do vaccum canisters for heater controls go bad?

[Evan Frucht]

I'm installing a new heater core soon and there are a few, I think three, vacuum canisters that are used to control the unit.

do these go bad? where do I find replacements if so?

this is for a 1964 Fury and that's a picture of the same box mine has

 

[khryslerkid]

I'd test them. I'm sure with anything, they can go bad. If you don't have a vacuum test pump, you can just install a piece of hose on it, (don't laugh) put the other end in your mouth and draw on it. (Notice I didn't say suck) Use your tongue over the end to seal it and see if it holds vacuum. You might even make it operate. Takes a little practice but it works. (Boy I'm going to hear it now )

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Another option is to add a length of vacuum hose and connect it to a vacuum port on a running car. See if they draw up when you attach the vacuum hose. Hard to test if they hold vacuum that way though.

I tested my headlight door openers the way Khryslerkid suggested. You can buy a cheap brake bleeder kit that has a hand operated vacuum pump and test them with that. I bought one like the pic below... I use it to bleed my trailer brakes, but it also works great for testing vacuum canisters too

 

[Ranger16]

Those are vacuum diaphragms, not canisters. Canisters are vacuum reservoirs to retain vacuum during low vacuum operation. Follow the Kids (or FrnkNsteen's) advice.

 

[JimKueneman]

If one is bad just ask here, I found one for my '68 from a FBBO member. You can actually test them easier. Just plug the port opposite the direction you try to push and see if you can push the rod to the other position. Also you can push the rod to the other position and then plug the port and see if it can hold vacuum and keep it in that position.