When the blower or the conveying line comes to a standstill in the middle of harvest, every hour counts – and nothing costs more time than a wrongly ordered part. Those who can read their machine’s spare parts list determine the exact part number in a few minutes and order correctly at the first attempt. This guide shows step by step how exploded drawing, item number and part number work together.
Exploded drawing and spare parts list: the principle
Every machine type in the grain handling range – from high-pressure blowers, rotary valves and cleaners to aeration silos – has its own spare parts list. It consists of two elements that belong together: an exploded drawing that shows the assembly taken apart and assigns an item number to each individual part, and a table that links these items with part numbers, quantities and notes.
Important to know: one list frequently covers a complete model range. With the TRL high-pressure blowers, for example, several model sizes appear in one document, each with its own section and its own drawing. The first step is therefore always to open the section for your own model size – many parts look confusingly similar between the sizes but carry different numbers.
How a spare parts list is structured
The tables follow a recurring pattern. Once you have understood the columns, you can find your way around any list:
| Column | Heading in the list | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Item | Fig. | Number of the part in the exploded drawing – the link between drawing and table |
| Part number | Part no. | Unique order number for the part, usually nine digits |
| Quantity | Pieces | Number of times the part is fitted at this point |
| Note | Notes | Dimensions, threads, voltage variants and assignment to the model size |
| Serial number | Serial no. (only in some lists) | Distinguishes build states where the design has changed in the course of production |
The notes column decides the variant
Many items exist in several versions: a motor may be listed for different mains voltages, a fixing part may apply only to the single-phase or only to the three-phase version of a blower. That is exactly what the notes column states. Those who skip it quickly order the part for the neighbouring variant – the number is then formally correct but does not fit their own machine.
Assembly items (“Cpl.”)
Some rows are marked as a complete assembly, often with the abbreviation “Cpl.” and a note such as “Fig. 1–7”. Behind this is a separate part number that combines several individual items as a pre-assembled unit. This is worthwhile when several parts of a group are worn at once or when fitting them individually would be laborious – a look at these assembly items often saves working time at the machine.
Understanding the part number system
The part numbers are usually nine digits long and are written in three groups of three. Each number designates exactly one part – regardless of which machine it is fitted in. This has two practical consequences:
- Standard parts are identical across the range: Bolts, nuts, washers or circlips carry the same number in all lists. A particular washer therefore has the same part number in the blower as in the aeration system.
- Machine-specific parts have their own number ranges: Housings, impellers or sheet metal parts of a product family lie in a common number range. For experienced users, the beginning of the number therefore often reveals which model range a part belongs to.
For ordering, this means: the part number is the only truly unambiguous piece of information. Designations such as “bearing cover” or “clamping ring” serve only as a check – ordering is always done via the number.
From nameplate to order: step by step
- Read the nameplate: Note down the type designation and model size (for example the model range of the blower or cleaner) as well as the serial number. Both appear on the plate on the machine.
- Obtain the matching spare parts list: The lists are available as PDFs, many of them multilingual with an English section. Pay attention to the issue date of the list – each issue carries a date note, and a current version reflects the latest build state.
- Select the section for your model size: If the list covers several sizes, turn to the section for your model.
- Identify the part in the exploded drawing: Locate the defective part in the drawing and note its item number.
- Read off the part number and check the variant: Compare the notes column with your version. If the list contains a serial number column, choose the row that matches the range of your serial number.
- Order with complete details: Type, serial number, part number, item number and the required quantity – with these five details, every enquiry can be answered unambiguously. The quickest way to match them is via the spare parts finder, which brings type designation and part together directly.
A note on the quantity: the column states how many times a part is fitted at the point in question – it is not an order requirement. With small parts such as bolts or washers, it is nevertheless advisable to renew the complete set if the machine is being dismantled anyway.
Spare parts for discontinued machines
Many farms run blowers, conveying lines or cleaners that have not been built for years. In the document archive, such models are marked as discontinued – but the associated manuals and spare parts lists remain available. That is the key to the parts supply for older equipment:
- Determine the part number as usual via the old list – the system has not changed.
- Standard parts such as bolts, nuts or circlips can still be clearly identified by their number, as they are the same across model ranges.
- Enquire about the availability of machine-specific parts with type, serial number and part number. Parts are often still available or a suitable successor exists – the unambiguous number is what makes the check possible in the first place.
For older models, too, the spare parts finder is therefore the way to go: the more precise the details, the faster the definitive answer as to whether and in what form a part is available.
Conclusion: five details for an error-free order
Those who use the exploded drawing and table together order spare parts without queries and without wrong picks. As a recommendation for your operation:
- Record the nameplate data of all machines once in a central place – in the event of a breakdown, there is no searching around on a dusty unit.
- File the spare parts lists for your own machines as PDFs and update them when new issues appear.
- Before every order, check the notes column and – where present – the serial number ranges.
- Go through wear candidates such as impellers, clamps and seals against the list before the season and stock up in good time.
In this way, the spare parts list turns from an appendix in the manual into the most important tool for short downtimes.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the part number for a Kongskilde spare part?
What does the quantity column in the spare parts list mean?
Can I still get spare parts for a discontinued machine?
Why are two part numbers sometimes listed for one item?
Related guides
- Designing flat store aeration: ducts, air volumes, grain depths
- Emptying silos and flat stores completely: vacuum clean-out in practice
- Grain Cleaning: Why Pre-cleaning Pays Off
- Grain Conveying: Pneumatic or Mechanical?
Exploded drawings and parts lists for all Kongskilde machines – with PDF download.
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