R12 to 134 conversion. What do I need??

[NASTY-LSX]

I tried several different places today to get a vacuum, and possible R12 recharge on my 85. No one had adapters to vacuum it down to see if it would hold..

Long story short, one mechanic said for $150.00 he would convert it to R34...
hhmmmm, So im thinking these guys make a killin on labor. Why not convert it myself and take it back to get a vacuum check

So How do i find out what he was going to convert?? could not be much for $150.00

PLEASE HELP SUMMER IS COMING REAL SOON LOL

[INSIDIOUS '86]

The compressor and o rings In pretty sure about. I think the condenser as well but not sure

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

The compressor and o rings In pretty sure about. I think the condenser as well but not sure

You know I ask the guy if he was going to change out the compressor
for that $150.00( I knew he was not) and he said it dont need to be changed. But would not go
into detail about what all is the conversion.

[Jake Wade]

The system needs to be evacuated/flushed/cleaned to remove all the R12 refrigerant/oil. A new drier would be a good idea, adaptor fittings, vacuum pulled on system and a charge of R134 with the correct oil.

$150 is not out of line at all if all the above is included.

[kalbert]

My guess is for $150 he's screwing on the adaptors, sucking it down, and charging it up.

To do it right you need to recover what's left, if any, of the 12, flush evaporator and condenser, replace o rings, orifice tube, drier (add correct amount of oil), install fittings, suck it down, charge it up, fine tune with thermometer. Probably over $1k at a shop, $3-400 at home assuming you have the right equipment for recovery, vacuum, and charge.

[Kaysen]

Replace the Accumulator, orifice tube, and O rings. Youll have to add the correct 134a fittings. Also drain the R12 oil for Pag (or equivalent) replacement. Ive blown out condensors with air in the past after a compressor failure, but if your compressor is nice and quiet I'd almost hate to risk loosening up some gunk. Then pull a vacuum on it and go from there

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by kalbert

My guess is for $150 he's screwing on the adaptors, sucking it down, and charging it up.
.

That was exactly my guess.

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by kalbert

My guess is for $150 he's screwing on the adaptors, sucking it down, and charging it up.

To do it right you need to recover what's left, if any, of the 12, flush evaporator and condenser, replace o rings, orifice tube, drier (add correct amount of oil), install fittings, suck it down, charge it up, fine tune with thermometer. Probably over $1k at a shop, $3-400 at home assuming you have the right equipment for recovery, vacuum, and charge.

can these parts be flushed with alcohol??

I going to buy all the parts Kaysen posted. I assume the pag oil is for the compressor. I take it I just drain the compressor and refill with pag oil?? No need to flush? (not sure if they can be flushed)

[kalbert]

In don't know about alcohol, it may work. The parts store should have solvent specifically for this. Its pretty nasty stuff.

The compressor should be drained as best as possible, it can't be flushed because it won't pump liquid. The radial compressors don't have a reservoir and don't retain much oil, the axial ones hold quite a bit sometimes but can be drained generally. If the compressor is drained, drier is new and the other components flushed there will be a very minimal amount of old oil left. Not enough to cause trouble.

[68longhorn]

when my compressor went bad I used that as a chance to convert. I sucked it down, replaced the compressor, added the screw on fittings, added some r134 oil, vacuumed it for 30 minutes then charged it. With R134 the pressures are higher so charge to about 85% of capacity and enjoy your AC.