Hi Roger, I installed the hoses today. The splices are aluminum and fairly robustly barbed. I don't think one could be pulled back out once it is put in. I used AC hose clamps and a 1/4 inch drive rachet to tighten them well. I connected my wiring and the radiator fan and blower turn on when I switch on the unit. I will be vacuuming down the system and charging it tomorrow at a Toyota dealership (where a friend works) and I think he said we would be putting PAG oil and R143a in the system. Let's all keep our fingers crossed! Thanks for the information! Warren L. 88 Westy 2.2 "Billy Bones" >>>Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:31:26 -0400 From: Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> Subject: Re: air conditioning If you are going to splice those hoses, use a metal connector that is barbed. Once, I inserted a long threaded bolt in the end of a a/c hose. Dont remember why,but I added freon,and did a leak check with an electronic tester.. The freon acutally leaked out the end of the hose with the long set of threads. Maybe 1.5 inches of threads,screwed in,and clamped super tight.A non threaded bolt shank that was clamped, did notleak. This is why I say use a barbed fitting.I think that the barbed fitting is all that is abvaliable, anyway. The early vanagons used this where the large nuts attach to the rear of the compressor. The other end of that piece of metal is barbed. A/c hoses are super cheap.Sometimes 2 or 3 hundred for the complete 55 ft.I think you can go to a place that makes up hydraulic hoses.I would make them all a couple of inches longer that the origionals. If you have the money and a nice vanagon, go ahead and get the new hoses. Used a/c hoses that once had r12 in them, act as barrier hoses. The oil that is left inside , blocks most of the 134a from excaping. Still, they are old and 134a uses pressures that are about 20 percent higher ,than for r12.Only occasionally have I heard of one blowing. Personally, I would reuse the hoses, and make the splice.I think Maggie Dew did the exact same thing as you , in her subie vanagon.Look up her experiences in the archives.<<< |
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