Depressurizing AC

[cmac2012]

I'm going to take the engine out of my 126 (300SD, '81) -- I've got a new/used block I'm going to swap out. The AC doesn't work anyway so I'm thinking to just leave it out.

My manual says I should take it somewhere to be depressurized before dis-assembly/removal. It's not ambulatory at the moment and I don't think I'm going to like any "house-call" rate.

Is this that hard or unsafe for me to do myself?

[Palangi]

It would be unlawful to deliberatly vent it to the atmosphere.

You wouldn't want to get them California enviro-whackos on your case would you??

Fact is though, if it hasn't worked for several years, it probably has all leaked out anyway. Just locate the schrader valve and give it a quick touch (as you would a tire valve) and see if it has any pressure. If not, you're clear to disassemble. If it still has pressure, you would legally have to take it to a shop and have the remaining freon recovered.

Glad to hear you're going to have the old Benz back on the road.

[Matt L]

How about a reclaiming cylinder, a bucket, and a bunch of dry ice?

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by Palangi

It would be unlawful to deliberatly vent it to the atmosphere.

You wouldn't want to get them California enviro-whackos on your case would you??

Fact is though, if it hasn't worked for several years, it probably has all leaked out anyway. Just locate the schrader valve and give it a quick touch (as you would a tire valve) and see if it has any pressure. If not, you're clear to disassemble. If it still has pressure, you would legally have to take it to a shop and have the remaining freon recovered.

Glad to hear you're going to have the old Benz back on the road.

Schrader valve?! Are you kidding me?

This won't be as hard as I thought. It's probably history, I mean, the freon or whatever sort of CFC was in there.

I'm not out of the woods yet on getting this priceless classic back on the road but the weather's good, so Imo git-er-done.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by Matt L

How about a reclaiming cylinder, a bucket, and a bunch of dry ice?

What, you mean the dry ice would keep it from evaporating away? Then what? I'd have to put it in a seal-able, sorta strong container, wouldn't I?

[hey_allen]

The reclaiming cylinder is the high pressure bottle, and if you were to freeze that while connected to the system, you might be able to condense some of the refrigerant in the system into the bottle.

That being said, I doubt that you'd get all that much, even in a full system, but I'm not an AC technician so who knows.

[Hirnbeiss]

but do you need to? can't you just unbolt everything and move the compressor to the side?

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by Hirnbeiss

but do you need to? can't you just unbolt everything and move the compressor to the side?

Eggzaceraly!

Venting would no doubt cause a number of Berkeley hippies to expire!

Jim

[hey_allen]

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

... would no doubt cause a number of Berkeley hippies to expire!

Umm...

Is this supposed to be encouraged or is that a bad thing?

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by hey_allen

Umm...

Is this supposed to be encouraged or is that a bad thing?

Glass houses - throwing stones. I lived in Seattle for years and my parents lived in OlyWA. I drove through Tacoma many times. Ahhh, the aroma.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Eggzaceraly!

Venting would no doubt cause a number of Berkeley hippies to expire!

Jim

Hey, you got a brother named Tim who wanders this forum? You sound just like him.

And uh, easy there son, I'm 56 and I got money that says I could work circles around you.

Berkeley hippie. Tired stereotyping, etc.

[ML Dude]

Seems like a good week to resurrect threads....and you fellas seem like you know A/C systems.
I have 85 300D which seems to leak at the low pressure port. My valve cover cap slows down the leak but after a year or two I have to recharge so I decided to change what I thought was a Schrader valve.
I had the system properly evacuated and then tried using my tire valve removal tool but my tool doesn't seem to work, there aren't any blocks on the valve for it fit on.
So I'm wondering do I need some special removal tool for this valve and is it in fact a simple schrader valve? If the installed valve is just old and the fittings have broken off, is there a safe removal procedure? Its starting to get hot where I live, please advise.

[Matt L]

I doubt that a tire tool is going to work; it will be too short to reach.

I hate to tell you this now, but there is an inexpensive tool available to change the core without losing refrigerant. Also, the cap seal should absolutely seal the stem, so it should lose no refrigerant no matter how much the core is leaking. Perhaps yours needs a new sealing ring.

[hey_allen]

From what I'd read a while back, there may be version of the port that had a permanently installed valve, designed to be replaced as an assembly.

I'm not sure if this is the case with your car, and that particular valve, but it may be. If I remember correctly, it was mostly the later model US makes that were doing this, but who knows.


I also seem to remember a 'replacement' adapter that was to fix those, that installed over the valve, depressing/opening the faulty valve, and putting a new one above it.

[ML Dude]

Matt, it could be my tire core tool is too short but it seemed to be able to reach further in. What is this tool you mention?

Josh, it could be you are right. I used a mirror to look into the valve and the core doesn't seem to have the "shoulders" needed for my core tool. I'd be interested in the adapter solution, anyone know more about this? Also wondering if I pull the hose off will there be a way to remove the valve from the inside?

Really appreciate your replies!