This guide is for homeowners and contractors who own a Graco sprayer and need to replace a part: a tip, guard, gun, hose, filter or pump. It explains how to read tip numbers, which parts wear out first, and how to match a replacement to your sprayer.
The advice comes from Graco's own manuals and product pages. Graco does not publish replacement intervals for most parts, so we describe the signs of wear instead of making up a schedule.
Spray tips and tip guards
The tip is the part that wears fastest, because paint is forced through a tiny opening at high pressure. Graco says that as a tip wears, the orifice gets larger and the fan gets narrower. You end up making extra passes and using more paint.
How to read a tip number
Graco's rule: the first digit, multiplied by 2, is the fan width in inches at 12 inches from the surface. The last two digits are the orifice size in thousandths of an inch. A 515 tip sprays a 10-inch fan through a 0.015 inch orifice. A 210 tip sprays a 4-inch fan through a 0.010 inch orifice.
Tips the store carries
- Graco RAC X LTX SwitchTip is a reversible SwitchTip. Graco's reversible tips clear a clog when you turn them around.
- Graco RAC X FFLP tips are for fine finishes. Graco says they let you spray at up to 50% lower pressure. The FFLP 210 has a 0.010 inch orifice and a 4 to 6 inch fan, and Graco lists primer, stain, varnish, water-based paint, enamel and latex as compatible.
- Graco LineLazer RAC 5 SwitchTip (LL5) is the striping tip for LineLazer line markers. Graco lists it for parking lots, roads, warehouse floors and athletic fields.
Tip guards
The guard protects the tip and holds it in the gun. Graco's gun manual lists part 246215 as the RAC X guard, which is the RAC X HandTite guard. Hand-tighten the retaining nut. Loosen it to turn the guard for a horizontal or vertical fan. If you have a G40 air-assisted gun, Graco's manuals list the 288839 RAC guard kit, sold as the RAC X conversion kit for the G40.
Spray guns
A gun usually lasts through many tips, but the needle and seat wear and the trigger can leak. If the gun drips or will not shut off cleanly, a repair kit is cheaper than a new gun. Graco's 288488 repair kit is the needle and diffuser kit for the Contractor and FTx guns.
| Gun | Max pressure | Inlet | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTx 288429 | 3600 psi | 1/4 NPSM swivel | FlexSeal needle and EasyGlide swivel. Graco calls it an economical gun for everyday contractor use. |
| FTx 288430 | 3600 psi | 1/4 NPSM swivel | The FTx with a 4 finger trigger. |
| Contractor 288420 | 3600 psi | 1/4 NPSM swivel | Covered in the same Graco manual (311861) as the FTx. |
Need a tip, guard or gun?
Browse the airless guns, tips and accessories we stock for Graco sprayers.
Hoses and whip hoses
Graco's gun manual says to check hoses and couplings daily and replace worn or damaged parts immediately. Replace a hose that is kinked, cut, bulging or leaking at a coupling.
The BlueMax II airless hose has a 3300 psi maximum working pressure, a conductive core and plated spring guards. Graco says it is over 10% lighter than earlier hose and has reduced coil memory.
A whip hose is a short, flexible length between the main hose and the gun. The BlueMax II whip hose comes in 1/8 and 3/16 inch inside diameters and 3, 4.5 and 6 foot lengths, all rated to 3300 psi. Graco says it gives more control at the gun.
Filters and strainers
Paint passes through up to three filters. A clogged one starves the tip, so you get a thin or spitting pattern. Graco's gun manual says a plugged filter reduces gun performance, to clean it after each use, and to replace it if the mesh has holes or voids.
- Gun filters: Easy Out gun filter, Contractor gun filter, and the 50 mesh and 100 mesh screen elements.
- Manifold filter: the Easy Out pump manifold filter sits on the sprayer between the pump and the hose.
- Inlet strainer: the 7/8 inch inlet strainer 246385 screens paint as it enters the pump.
Check your sprayer's manual for the filter it was designed for.
Pumps, packings and storage fluids
The pump is the most expensive wear item. Graco's repair manual says paint leaking at the throat means the pump packings are worn. It says to replace them at the first sign of leaking. We stock the pump packing repair kit 248212 and the 18B260 kit for 390, 490 and 595 sprayers. Match the kit to your sprayer model before ordering.
On Graco handhelds, you replace the whole pump. Graco's owner's manual says that when the pump has reached the end of its life, you replace the pump assembly. The Triax II pump fits these models, per Graco:
Storage fluids and cold weather
Graco says Pump Armor prevents corrosion and helps the sprayer start easily after storage. Graco says TSL throat seal liquid keeps paint from drying on pump parts. Graco's repair manual also warns never to leave water or water-based paint in the sprayer in cold weather, and to store it with Pump Armor. That matters in a Canadian winter. Graco's handheld manuals give a storage range of 32 to 113°F (0 to 45°C).
Which part is worn? Symptoms and likely causes
This table is based on the troubleshooting section of Graco's Repair and Parts manual 309226 and gun manual 311861. Your model's manual has the full steps, so check it before you take anything apart.
| Symptom | Likely worn or blocked part | Check or replace |
|---|---|---|
| Paint leaks at the pump throat | Pump packings | Pump packing repair kit |
| Thin, narrow or uneven fan | Worn tip, clogged filter | Replace the tip, clean or replace filters |
| Spitting or poor spray from the gun | Plugged gun filter | Clean it, or replace if the mesh is damaged |
| Pressure will not build, or pump will not prime | Clogged inlet screen, leaking suction tube, dirty or worn pump valves | Clean the inlet strainer, check connections, service the valves |
| Pump cycles but output is low or uneven | Worn or blocked pump valves | Inspect and service the pump |
| Tip clogs | Debris in the tip | Reverse the tip to clear it |
| Hose leaks at a coupling or looks damaged | Hose or whip hose | Replace it immediately |
For the Ultra and UltraMAX handhelds, the pump replacement is the Triax II pump listed above.
Looking for a specific part number?
Browse our Graco sprayer repair parts collection.
Keeping your sprayer running
- Flush the sprayer after each job, using water for water-based paint.
- Clean the gun filter and the manifold filter, and check the mesh for holes.
- Check the hose and couplings for damage.
- Check the tip and guard for wear.
- Before storage, protect the pump with Pump Armor as Graco directs, and keep the sprayer out of freezing temperatures.
For more upkeep items, see our sprayer maintenance accessories. Not sure which part fits? Ask our team and have your sprayer's model number ready.
FAQ
1How do I read a Graco spray tip number?
The first digit, multiplied by 2, is the fan width in inches at 12 inches from the surface. The last two digits are the orifice size in thousandths of an inch. Graco's example: a 515 tip sprays a 10-inch fan through a 0.015 inch orifice.
2How do I know my spray tip is worn out?
Graco says that as a tip wears, the orifice gets larger and the fan gets narrower. If you need more passes to cover the same area, or the pattern looks thinner than it used to, replace the tip.
3What is the difference between the Graco FTx and Contractor guns?
Graco covers both guns in one manual (311861), which lists 3600 psi maximum working pressure and a 1/4 NPSM swivel inlet. Graco describes the FTx as an economical gun for everyday contractor use, with a FlexSeal needle and EasyGlide swivel. Which one fits you comes down to trigger style and budget.
4When should I replace a gun filter or manifold filter?
Graco's gun manual says a plugged filter reduces gun performance, so clean it after each use, and replace it if the mesh has holes or voids. Graco's sprayer repair manual also lists clogged filters among the causes of a poor spray pattern.
5How often should I replace my paint hose?
Graco does not give a set interval. Its gun manual says to check hoses and couplings daily and replace worn or damaged parts immediately.
6What does Pump Armor do, and do I need it?
Graco says Pump Armor prevents corrosion and helps the sprayer start easily after storage. Graco's repair manual tells owners to store the sprayer with Pump Armor, and never to leave water or water-based paint in the sprayer in cold weather.
7How do I know when to replace the pump?
On larger sprayers, paint leaking at the throat means the pump packings are worn, and Graco says to replace them. On Graco handhelds, the owner's manual says that when the pump has reached the end of its life you replace the pump assembly. The Triax II pumps are the replacement for the Ultra and UltraMAX handhelds.