AC Recovery Machine

[whitworthranch]

After working on my AC systems and running gauges and all that for several years I am at a point where I'd like to be able to do my own recovery and I wondered if anyone had recommendations for a hobby-plus level machine. I am not in a particular hurry to get an evac done so it seems like one of the small 1 hp or similar units would be ok.

I redid the whole system on my 1989 Ford F-250---condenser, evap, drier, hoses, compressor, and charged with R12. It's awesome.

My other a/c cars are R134a, which I assume I'd want to use a different tank due to oil incompatibility? Theoretically I wouldn't get oil in the recovery tank though? I saw the tank on ACKits.com and it says it's for R134a and I wondered what qualities of the tank would make it gas specific?

[JohnHere]

After working on my AC systems and running gauges and all that for several years I am at a point where I'd like to be able to do my own recovery and I wondered if anyone had recommendations for a hobby-plus level machine. I am not in a particular hurry to get an evac done so it seems like one of the small 1 hp or similar units would be ok.

I think what you have in mind is a separate-component portable setup, such as used for HVAC (residential) units. They can be used for automotive recovery as well, as long as setup time and time-to-recover the refrigerant aren't important. The latter means that recovering an automotive system could take hours, unlike a much more costly professional RRR (Recover Recycle Recharge) machine that usually takes only minutes. The reason for the time difference is the oil. An RRR machine has a tank that collects the refrigerant, along with a separate smaller container that collects and measures any oil that's recovered, so that the oil can be exactly replaced later. The separate component setup doesn't have the oil-collection container. Thus, the recovery takes much longer so that the oil isn't drawn into the refrigerant recovery tank.

I redid the whole system on my 1989 Ford F-250---condenser, evap, drier, hoses, compressor, and charged with R12. It's awesome.

Good job!

My other a/c cars are R134a, which I assume I'd want to use a different tank due to oil incompatibility? Theoretically I wouldn't get oil in the recovery tank though? I saw the tank on ACKits.com and it says it's for R134a and I wondered what qualities of the tank would make it gas specific?

Yes, you would use a different recovery tank for each refrigerant, not because of the oil, but because of the refrigerants' incompatibility.

Recovery tanks differ only in their valve connections. For instance, R-12 has valves with right-hand-thread 1/4" flare connections, R-134a has valves with different size right-hand-thread ACME connections, and R-1234yf has valves with different size ACME connections but with left-hand threads. This is to ensure that the incompatible refrigerants aren't accidently intermixed.

[whitworthranch]

Great information, especially on the valves/fittings! Thank you.

Yes, the small portable units. There is Vevor (and many similar Chinese brands), the Appion G5Twin and a smaller one by them. I have looked at used RRR machines and some are pretty affordable but I don't know enough to be able to determine if it's operational, etc., and if it would have all the required parts.

I just have no idea if a $300-$500 Vevor is "good" and will last enough for my periodic purposes. Appion G5Twin is about $900 new and I see them for $300-$400 used.

My manifold gauges only have three ports but I think there is one that's not drilled on the back I might be able to use. More study required there.

It was 90 here today and the F-250 was blowing 35-37 on Max (recirc) going down the road. It rises to 45-50 when stopped in traffic for awhile, but as soon as I start moving it goes back down. I have a Spal 12-inch low-profile pusher I intend to mount on the condenser and wire to the compressor clutch. I wish I'd bought a parallel-flow condenser vs. the admittedly much lower cost one I got, but the latter was a direct fit for the Ford and I could use off-the-shelf replacement hoses, etc. Hoping the $100 fan is the help I need to smooth out the temp when not moving.

The custom system in my Jaguar leaked so I have to put dye in and run it again to see what's up. That is my motivation for the ability to recover. I can do it at a shop for sure but the recovery will cost me something and I thought if I had to recover one or three vehicles I'd be sort of in the ballpark of owning a machine? I admit I have not priced recovery with any local shops.

[JohnHere]

Yes, the small portable units. There is Vevor (and many similar Chinese brands), the Appion G5Twin and a smaller one by them. I have looked at used RRR machines and some are pretty affordable but I don't know enough to be able to determine if it's operational, etc., and if it would have all the required parts.

Vevor, a China-based company, has a reputation for non-responsive customer service and missing parts. Replacements and anything needed for maintenance are reportedly next to impossible to get from them. I don't know about Appion.

Generally, I avoid buying throw-away tools and equipment made offshore. But some people don't seem to mind buying equipment and throwing it away after the first use because it breaks. That's not my philosophy, though.

Another option for recovery is finding a local shop having an R-134a RRR machine. Some shops will consider the refrigerant they recover from your vehicle as payment for their service. You'll need to ask around. Finding a shop having an R-12 RRR machine will be virtually impossible these days.

Buying a used machine is always a crapshoot unless you know its history.

My manifold gauges only have three ports but I think there is one that's not drilled on the back I might be able to use. More study required there.

The fourth "port" or fitting on the back of your MGS is probably intended just to store the end of the yellow hose when it's not in use. That fitting should not be drilled-out.

The pusher fan should help a bit with airflow over the condenser while the truck is standing still and idling. A PF condenser probably wouldn't help much because your truck's system was specifically designed to use a serpentine condenser and R-12, and you kept it R-12.