Behold r12 lovers, my new r12 Charging station! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

derburger · #1 06-21-2008, 11:09 PM

Well, new in 1986. It's a white industries model, also re-branded as Snap on. I bought an r12 charging station today, it has all the hoses and gauges to do A/C charging and vacuuming, charging through a tank and cans, and a vacuum pump that pulls down vacuum quickly and quietly. At $50, it's still worth the price for a rolling toolbox it can be used for. Bought it from a repair shop that was downsizing their r12 stuff to only have a few cans and gauges. An r12 tank was connected to it but they didn't let me have that.

It's not a reclaiming station though. On the instructions to discharge an r12 system, it says to connect the high and low hoses, and open the bleed valve

. It's a little rusty but everything works and it looks pretty cool too. Too bad I don't have an r12 tank, I could just connect the hoses, set the r12 timer to 2.6 pounds and wait for the car A/C to fill up. I needed a rolling toolbox and A/C equipment, so this fit the bill.

Here's a picture with a 300cd in the background:

JimmyL · #2 06-21-2008, 11:13 PM

I think that is great to have! Maybe somebody can send you a tank when they're done with it. Or you can maybe get one with some goodie in it.......

What's it look like with the doors opened?

derburger · #3 06-21-2008, 11:20 PM

With the bottom double doors open, there is a vacuum pump on the left, and room for a tank on the right, along with hoses for the tank. It's pretty roomy, enough room for many gallons of oil. The vacuum pump holds 12 ounces of oil, and there is a hole in the bottom with a drain plug for the pump, the instructions ask for Dextron I or 5w40 oil. The drawer on top is decently sized and has a key. Pretty solidly built too, it seems very sturdy.

vstech · #4 06-22-2008, 01:14 AM

ahhhh, a charging/vacuuming station.
now I see.
you should be able to find yourself a tank of 12... craigslist, or ebay.
I have two, and I am ALWAYS looking for the next good deal on 12.
it uses a timer for charging. interesting... no scale? hmmmm.
so, according to the chart, dextron I is the same or as compatible as 5W40. I would think it would specify vacuum pump oil

derburger · #5 06-22-2008, 01:35 AM

It does have a scale, I referred to it as a timer because that's what it seems like. There's a float you put somewhere or some sort of pressure reading to find out how much freon to put in. I'll read some more of the manual later. Sort of weird it doesn't call for vacuum pump oil. By the serial number it's from 1986, I wonder why it just uses Dextron or 15w40. Maybe it's for the shop that has that stuff on hand. It does say to change the oil every 25 evacuations or if there is one "black death" evacuation as well.

SW · #6 06-22-2008, 02:27 AM

The paint on the cd looks amazingly clean.

Cervan · #7 06-22-2008, 04:31 AM

awesome deal man, looks great.

Ross Davis · #8 06-22-2008, 09:19 AM

Congratulations on the R12 station. I have followed some of your discussion threads with interest, as I am contemplating purchase of an 83 300cd with a/c "non-functional, but intact". I'm not entirely sure what that means yet, but it sounds as if it has been non functional for at least 2 years. I am anticipating that a complete "rebuild" (evacuation, compressor/condensor/evaporator replacement, flushing, etc) may well be in my future if I buy this car. I have learned quite a bit by reading your various threads as you have worked to "retrofit" your a/c to functional R-12, and was just wondering at what phase in this project you are, and how it has gone so far. Thanks. Ross.

derburger · #9 06-22-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross Davis

Congratulations on the R12 station. I have followed some of your discussion threads with interest, as I am contemplating purchase of an 83 300cd with a/c "non-functional, but intact". I'm not entirely sure what that means yet, but it sounds as if it has been non functional for at least 2 years. I am anticipating that a complete "rebuild" (evacuation, compressor/condensor/evaporator replacement, flushing, etc) may well be in my future if I buy this car. I have learned quite a bit by reading your various threads as you have worked to "retrofit" your a/c to functional R-12, and was just wondering at what phase in this project you are, and how it has gone so far. Thanks. Ross.

I now have the r12, drier, expansion valve, various wrenches, the r12 station. I still have to get a flush gun or flush cans, and o-rings, and the correct oil for r12. I'm waiting for a good weekend to do everything, and I'm dreading taking off the compressor to flush it, I can't find many threads on compressor R&R and the w123 manual is skimpy on compressor r&r.

When I do this, I'll be sure to make a writeup with good pictures too.

Ross Davis · #10 06-22-2008, 02:47 PM

That is the impression I have gotten also, that getting the compressor in and out can be a challenge. I have been thinking through how I might handle that if/when I get to the situation you are in. One of my recent thoughts was to get my own compressor, take it to a local auto a/c place, and have them do the compressor exchange for me; from what I have read on here and other places, the other components of the job (flushing entire system, cleaning/replacing condensor, cleaning evaporator, etc) might be manageable "dirty work" that I could handle without having to pay someone else. We'll see; still learning. Good luck with yours, and maybe I'll keep up with you as you go along. Ross

vstech · #11 06-22-2008, 03:36 PM

that won't work, to properly flush the system, you are going to have to at least disconnect the lines from the compressor. why not just finish the job and pull the 4 bolts and drop the old compressor out? I have not done this on any MB's yet, but I have no fear of the job.

derburger · #12 06-22-2008, 03:42 PM

I have fear of this, because my last two projects with my 300cd was replacing one upper control arm which took 4 hours, replacing front shocks which took 8 hours.

I found out not that having the proper tools makes projects take a longer time. My grumpy mechanic isn't too far away to drive in case I screw up somehow.

Graplr · #13 06-22-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derburger

I have fear of this, because my last two projects with my 300cd was replacing one upper control arm which took 4 hours, replacing front shocks which took 8 hours.

I found out not that having the proper tools makes projects take a longer time. My grumpy mechanic isn't too far away to drive in case I screw up somehow.

I just took off my compressor and flushed it about a month ago. I was a little worried by all the talk about it. It actually wastn't that bad. It maybe took me about an hour or two to get it back on working by myself.

For me, motor mounts and oil cooler lines were tougher, but I'm sure that is not the experience with everyone.

The toughest part was getting the last bolt to thread. I think I ended up taking off most of them and doing that one first. Pretty sure it was the top right side one.

One trick that I think made it easier was to put the compressor oil in on the bench, then put the manifold hoses on while it was on the bench. Having the hoses in place allowed the compressor to line up pretty well.

I haven't done control arms or shocks. I would say if you can do those, you should not worry about the compressor.

Good luck and nice find. Wish I had a charging station!

NoSparkNeeded · #14 06-22-2008, 05:36 PM

Envy. This is better than the 30lb can of freon I got at a garage sale
for 5 bucks in 1992. The guy thought it was for filling balloons. I told
him it wasn't, but he seemed not to care less. It fed me for years,hehe

vstech · #15 06-22-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

Envy. This is better than the 30lb can of freon I got at a garage sale
for 5 bucks in 1992. The guy thought it was for filling balloons. I told
him it wasn't, but he seemed not to care less. It fed me for years,hehe

in 92 R12 was 25.00 for a NEW 30lb tank... 22 was 35.00
last month I priced a new 30lb tank of 12... $1500.00... I would rather have the 30lb jug for $5 than the charging station for 50... but it is quite nice!