Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum

I been using my regular can tap on the new self sealing freon caps
i cant purge the line because its kind of tricky to get the can tap to press the self sealing tap just right
and the only time i know its pressed is when i see freon flowing through the sight glass

i know theres a better way to do this
the adapters they sell at the autoparts store leaks
what do you use

The new self sealing cans are a joke. Sideline your regular tapper, get a side tapper from Tim and be done. Tap the top for vapor, and the bottom if you want liquid. This model has swing out spacers so that small and large cans can be tapped, for example if you want to add dye that is a smaller can
https://www.ackits.com/85530-3-in-1-sid ... 0can%20tap

BTW Tim will be away Monday 7-19

I have about 8 cans of R134a bought a few years ago, when the regular-top cans were still on shelves and the self-sealing ones just showing up.

I only work on my own vehicles (3 R134a and one R-12) so have been fortunate that I have not had to do any AC repairs in the last couple years, so not had the "pleasure" of using a self-sealing can. But I do have a can side tap.

i bought a side tap almost identical to the one in the link except mine is green
i had to add a shim so that it was the right size for my can
i taped the can and it leaked and didnt work
i dont have faith in can taps as pictured

Don't know what to say. Many of us use side tappers all the time. Maybe your green one is made of chinesium and doesn't have a good rubber sealing washer. Good one should not have needed a shim. Could you tell from where it was leaking?

Only other choice I guess would be to rustle up a 25-30 pounder from somewhere

I have been side tapping cans for decades. A quality side tap works every time.

The operative term from Penguin is "almost" Obviously if it needed a handmade shim something is not right.

I usually tap as close to the bottom of the can as is possible - where the swaged ring is. The most rigid part of the can, and I am comfortable bleeding liquid with a manifold set.

Just a note, our shop would wire wheel the can when using a side tap. Just to remove any chance of paint getting into the system.