Arrrrgh!!! What a day. 123 AC system, Computers and Squirrels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dmorrison · #1 04-27-2004, 11:15 PM

What a day.
Trust me everything in the title will come together by the end.

Item #1. Just finished a post about this and a few misguided typing fingers and it all dissapeared.

Item #2. Bad smell in the living room. Dog is getting old and yesterday thought the new food was "not agreeing" with her digestive track. Today it was stronger. You guest it. 2 dead squirrels in the fireplace, just above the flue. Used the mega-size shop vac to get them out. One came out and its was OK. the second and the gag factor was maxed out. Almost lost my dinner. Realized I had 3M charcoal filter masks for painting the cars. Popped that on and the job got done. Looked outside at the chimminey cap, it was "displaced". So now I have to replace that. And cut the tree that knocked it off the opening during one of our Texas windy days. Who knows when that happened. Long enough ago for the squirrels to find it.

Item #3.
Monday I had the 300TD on the road. Got the front end alligned. runs great. Tracks true down the road and the 2" additional front height that I had after the front rebuild was gone. Tightened the Lower control arms without the weight of the car on the wheels.
Got my R134a and evacuated the system. Held for 45 mins without any problem. Installed the R134a and after about 2.4-2.6 cans of R134a the vent temp was 35 degrees. Happy with the results and shut all the valves.
Then the fun started. I released the low pressure hose and the schradder valve broke. Pissed all the R134a away. And about 1/2 oz of oil. Tried to get the schradder to "work" but it had broken.

I used on of those Interdynamics brand conversion kit. Absolute junk. When I went to Oreilly's to get another low pressure conversion adaptor The sales guy, a good guy, went to the back and got a real nice one. I highly recommend that you stay away from interdynamics. there stuff is not very good.
So I'm now evacuating the system again and will charge it in a couple of minutes.
This system is in a 82 300TD, I have installed a parallel flow condensor and was going to run R134a for a while to "test" the manifold we made for the parallel flow condensor. Glade I didn't put the R12 in the car I was going to use. That would of been $105 worth of freon pissing away.
I plan to wait for the typical hot Texas day. Call Larry Bible and go to his place. I want to run the cars side by side and get the vent temperature readings for my car and his car.
My car with the R134a, parallel flow condensor and all.
His car, OEM system with R12. If the vent temps are the same I'll let you know. If not, I'll let you know.
I may stay with R134a if they run the same. Of not I'll convert to R12. With the rebuild I did I can evacuate the R134a and install R12 without the required flush etc.

Shradder valves, squirells and keyboards.

So what a day.

Dave

One good thing though, installed new headlight doors on the 300TD, looks nice.

#2 04-28-2004, 09:05 AM

Dave,

I'll bet that at the end of that day, you were ready for your next shift to start so you could fly away.

Yes, those aluminum adapter fittings are junk. I buy steel ones from one of the suppliers that link to www.aircondition.com. I also saw these steel ones at Pep Boys. They are DEFINITELY worth the extra money. As I was reading your post I was thinking that it sure was good that you weren't losing R12.

It will be interesting to see how your parallel flow condensor will work out. It may very well be enough added capacity to make a Texas grade a/c.

It's always handy to have a good squirrel dog around the house.

BTW, I don't currently have a 123 on the road. Only a 124 and 203. I'm sure we can find a good R12, 123 a/c to compare it to though.

Will you be available for dinner while Suginami is in town Friday, June 4?

Good luck,

dmorrison · #3 04-28-2004, 02:08 PM

Dinner? June 4th? Sounds great BUT, I will have to bid for June first and then see if I have the day or evening off. If not I'll try to trade the tirp and get it off. We have no idea what our schedule is until the 18th of the month before the actual month. So I won't know until May 18th or so. Then trip trading doesn't start until May 27th, Sooo I'll try but won't firm up yes/no untill the 18th of May.
Where are you guys thinking of for dinner. Wives invited?
Which car do I bring. Is this a diesel dinner (300TD, borrow the daughters 240D or take the 560SL, weather may dictate the top down ) or just a Mercedes dinner.

Dave

#4 04-28-2004, 05:38 PM

I will be starting a thread with details, but here's what it is. Paul will be staying near the West End. Paul and I will be at Sonny Bryans in the West End about 6:00PM. Everyone can show up as they get off work and can make it.

Absolutely wives, kids, uncles, aunts or great grandma in for the weekend from Hawaii. Whoever. The more the merrier.

Paul is a great guy and is sort of our guest when he comes to town, and he likes Steaks and Barbeque when he comes here.

If your schedule clashes, we can have another dinner, maybe on a Saturday night when you can predict it a few weeks in advance. We can usually gather up a group from members such as: 71Rcode, lizem1, DeezelBenz, myself and several others. They are top notch people and I'm sure we would all have a great time.

Hopefully your schedule will allow you to make the June 4 GTG, but if not, shoot me a Saturday night that fits and we'll start drumming up some company.

As far as cars to bring, it doesn't matter. Last time it was a 124 gasser group, but the time before it was 123 diesel dominated. You just never know. My experience with these groups is that they enjoy seeing and learning about cars other than their own as much as sharing experience etc. regarding cars that are similar to theirs.

We look forward to seeing you.

There will be a thread soon with details including address, etc.

Have a great day,