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Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 12:01 PM
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Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Anyone have a good method? Sofakingdom are you there??

I was thinking of bleeding some r134a from the can, out high pressure port, but worried once the r134a can tap valve is closed the pressure will be so great the can will blow off its cheap screw before the low pressure valve can be opened to fill the system with refrigerant......
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 12:44 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Let the vac pump do it.
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 01:51 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Originally Posted by sofakingdom
Let the vac pump do it.
are you suggesting to connect yellow hose to vac pump and blue hose to can? vac for a bit and then charge? i was concerned about leaks thru vac pump once it is turned off. is this neglible?
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 02:08 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Does your yellow hose not have a valve down at that end?



What I ordinarily do is, hook the pump to the yellow hose; let it do its thing with both the blue and red valves open; then after it's done, close the yellow valve and the blue one (both the hose and the one on the main valve body), and hook up to the can tapper.
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 02:13 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

no, but it looks like a damn good idea. may need to go shopping
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 02:21 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

ps. thanks for the quick reply!
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 07:03 PM
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Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Sofas way is easier (and better) but, he also probably has a better gauge/hose set than *cou_harborfreigt_gh* someone who doesn't do A/C very often (damm casuals).

With mine after pulling vac, I shut off the red at the gauge and the blue at the coupler and remove the blue hose from the coupler. Remove vac from yellow and add tapped can. Then -lightly- open tap to bleed refridge thru the yellow and blue line to push any air out. I hook the blue line back to the coupler while it is still bleeding, then open everything and charge. Not the best way probably but, in my mind, it seems to help minimize any air trapped in the lines.
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Old Jul 21, 2019 | 12:36 PM
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Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Originally Posted by deadbird
Sofas way is easier (and better) but, he also probably has a better gauge/hose set than *cou_harborfreigt_gh* someone who doesn't do A/C very often (damm casuals).
I decided between the high pressures involved, and the fact that I can service our other cars, house, garage, daughters house, car to go ahead and buy american quality for these tools
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Old Jul 22, 2019 | 05:37 PM
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Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Re: Safe method to purge air from a/c gauges and hose before filling vacuumed system

Originally Posted by LiquidBlue
I decided between the high pressures involved, and the fact that I can service our other cars, house, garage, daughters house, car to go ahead and buy american quality for these tools
That comment was intended towards myself more than anything
I've been rather fortunate that I have only had to use my gauges a few times over the years despite how I wear a/c out in summer.
My truck and blazer just need topping every start of hot season which, the cheap tapper/gauge combo works plenty fine for. The other active cars in the fleet I maintain have no issues to date.
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