Dang - what a scare. I masterfully replaced the AC Evaporator. Went to the shop to have sys evac'd and charged. No leaks! But the compressor clutch decided to stop working. OK, got a new compressor. Enough is enough.


Had the compressor on the bench, sitting vertical on the front and removed the bolt holding the plate sealing the two connections. Plate seemed stuck. Stepped away thankfully and the plate let loose and rocketed to the ceiling with a mist of oil. If I have been looking at it or over it, would have been bad news. So, ALERT- these things can attack! There should have been a warning label!!!


The good news is - the AC is now perfect and cooling great! I'm, back on the road. I even replaced the clock yesterday after cleaning the replacement one as it was stuck. Appears the one I removed just needs cleaning. Next up - read the diff codes and see what I have and what it will take to be anti-slip (seems stupid to sell a car with a 455 and have 1 drive wheel)

 

What is the model number of the compressor that you were working on? i.e. A-6???, or with the year of the car, it can be determined.

 

This is a good reminder to everyone, regardless of what youre working on, wear safety equipment. Safety glasses, and gloves, can prevent or at least minimze personal damage.

Glad everything worked out ok for you.

 

Junkman, I have a 1970 Delta 88 - all stock. And I have an extra compressor with a bad clutch

 

Are you saying that an A/C compressor, completely disconnected from the car, with the ports open, somehow exploded?

How?

What would be the source of pressure?

Once the freon is discharged (the lines disconnected), there is no pressure in the system.

Could the A6 have retained pressure in one of its cylinders, isolated from both ports, without any leakdown?
If so, this is a very interesting story.

- Eric

 

No. The NEW ONE out of the box, had a plate sealing the two connections, with O-rings, shipped apparently under pressure. Who'd know! I removed the center bolt, turned away to get a screwdriver to pop the pate and it blew off, hit the rafters with a midst of oil discharged.

 

Maybe the unit was sealed and pressurised to keep the internals free from contamination, who knows, it might be sitting on a shelf for a long time before it is fitted to an engine?.
I don't know, I'm just guessing.

Roger.

 

Was it very hot where you were, or where the compressor had just been?

I see what you're saying now. They had the usual central retaining bolt and plate on the rear, with something covering and sealing the ports. I do the same thing when I store a compressor, except that I use wine corks in the port holes.

My guess would be that, as Roger said, they pressurize it at a few psi, to keep moisture out, and that either they accidentally overpressurized it, or the compressor was hot, which raised the pressure.

Very interesting.

- Eric

 

^^^This!

Typically new or rebuilt parts like this will have a nitrogen purge inside to prevent contamination. The drier I just got from Classic Auto Air had a similar internal pressurization.

 

Charged with nitrogen to keep moisture out, bet instructions said it was charged. Good that you weren't hurt.

 

See Joe beat me to it.

 

I'll add that the lesson learned here is to LOOSEN the bolt holding that plate on a new compressor but do not fully remove it. Get the plate unstuck, vent the N2 pressure, THEN fully remove the bolt.

 

It might be a good idea to alert the manufacturer if there was no warning label so that appropriate labels can be affixed to the rebuilt compressors The remanufacturer probably takes it for granted A/C shops would know about the compressors being pressurized and might have never gave a thought about someone else working on the parts.

 

Oh, they've thought about it, which is why every single one has instructions that lead off with eight pages of safety information, including a statement to the effect of "For professional installation only". These companies all have lawyers and liability insurance requirements.

Of course, you DID read the instructions first, right?

 

I, personally, almost always read the complete instructions for what ever I am assembling or working on. My wife complains many times that I read everything, including the owner's manual for every leased vehicle or new device we get.

Even with including the hazards in the instructions, it would still be a good idea if the manufacturer placed a warning label on the compressor - the same as when other manufacturers place endless warnings in the instructions, but still place warnings on individual items that pose a hazard.

 

I'm of the mind that you can overdo the warnings, to the point that your mind saturates and ignores them. Does anyone pay attention to all the warning stickers on lawnmowers? When was the last time you paid any attention to a backup alarm? At a construction site that I pass frequently, there are often two or three backup alarms going off at once. You just tune them out. Warning stickers and alarms are no substitute for common sense. They just protect the company from liability lawsuits.

 

I understand what you are saying, that was sorta what I was saying with the 'endless' warnings in the instructions. Sometimes a warning is better served when it is just on the particular part rather then included in a list of other warnings that gets 'hidden' to the owner if they decide to read the instruction manual.

It is amazing the liability companies are faced with from litigation, not unlike a customer who picked up his lawnmower to cut the hedges and injured himself. One of the settlement requirements, besides the cash and to show the lawsuit was not just about the money, but 'safety', the manufacturer agreed to place a decal on each mower warning owners not to use it for it's unintended purpose.

 

My point. Just like "do not drink" on bleach or drain cleaner. I prefer letting evolution sort this out.

 

this

 

Doubt this,, not in todays sue happy world..


My bet the unit was returned , and the label/tag was removed when it was sent to whom ever the first time.