R-12 refrigerant recovery machine

[Saturn V]

Anticipating some component replacement/repair on my 84's a/c system, I called around to some shops asking for estimates. I couldn't find anyone who still has a machine to recover the R-12 refrigerant. They all basically admitted to "atmospheric recycling" which isn't legal and which I didn't want to do. I have my EPA Section 609 license and I'm confident that I can do anything on the a/c system myself, I just didn't have a way to recover the refrigerant in the system before opening it up. Until now. I found this machine for $40. It's dirty, but it powers up and the seller said that it worked the last time that he used it.

[2nd chance cobra]

Put a vacuum on an old empty tank and use it to recover. 2nd if you anticipate part replacement aren't you probably low or empty to start with? 3rd your 18 oz won't destroy our environment. 4th I'd be cautious with a machine that old, it likely leaks worse than your car. When I was in the shop our r 12 and 134a machines were always being serviced for leaks and just plain not working. I understand not wanting to just dump it, but it happens all the time

[wraithracing]

Cool! I hope it works well for you! Good Luck!

[2nd chance cobra]

Reputation comment? Why? What? Points? Am I being flamed and don't know it? Understand I can barely navigate this or any site. Sorry to hijack

[Saturn V]

2nd chance, thanks for the comments. You're right, I should check the fittings on the machine before using. I didn't do anything for your reputation, but maybe someone else liked what you said and added some reps for you? I don't keep up with all of that.

[2nd chance cobra]

No worries. I just don't get that deep into computers. I have done many 134 retrofits on chevys, so ford's could be diff. Usually fix the leak replace the drier, maybe change the orfice, change the fittings and dump in a little less 134 than 12, I like to do it with gauges and a thermometer. I never cared for some of t he retrofit sources that said you have to replace EVERYTHING. I m no genius but I do know some stuff and when I don't I'm usually quiet

[2nd chance cobra]

Oh and I knew it wasn't you, I just didn't know what it was.I have never seen it before

[dagenham]

Have you priced or sourced R12 yet?? The price you will pay per pound for R12 will be more than what it will cost you to change over to R134.

[Saturn V]

Have you priced or sourced R12 yet?? The price you will pay per pound for R12 will be more than what it will cost you to change over to R134.

I don't know what R12 costs where you live, but I find it locally on Craigslist for about $20 a can any week.


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[2nd chance cobra]

Make sure you are buying r 12, not some r12 replacement. There are some VERY flammable r12 replacements out there.

[homer302]

Jealous! I never even thought to look for one of these. I ran in to the same predicament last summer with my '84. I never did find anyone would do it and a lot of shops told me that there was no such thing as R12. I see no reason to convert and I didn't either. I am not certain where this rumor came from that R12 was crazy expensive. You can buy it ANYWHERE for not much at all. Yeah it's a lot more then it was in 1989 but what isn't? And how often do you need it? And I am not talking about replacement R12 substitutes. I don't get why people convert to less efficient R134. R12 cools better and is better for the parts in the system which are also designed for R12. There is zero demand for R12 which makes it cheap to come by.

[gt4494]

Do you still need the ASE certificate to buy R12?

[JACook]

You still need a 609 certificate to buy the small cans of R12, but private sellers don't always ask. I also
agree with Saturn V and Homer302, proper R12 is still plentiful at a reasonable price, if you're willing to
look for it.

As long as I can maintain a stash of R12, I don't even think about retrofitting R134a, but I do make sure
the system doesn't leak. Dry nitrogen is your friend.

[droopie85gt]

You still need a 609 certificate to buy the small cans of R12, but private sellers don't always ask. I also
agree with Saturn V and Homer302, proper R12 is still plentiful at a reasonable price, if you're willing to
look for it.

As long as I can maintain a stash of R12, I don't even think about retrofitting R134a, but I do make sure
the system doesn't leak. Dry nitrogen is your friend.

Uh, I'll bite, what's dry nitrogen? And how is it used?

[JACook]

As the name implies, it's nitrogen with very low moisture content. Available where you buy welding gases.

You use it to pressurize the system and make sure it doesn't leak down. Vacuum will usually show you if
you have a major leak, but some leaks will only show up when the system is under pressure. And using
plain shop air is not a good idea because shop air can contain enough moisture to saturate the desiccant
bag. And then there's also that whole oxygen-meets-oil thing.

Dry nitrogen is also very useful to find small leaks if you've got a sniffer, by mixing in a small quantity of
refrigerant, or CO2, if your sniffer can read that.