Larry, thx for the response. so what's the noise got to do with flushing? I think you lost me there.

The system was working fine until one day some intermittent noise that sounded like the clutch trying to engage, then it would not engage at all. a quick check by an Indi verified that the AC would not engage because there was no freon. Further verified that compressor was leaking badly when tested for leaks.

any particular supplier in EBAY that you have used in the past?