Has anyone tried these very inexpensive vacs for recharging A/C systems. They are cheap and simple. They run on compressed air. I wonder if you still can use a guage set with these or am I missing something? Available under vaccum pumps on ebay. I'm not a seller, I just don't want to pay for a useless product if someone has info.

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85 300D
245K and running strong

They typically don't pull quite enough vacuum for A/C work. Operating on the Coanda effect, they might get 25-28", but that's not quite good enough. If you want to save some money, use an old dehumidifier compressor and solder a 1/4" flare fitting on the suction tube. I just made one, and It'll pull over 29", which is what you need (to vaporize all the water inside your car's system)

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight here in Florida as a last minute deal. It was the venturi type. Pulled between 28 & 29" & got about 35 degress F out of the center vent. Don't pay more than 10-$15 for one. Just a cheap venturi setup. Murder on your compressor though-runs constantly.

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1984 300CD red/blk 290,000 partial resto
1980 240D 4 sp Brn/palomino gone
1997 Mazda Miata STO edition wife's baby
1988 Lincoln Mark VII LSC next resto
1986 Subaru GL wagon daily
1993 Isuzu pickup field beater
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 5sp wife's new car
1978 Honda XL350
1974 Honda XL70 my Calif. ride in HS

I asked about those vacs that must be used in conjunction with an air compressor, and almost got banned from this site. It might have been my most traumatic thread.
I agree not to use that style, both for the probability of insufficient vacuum, and the fact that your air compressor would have to work for too long.
Here is a link to a cheap but decent enough vacuum. I have purchased from these folks, and am very happy with them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FJC-Automotive-2-5-CFM-Vacuum-Pump-R12-R134a_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43989QQitemZ4646023045QQtcZphoto

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I read somewhere that you can make one from an old refrigerator compressor.
If you cant pull quite enough vac on the system heat it up. Raising the temp of the moisture in the system and it will all boil out.

How much vacuum will this pump pull?

it should pull full 29" vaccume down. it is slower than the professional types but it should do fine for auto/refrigerator work.
John

what i'm using is, i rigged an a/c compressor with its mounting bracket out of a nissan from a junkyard, riveted the clutch to the pulley and welded the bracket into an angular frame then mounted another bracket with an 115V 1/3 hp electric motor w/ pulley on the opposite side, and put a proper sized drive belt and hooked a hose and connector from the suction side of the compressor and believe it or not, its working! 29 mmHg of negative vacuum pressure. i know its too much work for a simple tool, but its heavy duty, industrial and reliable. its almost the same as driving an old mercedes benz diesel, too much work but fun to drive! its priceless!!!

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'85 300D Turbo - CA Version

I would love to see a picture of that! I appreciate inginuity such as that.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

It will do the job if your compressor can maintain 100 psi. I have used one for years but my compressor is 10 HP and liquid cooled.