Check out my new A/C toys to go with my 609

[pwogaman]

Having just gotten my EPA 609 certification I thought why not get my own recovery / recycler and completely cut out the local mechanic. I checked ebay and saw prices in the thousands of dollars - way too much - and some were not even on the EPA approved list. Then I started googling for some particular EPA approved model numbers and happened across the DOD surplus auction service. Only problem was everything was condition coded "H" meaning beyond repair. After some more research I found that all R-12 related items are condition coded for beyond economic repair. The military used to have R-12 in Bradley fighting vehicles, etc, but since they no longer use it those service related items have for the most part excessed as they are beyond repair - meaning they can't use them. Here are the two I got:

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=602426

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=602427

These are $4,000 and $7,000 units respectively and I got them for $70 and $60!!! Granted it will take a little bit of refurbishing but these appear to be durable units and the company that made them is still in business with replacement parts / filters as needed.

Here is an unbelievable deal I passed on - too much overkill. For $45 dollars, some lucky guy got a $20,000 plus refrigerant reclaimer! Here is the link for it:

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?auctionId=604482

Bottom line - this is all the result of an on-going buy versus contract (take our for service) analysis. I personally have two cars running on R-12 (poorly) and I have several family members in the immediate area that do as well, so why not make an investment for my own recovery recycling system. Plus if the 17800-2K unit ultimately works I'll have a recovery recycler capable of doing R-134a as well (the 17500 is not).

[techguy512]

Do you make house calls?

If you can get schematics you can keep them going much easier. I have two older units and one of them gives a diagnostic failure and I can't get schematics for the circuit board. Most everything is easy to figure out, but troubleshooting a circuit board without schematics is tough.

Good luck,

[pwogaman]

Might be for a bust, but nothing ventured nothing gained - right. I was able to download the operations manuals from the Robinair web site.

Here is another one worth looking at is anyone else is interested:

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=609647

Oh, I also check the EPA approved list and this one is on it for R-12 only. Unless I've initiated a bidding war by posting it here I'd be surprised if it went for more that $100.

[boneheaddoctor]

Cool......I need to stop by one day....you are ony a few miles from me...

[Mister Byrnzoil]

let me kno when you're open 4 business.

thx,
Robert

[Hit Man X]

Originally Posted by pwogaman

Having just gotten my EPA 609 certification...

I'm almost there myself, I have read about half of the material for the online test. Some stuff I knew, many is new and interesting.

I wonder if I could pickup a used emission testing device from one of those auctions, testing CO, NOx, etc would be NICE at my house on my old Ford.

[pwogaman]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

Cool......I need to stop by one day....you are ony a few miles from me...

Yeah - I need to practice on something I don't need to worry about breaking.

[pwogaman]

Here' another one:

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=614103&convertTo=USD

Note that it is condition code "A" meaning it is ready for use. Starting bid is $35.00. Acquisition value is listed as $3,395.

If it weren't for the shipping cost I'd go for three of them. But then again I'd probably have to start looking for a new wife.

Here is another: http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=606421&convertTo=USD

Operator Manuals are usually really easy to get. It's Service Manuals that are difficult or impossible depending upon the manufacturer.

Have a great day,

[pwogaman]

Lookie at what else I got for $77!

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?auctionId=665753

These are refrigerant leak detectors the military uses on fighter jets and other neat stuff. I got three of them and they're all supposedly working.