Atlas Copco 1616533821 C168 Air End for Mobile Screw Compressors
1616533821 C168 Air End
Product Description
The Atlas Copco 1616533821 is a genuine C168 air end built for mobile rotary screw compressors. An air end is the compression element at the heart of the machine. It holds the twin rotors that draw in, trap and compress the air before discharge. This unit is the C168 variant used in portable compressor packages.
The C168 air end serves the mobile compressor range. In that range the machine is towed or truck-mounted and driven by a diesel engine. The air end must run under vibration, dust and changing load. The genuine rotor group is matched to the host package, so it restores the original compression curve when a worn unit is changed.
Technical Specifications
The table below lists the published identity data for the 1616533821.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Part number | 1616533821 |
| Product type | Screw compressor air end (rotor group) |
| Air-end model | C168 |
| Application | Mobile / portable rotary screw compressors |
| Brand | Atlas Copco (genuine) |
The exact flow and pressure rating of this air end should be confirmed against the host compressor model. The air end is selected to match a specific machine, so those details are verified at order rather than assumed. The checklist near the end of this article shows what to check.
A rotary screw air end uses two intermeshing helical rotors inside a precision housing. The male and female rotors turn in mesh, driven by the compressor drive. Air enters at the inlet port and is trapped in the space between the rotors and the housing.
The trapped volume shrinks as the rotors turn toward the discharge end. That reduction compresses the air. In an oil-injected mobile compressor, a film of oil seals the gaps, cools the gas and carries away heat. The compressed air and oil then leave the air end together and pass to the separation stage.
The profile of the rotors sets the efficiency and the pressure the air end can reach. A genuine C168 rotor group keeps the original lobe profile and the tight clearances. That is what returns the designed free air delivery once the unit is fitted.
The rotors run inside a figure-eight bore machined to a fine tolerance. The male rotor carries the drive, and the female rotor follows in mesh. This close clearance between the rotors and the bore prevents back-leakage, so the air end holds its pressure as the rotors wear in.
Mobile screw compressors power tools and processes where no fixed air supply exists. The air end is the part that actually makes the compressed air. In a portable package it sits on the skid with the diesel engine, the cooler and the separator.
The C168 size suits portable units that need a steady air volume for breakers, borers, blast pots and general site tools. Because the machine moves between sites, the air end must hold alignment under transport shock and temperature swings. The genuine part is built and balanced for that duty.
The air end does not work alone. Downstream it feeds the oil separator, where the oil is pulled back and returned to the sump. The cooled, clean air then passes through the aftercooler and the outlet valve to the tools.
Upstream, the diesel engine sets the rotor speed through the coupling. A steady drive speed holds a steady flow and pressure. When the air end is worn, the engine works harder for the same air, which raises heat and load. A fresh rotor group brings that balance back.
Fitting an air end is a precision job. The rotor group must seat true on the compressor frame and line up with the drive coupling. Any misalignment loads the bearings and shortens the life of the rotors.
Clean the mounting face and the coupling before fitment. Torque the holding bolts to the figure for the machine, and check the coupling gap and run-out. Refill the correct oil after the air end is in place, and purge air from the oil circuit before start. A controlled run-in at low load helps seat the rotors.
Storage and Handling
Keep the new air end in its sealed pack until fitment. Store it in a dry, clean place away from dust and moisture. A dented housing or a damaged shaft can let air escape or seat poorly, so reject any unit that looks crushed on arrival.
Handle the air end by the body, not by the rotors or the shaft. The rotor tips are finished to a fine tolerance and scratch easily. Protect the mating faces and the coupling from knocks during transit to the machine.
Maintenance
The air end shares the compressor oil system. Oil quality and change interval therefore protect the rotors. Clean oil keeps the rotors cool and limits varnish on the tight clearances. Follow the service plan for the host machine and use the specified fluid.
Watch the inlet for dust and the oil for water. A clogged inlet filter starves the air end and raises the discharge temperature. An oil sample on a set schedule shows early wear before it becomes a failure. Keep records so the next service is planned, not reactive.
Failure Symptoms
A worn air end shows as a drop in delivered air at the same engine speed. The operator notices tools losing power or the compressor running longer to hold pressure. A rise in discharge temperature or a louder whine from the rotor group points to internal wear.
Oil carryover can climb as the separation load grows. Vibration at the coupling may appear if the rotors or bearings degrade. Catching these signs early lets you plan a change during a stop, instead of losing the machine on a remote site.
Why Choose the Genuine Atlas Copco Air End
The 1616533821 C168 air end is the factory rotor group for the compressor. It is made to the original profile and tolerance. The rotor geometry, the housing bore and the bearing set are matched, so the unit delivers the designed flow and pressure.
A correct air end also protects the rest of the package. It keeps the oil circuit in balance and the discharge temperature in range. That shields the separator, the cooler and the engine from extra load. It also supports the service life the machine was built for.
Order-Before Checklist
Confirm the points below with your model and serial number before you order. These details fix the right air end for your machine.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Host compressor model and serial | Matches the air end to the exact machine and build |
| Required flow and pressure class | Confirms the C168 rating covers your duty |
| Drive coupling and mount pattern | Ensures the rotor group seats and lines up |
| Rotor size and rotation | Avoids a wrong-hand or wrong-speed fit |
| Oil type and fill volume | Keeps the new air end within its lubrication spec |
FAQ
Related Compressor Components Available
In addition to Gearboxs, we supply a full range of compressor replacement parts and maintenance components for Atlas Copco systems and compatible equipment.
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| 1089067918 | FAN | 1089-0679-18 |
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| 1080265361 | MOTOR-FAN | 1080-2653-61 |
| 1080265378 | MOTOR-FAN | 1080-2653-78 |
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| 2235555020 | SENSOR DEWPOINT | 2235-5550-20 |
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