currently my ac is messed up, the clutch is bad. i dont want to remove it completely, but it would be helpful if i could remove the condenser. would a shop suck the freon out of the system and give it to me so that i can remove the condenser and recharge the system whenever i put it back on with a new clutch and/or compressor(it would be next summer or even later).

 

The only way they could give it to you would be in one of those big 30lbs white tanks with the valves. I doubt any shop will suck out the freon and give it to you.

 

Justin is right, they will not give you the freon back. Mainly becuase they are required by law to use a recovery system to pull it out. However alot of shops don't do this but it is a very extensive fine if they get caught. The cost of freon R-12 right now ruins about 500.00 per 30lb jug of it. Unless you know somebody even then it is very hard top obtain without a license.

 

There are two reasons why they won't give you the freon. 1 they use a 30# cylinder to recover the freon into. the cylinders cost between $50.00-$100.00 each, and they aren't going to give their recovery tanks away. 2 it is illegal for you to even posess R12 unless you have a refrigerant recovery license. If you have some left over cans of R12 in your garage, nobody is going to come looking for you, but if the shop were to give your freon back to you, and you were an undercover agent for the epa, they face a $25,000.00 fine.

 

Theres not enough R12 in the system to be concerned over. If you let the freon out yourself and take the condenser out make sure yooou seal up all the open lines so as not to get moisture in the rest of the system. When your ready to put a new clutch or compressor on then would be a good time to convert to 134a. You can buy a conversion kit at K-mart or any auto parts store. It would probably be a good idea to have a good shop do this so they can pull a vacuum on the system and remove all moisture before filling with the 134a. Hope this helps.

Steve