[GMCnet] Is bench testing an AC compressor an option?

[Carguy]

My dash AC has never worked well due to a leak in the system. Last fall my AC clutch took a dump so it seems like a good time to remove the compressor and do whatever it needs to make it usable.

I have no experience with this things, should I expect a good AC repair shop to test and repair as needed?

Bill Brown
Coshocton OH
'77 Buckeye Cruiser
Change is certain, progress is not
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[Larry Davick]

You might consider the modern replacement that Jim K sells <http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/1423>

Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, CA

[Matt Colie]

carguy wrote on Mon, 31 March 2014 12:55

> My dash AC has never worked well due to a leak in the system. Last fall my AC clutch took a dump so it seems like a good time to remove the compressor and do whatever it needs to make it usable.
>
> I have no experience with this things, should I expect a good AC repair shop to test and repair as needed?
>
> Bill Brown

Bill,

There are no simple bench test that will confirm that an A/C compressor is functioning properly.

The A6 is such a durable beast, that if you can turn the drive plate (at the very front of the compressor) and it turns relatively smoothly, it is probably just fine. It may blow some oil out when you do this, and that would be completely normal.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES Headed home from MontgomeryChaumière is being her wonderful self
'73 Glacier 23 With 4 Rear Brakes that pull as they should
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

[Johnny Bridges]

Shouldn't be a problem, there are millions of that design in the field.  Any competent shop should be able to fix/rebuild it.  JimK has them for sale if you want to avoid the down time.   They are field rebuildable/resealable, but you need a kit of specific tools to do so.  We borrowed the tools off another GMCer and resealed three of them at yet another GMCer's place last year.  Look on the photo site under my pictures at 'seal party'.

--johnny


________________________________
From: Carguy <cargu...@sbcglobal.net>
To: gmc...@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 12:55 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Is bench testing an AC compressor an option?

[Bill Wevers]

Some of the so-called rebuilt A6 compressors
available at the local auto parts stores are "BAD".
I went through this a couple of years ago.
To me it's worth it to buy a new replacement
such as the S6. It weighs a lot less too!

http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/1423

[r...@gmcnet.org]

If it were my compressor while I had it out to replace the clutch and bearing I would also replace the shaft seal. Larry had a write up on installing a double lip seal that is used on later style compressors. The A6 is big and bulky but it is still a good compressor. If the clutch didn't burn out because the compressor froze up it should be ok.Make sure the shaft turns freely and isn't frozen.
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook

[Larry Davick]

If you knew that the compressor was leaking around the front seals (it probably is) and that the rest of the monster is okay you could probably replace the front seals with the double-lip seal some of us have done. I have the little toolkit to remove and replace the seal that I’d be happy to loan you. Removing the clutch is part of the job so replacing it would just be part of the job.

Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, CA

[Charles Boyd]

Hi Bill: Before you take it apart, You probably got a tank of nitrogen in your shop. Hook it in to your ac system at about 150 lb and spray very soapy water and find your leak first. Front seal, connections and bad rubber lines can be leaking.

carguy wrote on Mon, 31 March 2014 12:55

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee