Finally got around to re-sealing the AC compressor in the TE tonight. Not nearly as bad as I though, although it turns out I didn't actually need to do the job.....

I got a seal kit and shaft seal -- two spring disks for the reed valves, three body o-rings, four manifold o-rings, an o-ring for the speed sensor, and five crunch washer to seal the five bolts with the carbon seal and holder for the shaft.

When I go the clutch off, there was oil everywhere (all bright green to boot), but the front seal was fine, no oil in there at all, so I didn't change it. However, when I took the hose manifold off, two of the o-rings fell off rather than staying in the block. I didn't pay much attention at the time as I had already taken the through bolts out as was more interested in not dropping the rear shell which had come loose already.

Simple job once everything was clean and I realized I'd pulled the reed valve set off the front shell with the spring and had to pull it all apart again.

I started to re-install the hose manifold with the old o-rings when I noticed that I had four new ones in the kit. Pulled the old ones off and guess what?

Both o-rings on the high side were cut! No wonder the blasted thing wouldn't hold pressure! Naturally, you cannot get a leat tester anywhere near that side (it's up against the block). I was getting freon at the center of the compressor with the leak tester and though the center o-ring was shot because there was oil on the bottom. Must have come from the manifold as the center section was TIGHT.

I had to go buy AC oil, there wasn't enough in the compressor to drain any out. Must have all blown out the manifold.

So I replaced all the bits for two leaking o-rings, my typical luck. I didn't charge it tonight, didn't bring the leak detector home from work and I want to evacuate it for at least four hours before charging. Tomorrow, and then hopefully I will have the AC FIXED for more than a couple weeks!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Peter -

I've had those same o-rings split on a 10p15 compressor. Mine was so bad it whistled as the charge came out. Easy enough to find using the old soapy water leak detector. Don't recall whether it was low side or high side on mine.

- JimY

I wish I'd gone ahead and just changed those and not the rest of the job, although I don't suppose it will hurt anything.

Mine was whistling, too, but I thought it was the center case o-ring.

Oh well, new receiver dryer tomorrow and I should be done with it.

Now I have a clunk in the rear when I put it in reverse. Always something....

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!