Re: Mounting Factory A/C Compressor

Posted by HH56 On 2016/5/14 15:55:55

A couple of questions. One would be what type refrigerant are you going to use. This being Calif, R12 is getting rather hard to come by and very expensive when you do find someone to install it. Can the compressor seals work with R134A if the need should arise. Also the oil would have to change if R134 is used. Would there be any issues there.

Another question would be temp control. If you have your modulator valve and it is functioning the temp control is by hot gas bypass. As soon as you turn AC on the compressor starts and runs all the time. The modulator valve is set at a fixed temp and opens and closes to effectively shunt or by pass the refrigerant. With the valve open, refrigerant essentially goes out one compressor port and in the other. None goes to evaporator until evaporator temp raises sufficiently to call for it and modulator valve closes to prevent the refrigerant being bypassed. Will valve work with R134 instead of R12 in the system.

If the modulator valve is defective or won't work well with R134 there is no way to control temp other than do as modern cars do and use an electrical thermostat to turn the compressor on and off. Rotary compressors and their clutches are designed for this and can rapidly engage at higher engine speeds without undue strain or issues. I would be concerned doing this with the Lehigh. It has an old style clutch and a large reciprocating mass. I would verify with the rebuilder the compressor could handle the strain of turning on and off several times a minute when going down the road if that need should arise.