Perfect. That's where the toolman comes in!You and I are very much alike.I have paid thousands for tools to do one-off jobs for myself.
Ca-ching!Please School me on A/C Tools
- Thread starter HawkRod
- Start date
Ca-ching!
Like you after years of doing our own work,knowing how you want it done, it is a challenge .
Went thru this with my PT Cruiser. It needed a clutch and I had a shop do it.
When I picked the car up the A/C didn't work. They pulled a line loose when removing the tranny.
At my age now there are thing I just can't do anymore.
As I get older my motto is "make the call, write the check"
- Local time
- 8:24 PM
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2020
- Messages
- 3,143
- Reaction score
- 5,999
- Location
- Heart of Dixie.....
As my old work buddy James use to say: If you want a job done right, HIRE somebody. That was from probably the sorriest employee my company ever hired....lol
1 Wild R/T
Well-Known Member
FWIW Check into getting a 30# cylinder... You'll need to see if a friend will hook you up since you need a license to buy the 30# but the savings is/was insane, 1# cans are $15-$20 Last year I bought a 30# cylinder it was $120... Looking on line I'm seeing $500+ for a 30# cylinder but unless things have changed dramatically I think that's places fishing for suckers...
Might be time I buy a couple more cylinders just so I'm well stocked...
Might be time I buy a couple more cylinders just so I'm well stocked...
Gladly if the work is done correct.
- Local time
- 8:24 PM
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2008
- Messages
- 4,829
- Reaction score
- 2,757
- Location
- Southeastern, PA
Avoid "recycled refrigerant" if you can and get a cylinder of nitrogen for purging the system.
1 Wild R/T
Well-Known Member
So I called my warehouse $335 for 30#... Not quite the bargain it use to be...
Excuse my ignorance here…would you please explain why you say this? I see many refrigerants advertised with sealants. In fact I’ve used them before myself.
I'll send you my ruined robinair gauge set, that'll explain it all. Lol. First, because the 'sealant' will plug the orifice and/or condensor. And secondly, if you ever take it to be repaired proffesionally and they're worth a ****, they'll use a refrigerent tester before they touch it that looks for flammable gasses, and you guessed it, sealer. If it has either they won't use their machine on it as the sealer will plug it up.
I get it, all the parts places sell it like radiator stop leak, head gasket in a can, engine rebuild in a can, oil leak stopper, etc., so your average Joe sees no issue and it solves their problem, they think. If sealer(stop leak) is detected at one of our dealerships in a customer's system, everything, compressor, lines evap, condensor, etc all have to be replaced.
I know it's more info than you wanted probably, but I don't know how else to explain it. I apologize.
I see 40 cans of refrigerant with sealer and 6 cans of plain ole 134 on the shelves and I just shake my head. These parts places don't give 2 shits if this stuff ruins anything because they are in the parts business.
Last edited:
Thank you. That’s good info to consider, especially considering making the investment in my own equipment myself.
My last keg came from Sams Club at $100 but that was 4 or 5 years ago. Yep, ot went up. Damn!
1 Wild R/T
Well-Known Member
No, but when they claim a 4.2% inflation rate something that costs $120 in 2021 shouldn't cost $335 in 2023...
I misread this, and almost posted 'My wife won't go down at any price', then I reread the post and realized my mistake. So nevermind.
451Mopar
Well-Known Member
Sorry about the bolding, cut and pasted these and I can't remove the formatting?
I got these off Amazon:
Mastercool (89660-PRO5) R134a Manifold Gauge Set , Blue ($107.60)
Robinair (15310) VacuMaster Single Stage Vacuum Pump - Single-Stage, 3 CFM Silver ($142.99)
Mastercool (71550) Black Manual A/C Hose Crimper ($177.28)
DreamJoy 1/2HP Refrigerant Recovery Machine Portable 115V AC Refrigerant Recycling Machine Automotive HVAC 558psi Refrigerant Recovery Unit Air Conditioning Repair Tool (115V) (Unavaliable, but it was $453.86 when I bought it)
Elitech LMC-100F Refrigerant Charging Weight Scale High Precision for HVAC with Case 110Lbs ($84.99)
Flame King Refrigerant Recovery Cylinder Tank - Reusable - DOT Compliant - Y-Valve Liquid/Vapor - 30 LB Pound , Gray ($99.00)
Elitech WJL-6000 Freon Leak Detector Halogen Gas Tester HVAC Refrigerant AC Sniffer R22 R410A R134A ($19.99)
Digital 2 Channels K-Type Thermometer w/ 4 Thermocouples (Wired & Stainless Steel), -50~1300°C (-58~2372°F) Handheld Desktop High Temperature Kelvin Scale Dual Measurement Meter Sensor ($30.99)
Free HVAC Cert training at: HVAC Certification - HVAC Technician| SkillCat
Coop
Active Member
Dedicated vacuum gauge that reads in microns is a must. That pump will give you the deep vacuum you need but a dedicated gauge is the only thing that can confirm microns. The compound gauge on the low side of the gauge set confirms that a system is in vacuum, but does not read accurately enough in the low ranges that you need to confirm that all noncondensibles have been removed from the system.
I do that by shutting off the gauges and letting it sit for 5 or 10 minutes, if the gauge moves towards zero, I pull it down more and repeat until vac holds. I know it's not 'precise' but it works. Your way is a neat alternative but I do so little ac work I can't justify it.
ka0mek
Well-Known Member
w
what type oa compressors do u have? if its the v twin type he only thing thing that will work right on them is R-12 WITH A GOOD POA VALVE . U NEED A GOOD POA VALVE IN THE BACK OF THE COMPRESSOR TO SLOW DOWN THE FREEON GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM FOR THE AC TO WOR RIHHT. I LNOW I EWILL GET THE GUYS SAYING IM ALL WE BUT MY COUSIN IS A GREAT AC MECHANIC ON BOH 134A& R-12 WE TRIED 134A IN THE OLD SCHOOL UNITS & IT WILL NO WORK RIGHT . IF U DONT MIND CHANGOMG THE LOOKS GO BUY A 134A CONVERSION ( ROTARY TYPE ALL THE LINE & THE RIGHT PULYS FOR IT TO WORK RIGHT . I HAVE A 72 NEW YORKER WITH A GOOD CHARGEOF R-12 I HAVE 34 DEGREE AIT COMING OUT THE CENTER DUCKS AS FOR THE TOLS WELL U WILL HAVE TO HAVE A VACUUM PAG WITHTHE RIGHT FIRTTINS FOR THE SYSTEM (R-12 OR 134 A ) THE PUPS R NOT INTERNALABLE . DRAW IT DOWN & C IT IT HOLDS THEN CHAGRE IT BACK UP TOILL THE SIGHT GLASS IS CLEAR u can find the ampot of freeon u need from the service book
Similar threads
