A/C vacuum pump

K

kingsley coach

New member
Mar 5, 2009
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Netters

I may have asked before but is this suitable for general use..ie. GMC
service ?

The difference between then and now, is I am with money and I looked at
the real thing today, not a picture!

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/refrigeration/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html

Opinions appreciated and thank you!

Mike from NS
--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
 
Mike,

That certainly should do an adequate job.

But why anyone would spend anywhere near that much on a vacuum pump escapes
me. For 15+ years, I've used a fine little vacuum pump which will pull
down to near perfect vacuum. And it cost me nearly nothing.

What I did was get a still-functioning refrigerator compressor, which are
available for "a dime a dozen". Mine was free from an old ice maker
someone gave me.

I located a brass fitting (a 3/8" male flare fitting coupling, IIRC) which
the hose from my A/C gauge manifold would fit. I drilled the other end of
that fitting to the size of the copper refrigerant line on the inlet side
of the compressor, and soldered it in place on a stub of that line. Just
to keep the bugs out, I covered the stub of line on the outlet side with a
bit of filter material. With the addition of a power cord, I have a
near-perfect vacuum pump for Netters
>
> I may have asked before but is this suitable for general use..ie. GMC
> service ?
>
> The difference between then and now, is I am with money and I looked at
> the real thing today, not a picture!
>
> https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/
> refrigeration/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html
>
> Opinions appreciated and thank you!
>
 
> Netters
>
> I may have asked before but is this suitable for general use..ie. GMC
> service ?
> The difference between then and now, is I am with money and I looked at
> the real thing today, not a picture!
> https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/refrigeration/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html
> Opinions appreciated and thank you!
> Mike from NS

If you can create a vac pump as Col Ken describes, goferit.

I have the pump you are looking at. I've had it for several years and it works just fine, so far. Being HF I wouldn't want to count on it to make a
living with it. For my limited use it Has worked. Note the term limited.

--
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
 
I have one of those that I stripped out of something a few years back. It is still sitting on my work bench down about 3 levels. MY thought was not
only to use it not only for a vacuum pump but to use the exhaust high pressure side to recover r-12 or whatever refrigerant and put it into a recovery
bottle.

The project never got off of the ground because I also have a Snap-On vacuum pump similar to the HF one that you are looking at and I use is
occasionally to vacuum systems.

If it is worth $100 to you, go for it. It should do the job.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Mike,

I have one of these in Sydney and it works fine.

Based on the survey we conducted on the GMCnet awhile back before I buy ANY piece of electrical equipment from Harbor Freight I read
the reviews. In this case the reviews are overwhelmingly good.

Since the reviews are positive does the Canadian expression "fill your hat" apply?

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
 
I have the HF one also. Life is too short to waste a day making something when I can buy it that cheap.

It works great.

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Rob Mueller
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 5:48:40 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A/C vacuum pump

Mike,

I have one of these in Sydney and it works fine.

Based on the survey we conducted on the GMCnet awhile back before I buy ANY piece of electrical equipment from Harbor Freight I read
the reviews. In this case the reviews are overwhelmingly good.

Since the reviews are positive does the Canadian expression "fill your hat" apply?

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808

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"waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)

Ken H.

> I have the HF one also. Life is too short to waste a day making something
> when I can buy it that cheap.
>
> It works great.
>
 
I have that vacuum pump also, and it works just fine for the limited use that I put it to. Coarse...I bought it 10 or 12 yr ago on sale at half that
price.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
Yes a day. You're forgetting 90% of the work.

Also I only have 1 MAYBE 2 days out of 5 to do GMC stuff, and that includes home maintenance, so if I get a whole day a week I'm happy

I'd have to find the fridge / freezer

tear it apart

Research how to do it..get lost on the internet for an hour...

find the fittings to make it all work

put it together
Test it.

VS stop at HF and buy the thing ~ 15 minutes
So theres a day wasted where I could be doing something useful.

________________________________
>
>"waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
>doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
>
>Ken H.
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org >
 
I have a commercial pump that cost a lot more then $100 but I needed it in the trade. Since I am now retired I would have no problem buying that
little harbor freight pump for any work I would now do around the house there are times a vacuum pump is real handy. The days of blowing untold
amounts of cheap refrigerant thru a system to limit vacuum pump use is now history.
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
 
Keith, you forgot the procrastination and decision making and pondering
components. They could easily take up a full day. (Grin)
Jim Hupy

> Yes a day. You're forgetting 90% of the work.
>
> Also I only have 1 MAYBE 2 days out of 5 to do GMC stuff, and that
> includes home maintenance, so if I get a whole day a week I'm happy
>
>
> I'd have to find the fridge / freezer
>
> tear it apart
>
> Research how to do it..get lost on the internet for an hour...
>
> find the fittings to make it all work
>
> put it together
> Test it.
>
> VS stop at HF and buy the thing ~ 15 minutes
> So theres a day wasted where I could be doing something useful.
>
>
> ________________________________
> >
> >"waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
> >doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
> >
> >Ken H.
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Now Ken, you've got me all excited about making my own...that is simply
music to a Scotsman's ears ! Are bagpipes not music?

The real problem is it sounds like my work area may be like
Ken's..'layered' .In my case that word may be more of something I could
only dream about

Rob, coming from the east coast where fishing is an industry, we use "fill
your boots" . Now you'll fit in with the locals should you arrive. There
are a few more east coast expressions but since not everyone here is a
sailor, ''modesty" prevents me from relaying them.

Terry, Steve, Keith and Larry...thanks !

Mike from NS

> I have that vacuum pump also, and it works just fine for the limited use
> that I put it to. Coarse...I bought it 10 or 12 yr ago on sale at half that
> price.
> --
> Larry
> 78 Royale w/500 Caddy
> Menomonie, WI.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
 
Back when R-12 was still being made and holes in the ozone layer were
unknown, when dirt was young, we used it like a solvent. Turn a 75# bottle
upside down on a bench, screw on a short piece of air hose with a non-OHSA
approved air nozzle. That stuff will clean injectors and like stuff and
leave no residue. Couldn't afford to use it like that today, and you could
go to jail if you did.
Jim Hupy

> Keith, you forgot the procrastination and decision making and pondering
> components. They could easily take up a full day. (Grin)
> Jim Hupy
>

>
>> Yes a day. You're forgetting 90% of the work.
>>
>> Also I only have 1 MAYBE 2 days out of 5 to do GMC stuff, and that
>> includes home maintenance, so if I get a whole day a week I'm happy
>>
>>
>> I'd have to find the fridge / freezer
>>
>> tear it apart
>>
>> Research how to do it..get lost on the internet for an hour...
>>
>> find the fittings to make it all work
>>
>> put it together
>> Test it.
>>
>> VS stop at HF and buy the thing ~ 15 minutes
>> So theres a day wasted where I could be doing something useful.
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> >
>> >"waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
>> >doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
>> >
>> >Ken H.
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org >
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
 
And then it's 5:00 and you have to ponder life over a beer or two, ha ha ha

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of James Hupy
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 10:50:49 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A/C vacuum pump

Keith, you forgot the procrastination and decision making and pondering
components. They could easily take up a full day. (Grin)
Jim Hupy

> Yes a day. You're forgetting 90% of the work.
>
> Also I only have 1 MAYBE 2 days out of 5 to do GMC stuff, and that
> includes home maintenance, so if I get a whole day a week I'm happy
>
>
> I'd have to find the fridge / freezer
>
> tear it apart
>
> Research how to do it..get lost on the internet for an hour...
>
> find the fittings to make it all work
>
> put it together
> Test it.
>
> VS stop at HF and buy the thing ~ 15 minutes
> So theres a day wasted where I could be doing something useful.
>
>
> ________________________________
> >
> >"waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
> >doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
> >
> >Ken H.
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
I remember that we used a can of R12 to power an air horn on my dad’s boat back in the 50’s.

Emery

>
> And then it's 5:00 and you have to ponder life over a beer or two, ha ha ha
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf of James Hupy
> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 10:50:49 AM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A/C vacuum pump
>
> Keith, you forgot the procrastination and decision making and pondering
> components. They could easily take up a full day. (Grin)
> Jim Hupy
>

>>
>> Yes a day. You're forgetting 90% of the work.
>>
>> Also I only have 1 MAYBE 2 days out of 5 to do GMC stuff, and that
>> includes home maintenance, so if I get a whole day a week I'm happy
>>
>>
>> I'd have to find the fridge / freezer
>>
>> tear it apart
>>
>> Research how to do it..get lost on the internet for an hour...
>>
>> find the fittings to make it all work
>>
>> put it together
>> Test it.
>>
>> VS stop at HF and buy the thing ~ 15 minutes
>> So theres a day wasted where I could be doing something useful.
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> "waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
>>> doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
>>>
>>> Ken H.
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org >
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
If you are really on a budget I have used

https://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum-pump-with-r134a-and-r12-connectors-96677.html

the 18$ (and maybe a coupon cheaper) version with satisfactory results on several systems. As good? nope. 70% as good for 15% price? yep. and
certainly good enough to know if system is leaking. A big air compressor helps a lot. I used to use it on a 10 gallon one...let it charge the air
tank, discharge the vacuum pump, shut off vacuum, and recharge air. almost like bleeding brakes old style. 80 gallon air now, let er rip

--
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
 
Tyler

You've just answered a question I was embarrassed to ask !!

I bought one of those several years ago and never tried it..it looked to
cheap to effectively do anything. I think the last time I looked, it was
somewhere in the area of where I keep A/C stuff, which is under the trailer
wiring stuff I think, which is right under the last box of crap from my
long gone and forgotten Airstream....

Thanks

Mike from NS

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> If you are really on a budget I have used
>
> https://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum-pump-with-r134a-
> and-r12-connectors-96677.html
>
> the 18$ (and maybe a coupon cheaper) version with satisfactory results on
> several systems. As good? nope. 70% as good for 15% price? yep. and
> certainly good enough to know if system is leaking. A big air compressor
> helps a lot. I used to use it on a 10 gallon one...let it charge the air
> tank, discharge the vacuum pump, shut off vacuum, and recharge air. almost
> like bleeding brakes old style. 80 gallon air now, let er rip
>
>
> --
> 1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
> Raleigh, NC
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
 
I used an older version of the same unit. IIRC they did not have an
anti-reverse valve of any type, so they can suck air back in to the A/C
system as soon as you disconnect the air supply to the tool. Make sure
to disconnect the line at the A/C's vehicle connection before turning
off the pump.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of
Kingsley Coach
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 2:22 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] A/C vacuum pump

Tyler

You've just answered a question I was embarrassed to ask !!

I bought one of those several years ago and never tried it..it looked to
cheap to effectively do anything. I think the last time I looked, it
was somewhere in the area of where I keep A/C stuff, which is under the
trailer wiring stuff I think, which is right under the last box of crap
from my long gone and forgotten Airstream....

Thanks

Mike from NS


Virus-free.
www.avast.com



> If you are really on a budget I have used
>
> https://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum-pump-with-r134a-
> and-r12-connectors-96677.html
>
> the 18$ (and maybe a coupon cheaper) version with satisfactory results

> on several systems. As good? nope. 70% as good for 15% price? yep. and

> certainly good enough to know if system is leaking. A big air
> compressor helps a lot. I used to use it on a 10 gallon one...let it
> charge the air tank, discharge the vacuum pump, shut off vacuum, and
> recharge air. almost like bleeding brakes old style. 80 gallon air
> now, let er rip
>
>
> --
> 1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
> Raleigh, NC
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS

Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
And for a decidedly different use for the 'little red box,' I attached air fittings and used it's vacuum ability to drain my water system for
winterizing the GMC. Draws all the water out with vacuum, instead of trying to blow it out with high pressure air.
Attach to water heater drain, open all the faucets, turn on air compressor, enjoy watching water leave your coach rapidly. This worked for me for many
winters in northern Virginia. Not much need here in Lower Alabama, where the outside temperature is in the upper 60's.
Tom
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
 
Yahbut....

No, I'm not saying it again.

(I have the same HF pump. Nary a disused icemaker in sight.)

Rick "Too many worthwhile ways to waste a day, not enough wastable days"
Denney

On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 10:44 AM Ken Henderson
wrote:

> "waste a day"? Maybe 30 minutes once the compressor's in hand. Besides,
> doing stuff like that is 50% of the GMC pleasure! :-)
>
> Ken H.
>

>
> > I have the HF one also. Life is too short to waste a day making something
> > when I can buy it that cheap.
> >
> > It works great.
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Rick Denney
73 x-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Off-list email to rick at rickdenney dot com
 
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