HOLY!!! Thayer's NEW compressor just blew seal!
 

WTF???
this is the second compressor that has failed in the exact same manner...
the main body sealing o-ring is blowing out of the casing.
I've now wasted 6LBS of R12~!~
in looking over the design of the mounting of the R4, I see that when it's mounted in a chevy, the bolts pass through the entire body of the compressor and hold the system together.
when mounted in a MB the bolts attach only to the back of the compressor and only hang onto the back plate, leaving all the internals stressing on the casing tab...
does the original mercedes mount have a bolt that goes through the body of the compressor? I've never seen one fail like this, and I've never seen an original compressor still in a MB... always a rebuild or something.
any chance there is a bolt that is supposed to hold everything together that a shop fails to re-install?

When I removed them from two of our cars the bolts did go all the way through if I remember correctly. I can take a look at my brother's 300D if I remember, it still has the compressor installed. (but non-functional)

there are 3 bolts that go through the comp and a 4th hole that has nothing in it if i remember correctly.


Man...i was on the way home from the tint shop too. talk about disappointing

There are 4 holes, three of which are used for mounting and the fourth is for the manifold to bolt on.

The bolts do not go all the way through, btw. Have you double-checked the placement of the spacers?

Just curious, what brand of compressor are you using?

yes spacers are correct, and belt alignment is perfect.
it was a new compressor with the stepped ports, and I just cannot fathom what's blowing this seal on his car!

Got pics? I wanna see pics. If the original 3 bolts were used, it has to go through the compressor! I am confused.

Let me clarify my last post,

The 3 bolts go into the compressor, but they do not go all the way through.

Mine started threading at the back of the compressor, and although I did not measure, they did not thread all the way through it, but got tight ~1.5-2" into it.

Did you use 6lbs in the system?

Is this an 83 SD? Is the SD R4 mounting arrangement different than 300D?

no, this is the second compressor I've had to put in this car... 3.3lbs of R12 in each one...


nope, same mounting as the .952... different routing of the lines from the manifold though...

No! failed twice. 2 x3 equals 6. Get it? lol

Nope. . It's identical other than the routing of the refrigerant hoses. I know from experience, it was a 300D that supplied the donor core for my SD.
:)

How long are the 3 bolts? Mine are approx 6 to 8" long. At those lengths, they have to go through the compressor.

Are you charging the system, or is a shop? If you're charging is the high pressure side within range? Malfunctioning TX valve?

So this is an '82 Sd? My '84 calls for 2.9lbs of R12. It also has the original R4 compressor for now, it sounds a little loud. I do think one bolt on the top goes all the way through.