than aftermarket solutions. As a result, OEM components minimize the risk of breakdowns, resulting in greater productivity and uptime for your company. Due to their increased efficiency, genuine parts also reduce the frequency of pressure drops, offering greater energy savings.
With less energy used and reduced downtime from your air compressor system, you have more time and money to put toward essential business tasks and potential operational improvements.
3. Cost
While OEM parts may come at a higher purchase price than aftermarket parts, they’ll save you more money in the long term. They’re meant to serve as an exact replacement for your original components, and they also have longer life spans. You won’t have to spend money on part replacements as frequently as you would with aftermarket parts. The opportunity to minimize breakdowns, conserve energy and boost operational efficiency subsequently offers greater cost savings.
When buying replacement parts for an air compressor, investing in OEM components will bring you the best results. You can ensure optimal product quality, operation and value when you purchase air compressor parts from Quincy Compressor. Our compressor products are designed with legendary reliability and performance at the forefront.
Consider Quincy Compressors
Avoid unnecessary expenses from improper maintenance checks. Follow the scheduled replacement of consumable parts by giving top priority to documented maintenance and daily attention to the operation of your compressor.
Whether you have a reciprocating piston compressor or the industrial model of our rotary screw technology, parts will need to be replaced from time to time. You can greatly reduce the frequency of repairs and worn-out parts by always using the appropriate, genuine Quincy parts and fluids for your compressor.
After almost a century of compiling compressed air knowledge, Quincy designs compressors, parts and fluids with cutting-edge technology — all with the voice of our customers in mind. The critical nature of your compressed air system means you’re depending on it to improve production and earn profits, which is why we always aim to provide you with legendary performance and reliable products. With nearly all of our parts manufactured in the United States, we provide quality you can trust.
Every Quincy compressor part is designed to keep your compressor operating at peak performance for a long time. From the small but important gaskets to the constantly moving belts, we use only the highest quality materials to ensure you receive the best product available. We also offer some of the best warranty coverage in the industry because we make quality our number one priority, and you can expect a quick turnaround time on all of your orders. We use the best that’s available so we can provide you exceptional value over time.
Get to know more about Quincy Compressors and our quality air compressor parts and service by calling a Quincy representative near you.
Last Updated on August 3, 2023 at 10:30 AM