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

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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!