Date:         Thu, 3 Aug 2006 12:08:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: My R134a experience
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

Go to:

http://www.sanden.com/products/piston7models.html

These compressors are built for R134a and a few of those are replacements
for the SD709- I don't know which one of those would work best on Vgon but
that should get you started, should you decide to go that route. I suppose
you could contact Sanden, or perhaps a good A/C shop could tell you what you
need. If you do find out, how 'bout posting it to the list for the archives.

Each particular kind of refrigerant should have its own unique style of
service valve adapters so as to avoid mistakenly mixing refrigerants. If you
go to some of the Duracool sites you can find the various parts- you just
have to figure out which ones fit the service valves on your van.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: My R134a experience


> NOt by personal experience, but by a lot of reading, the head pressure
> on a 134a conversion is much greater that that of R12. There, form my
> reading, expect your compressor to fail a lot sooner that might
> otherwise occur.  If you stay with the R134a, when the death of your
> compressor occurs, replace it with one that is made to operate with
> R134a - if you can find one that fits a WBX engine.
>
> I have had this dilema myself, as I am getting ready to rebuild my
> system using a stock compressor. I have decided to stick with the R12,
> or at least one of the R12 look-alikes - Duracool or some other. To use
> a refigerant that is not R12 nor R134a, you must first have your rig
> converted to R134a, then change it to the new R12 substitute. You must
> go through the R134a stage to get to a Duracool system or other like
> setup. And the system must be thoroughly flushed between changes.
>
> I think I saw somewhere that if you go for a duracool or like
> refrigerant, the goal is to wind up with a R134a valve and a R12 valve.
> So you would have at the start 2 - R12 valves, next you would have two
> R134a valves, then when you are done, and install th Duracool, you are
> supposed wind up with both the R134a and the R12 valves. Not sure for
> why though.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver.
>
> Michael Diehr wrote:
>> My 85 westy has a slow leak (as many do) and so about 3 years after
>> my last R12 chargeup, I decided to go for a R134a conversion.   The
>> shop (Harris Radiator near San Diego) did a great job, and even
>> offered me a guarantee, offering to change back to R12 if I wasn't
>> happy with it.
>>
>> Performance-wise, it's decent and I think livable.  Not ice-cold, but
>> quite cool, and I like the idea of not leaking freon, so I think I'll
>> stick with it.
>>
>> The only problem that I've noticed is that when running the AC at
>> high engine rpm (3000 ish) the compressor is making a "hum" sound.
>> Loud enough to be heard over engine & road noise on the freeway.   I
>> can't remember if it made that sound while running on R12, since it's
>> been a while, but I don't think so.
>>
>> Is it possible that R134 is putting more stress on my compressor and
>> hence the noise?  If so, is this the sound of progress or incipient
>> failure?
>>
>>