Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 23:26:11 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Need help with leak at fitting on AC condenser
In-Reply-To: <19d5c.60e33074.3991bb56@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
A radiator shop may be able to braze it for if the rest of it is OK. The
campers did not get a better condenser. All the 87+ is interchangeable.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Clarkson
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Need help with leak at fitting on AC condenser
Yep. It had a crack at the condenser fitting. Tried repairing it with JB
weld but it didn't hold. Can anyone out there tell me if the condenser for
the 90 Vanagon is the same as the 90 Westfalia? At one point the camper
condenser was larger. I may have a 91 Vanagon condenser (used) that I could
get
cheap. If not I may ask if anyone on this side of the country has a used
Westy condenser for sale. Saw one on the Samba but it didn't specify for
which model. Thanks
David Clarkson
90 Westy
In a message dated 8/8/2010 10:21:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
This is why shops are required to have recovery equipment.
You need two wrenches to tighten this fitting. You have to hold back the
one
on the condenser to avoid twisting it. The hose fitting or the seat in the
condenser fitting may be damaged or corroded preventing the o-ring from
sealing. The condenser may also have a small crack near the fitting. This
is
a common failure for them.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Clarkson
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 3:48 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Need help with leak at fitting on AC condenser
I have had great success in getting my ac running super cool (34 deg. F. at
the center vent). All is well until the freon leaks out at the larger of
the two connections where the hose connects to the condenser. I have put
dye
in the system and checked for any other leaks all over with a hydrocarbon
sniffer-none. I have tried all different combinations of o-rings, different
sizes and even 2 o-rings and finally went back with the factory o-ring
after all sorts of o-ring swelling (stop leak) chemicals introduced when
recharging. I inspected it again with UV light and found that it is
definitely
leaking at this one point. Cleaned up the dye here and gently turned the
nut
on the fitting about 1/8 of a turn. I have been scared to crank on this
too hard and have the threaded portion break off and then have to replace
the
condenser. Has anyone else on the list had a leak at this connection? I
feel really confident that it is not leaking from a crack at the fitting
where it connects to the condenser or from where the hose crimp is. How
much
force should I use when tightening this? Am I likely to break off the
fitting
from over torqueing? R134A isn't expensive but not exactly cheap either.
Dang, I am so close to having this fixed. Hoping cooler heads will have
some
suggestions here. I'd really like to charge it one more time and be done
with this project of epic proportions. Thanks list for all your help.
David Clarkson
1990 Westfalia
