Getting in to A/C, trying to figure out what to buy...
 

I am an A/C newbie, and dont know everything that i need. So i am planning on buying a 2.5cfm vacuum pump, and a A/C gauge set. i am thinking of getting this r12 set and a set of r134a quick adapters if i want to work on my wife's Ford Expedition.

What else will i need?

my 240d's situation is that the air is not cold, and i don't know the state of the compressor. i wanted to go the sanden route, but i cant commit as much money as w was hoping. i am thinking of trying to see if my current system works if i flush and recharge.

Electric Vacuum Pump - 2.5 CFM

https://www.amazon.com/Pit-Bull-CHIMG777-Conditioning-Manifold-Gauge/dp/B000VAQQ3Y

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000JFHNEC/ref=pd_aw_sim_469_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41z-UTkJ0tL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C67_&psc=1&refRID=YWVWTFKX5HZQMCJ32GR7

I suggest that you be sure to get a TWO STAGE vacuum pump... that one is one stage... HF does put its 2stage on sale...that is when I got mine....

and recommend reading the AC thread listed in my signature...

This is a decent starter set.

Bottom-line pricing on FJC KIT6 at ToolTopia.com

It isn't two stage but it does have the additional fitting which allows you to pull vacuum from both ports at the same time. It's not as fast as the true two-stager but it gets the job done.

You will need adapters for the existing R12 fittings.

It has a much higher quality set of gauges with real seals, not the hard plastic pieces of crap HF uses.

If you decide to use the HF manifold, the FIRST thing you need to do is to replace ALL the seals on the manifold.

Lethermang,

Saw the thread last night, and started reading it. have not been able to get very far because of kids. this weekend has a lot of sales going on, and i was looking to buy stuff cheaper. that is why i am trying to see all i need.

"cheaper" ≠ good.

If you are going to use the tool every day as a professional then buy the best one you can afford. if you are doing it once or twice or year then a cheap VP is good enough. You don't need the best vacuum for A/C to work. I used to use the Venturi VP ( $12 ) pump with a compressor to do A/C work at home. never failed. I would recommend to replace the rec/driver every time you open up the system.

You guys know I researched this before I bought a vacuum pump....
buy the CHEAPEST TWO STAGE pump you can afford....
some people on here think the world is full of conspiracies... and do not consult physics manuals to make their decisions.. and worse yet their Recommendations to OTHERS.....

I meant on sale because of 4th of July sales.

Post removed due to lack of relevance.

i read up on those, and one person said it used more air than his 12 gallon compressor could keep up with. i only have a 3 gallon pancake and a 5 gallon, so i was assuming that would not work for me.

One of them is already in this thread....and I expect the other one to arrive any minute... LOL
It is not you that I am referring to...
that tool kit you recommend IS two stage... thumbs up...

This part of his statement " cheap VP is good enough. You don't need the best vacuum for A/C to work. I used to use the Venturi VP ( $12 ) pump with a compressor to do A/C work at home. never failed. "

NO ONE who knows about the physics of taking the moisture out of and AC system agrees that a ' cheap' VENTURI VP ( OR EVEN AN Expensive one ) will pull enough vacuum to be effective....

The Venturi VP is not ideal but it works. You can do it in stages, I did. The bottom line is that you don't need perfect vacuum for A/C to work. Some shade tree mechanic charges the system without pulling any vacuum, just release the air from the high side port. It still works. Just buy something reasonable you can afford and is up to spec because most DIY only uses it very rarely. It is not you are fixing your A/C every month.

OK. It is me who wrote the Venturi pump. If it does not work then it will not be manufactured by Harbor Freight or others. Is it ideal? No. Does it work? YES. There is NO conspirator or conspiracy theory here. Please do not elevate yourself. You may fall and fall hard.

' does work or will not be manufactured by HF ' ...LOL
the Venturi type of pump does NOT WORK WELL ENOUGH to properly evacuate an AC unit...
it can make a vacuum for less ' needy ' uses.... but drawing enough vacuum to BOIL out the moisture is in a different category than that...

Last post here.

"does NOT WORK WELL ENOUGH" = WORK

"to BOIL out the moisture" = receiver/drier does the job

It is not a perfect world. A/C is not rocket science, please do not convince others that it is. Please don't elevate yourself either.