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1980 AC - Back to Life

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packagerjr

1980 AC - Back to Life

What steps are reasonable to take on a complete, pressurized AC system of unknown status and history before commissioning?

Status:

System complete, under unknown amount of positive pressure.

No belt on compressor.

Clutch snaps in when applied voltage. I spun the clutch by hand and then applied voltage and it drug to a stop.

Center bolt in compressor clutch turns easy.

Compressor looks to be a remanned York with potentially a 2002 build date. No sight glass for oil level I can find.

PO ran the clutch wire directly into the cab thru a switch, presumably to bypass the pressure switch. I found that the HVAC head had a broken vacuum switch, which was prohibiting 12v from reaching the clutch. So part of me thinks the system may have been functioning but the PO may not have known how to evaluate and solve the issue.

Any help is appreciated.

1980 Bronco Ranger XLT, 351M, C6. They call me Ferguson.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

I don't really think there is much you can do other than powering it up to see what happens. But if the pressure switch is closed then I'd go for it. Put a belt on and see what happens. You already know the compressor isn't frozen up, so it should work.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

packagerjr

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Thanks Gary.

Right now the switch is open. I know some refrigeration guys at work so I may be able to borrow some gauges to determine pressure. I should probably do that to determine what refrigerant is in the system and what switch I should buy. I don’t know that the switch is failed, but the fact the PO elected to bypass the switch and hardwire the clutch to a manually switched power source perhaps indicates it is.

Thanks again. Even just writing it out and reading your response helps me get thoughts in order.

1980 Bronco Ranger XLT, 351M, C6. They call me Ferguson.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

Your refrigeration friends can probably look at the fittings and determine if the system has been changed from R12. Maybe just adding a can will close the switch?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

"just"
"can"
"R-12"

Ahahaha!

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Administrator

Or in a 'single serving' can.

The Mexican Cartels seem to be smuggling a lot across this summer.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

In big cans?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

packagerjr

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

Thanks men.

I thought I’ve seen r-12 cans on eBay (maybe somewhere else) but it was like $40/12 oz. I’m sure they are rare and overpriced.

I do recall the fitting I pressed and was surprised pressure came out looked like an oversized Schrader valve just off the accumulator. I don’t recall quick connects anywhere else so I’m wondering if this is indeed an r-12 system. Which would be great if I’m a switch and harness away from AC.

Sounds like path forward is unchanged.

1980 Bronco Ranger XLT, 351M, C6. They call me Ferguson.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

R. 134 usually has 'green' fittings.
But if you look online you can see how they differ (on purpose), so you can't mix them

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Yes Gary.

In sizes similar to propane.
Like 20#, 40#, 100# cylinders.

You know the kind of tank you get for party balloon helium?
That's the smallest I've seen in 25 years.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

I know exactly the size as I have a depleted helium cylinder in the garage awaiting transfer to the shop. (Can't bear to throw it away.) But that is a lot of R12. Dad used to buy it that way back in the day as he charged A/C units for all his friends. However, the valves leak so the Freon didn't stay in them very well.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

PetesPonies

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

$40 for a 12oz can would be a steal if you see one.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

^^^^^ x1,000

But just like street drugs, be sure you're using what you think you bought.
Because R-12 just isn't available like that anymore.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

1986F150Six

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

In reply to this post by PetesPonies

PetesPonies wrote

$40 for a 12oz can would be a steal if you see one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-R-12-DuPont-Refrigerant-Freon-12oz-Can/173972048129?hash=item28818ac901:g:NnQAAOSw6OtdNJ6Q

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 1980 AC - Back to Life

Administrator

Well I'll be damned!

That's definitely NOS from the '70's or early '80's

You always amaze me with your eBay finds David!

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.