Premature Failure of Gas Compressor Bearings

several years ago, we took apart a forced draft blower for inspection. removal of lube oil pipe and other components was necessary.
when the lube oil pipe was re-installed, the gasket was inserted without a center hole punched. yeah, the blower ran for about 15-minutes before we were going to shut it down due to high lube oil temps, but it seized first. not a pretty sight and we ended up cutting the shaft in two to remove from the blower. not a pleasant activity out in the middle of the ocean.
check the path from pump to bearing to be sure of no obstructions (i.e. blow air through lube oil piping).
hope this helps and good luck.
-pmover

had a simialr experience repairing a clients machine that had failed, the lube line to the bearings inside frame was cracked and starved the crank for oil

These problems can be frustrating and elusive. Assuming that the compressor has been rebuilt properly and to the specs, I would look at the startup procedure. For instance, if the compressor is being started in very cold temperatures, it is possible that the lubrication system is not providing enough oil volume and pressure at the first moments of startup. Or, perhaps, the load on the compressor at time of startup is too high and the lubrication is not yet present upon the first few revolutions, causing damage to the bearings.

As I have spent my career working with gas compressors, including a fair bit of failure analysis, its possible that I can provide some more assistance with a lot more detail of the compressor and its operation.

Will