Replacing the AC compressor

6cuda61

New member
Apr 17, 2020
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So whom has replaced their AC compressor? If you have, what did you put back in its place? Old style or new? If you put in the new style what else did
you need or have to modify etc....i think mine is toast and the "one who must be obeyed" said she isn't roasting again this summer during our tour.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
I used OEM style. What is wrong with the old one? If it is leaking, usually it is the front seal. Replace the front seal, o-rings, vacuum, and
refill with Duracool. 20 to 25 PSI at 1500 rpm. Do NOT overcharge the system with refrigerant (Duracool). 2.5 to 3 cans maximum.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
I’m adding a under dash unit, will the OEM unit provide for both units?

> I used OEM style. What is wrong with the old one? If it is leaking,
> usually it is the front seal. Replace the front seal, o-rings, vacuum, and
> refill with Duracool. 20 to 25 PSI at 1500 rpm. Do NOT overcharge the
> system with refrigerant (Duracool). 2.5 to 3 cans maximum.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
*David Herbert*
 
I went with the new Sanden ac compressor. I ordered it from Applied as a whole kit. I’ve had no issues the last 5 years with it. No modifications
needed as it comes with new brackets. Now I can change valve cover gaskets on the right side without removing the AC brackets.
Scott
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless
water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
Good info. Should I change anything in the original Airconditioning/ box.
Ducts while I have it all apart to make it work better?

1974 Canyon Lands

> I went with the new Sanden ac compressor. I ordered it from Applied as a
> whole kit. I’ve had no issues the last 5 years with it. No modifications
> needed as it comes with new brackets. Now I can change valve cover gaskets
> on the right side without removing the AC brackets.
> Scott
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless
> water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
*David Herbert*
 
Ken, its not leaking actually after about 2 or 3 minutes or running it get very very noisy...it may have simply been overcharged so i'm going to drain
the system and refill it before i commit but i just want to be prepared in the worst case.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
> I went with the new Sanden ac compressor. I ordered it from Applied as a whole kit. I’ve had no issues the last 5 years with it. No
> modifications needed as it comes with new brackets. Now I can change valve cover gaskets on the right side without removing the AC brackets.
> Scott

Scott i would love to support Jim at Applied more but the exchange and shipping just trashes any chance of doing such so i have to resort to everyones
knowledge and good old elbow grease/fabrication skills.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
Noisy after running usually means improper charge. Feel the suction line. It needs to be cold leaving the evaporator, but equally cold where it
enters the compressor to cool it.
I think the Sandens come in different BTUs but none match the Frigidair A6 BTUs.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Now that the border is open again, we can have stuff sent to Rolla, ND. US shipping rates are CONSIDERABLY less than shipping to Canada. Then we just drop over the border, pick up the shipment and pay for the gas by buying a tankful, stateside. Duty at the border is usually less than charged by the carrier. Haven't yet figured out how to avoid exchange!

CJ Vermeulen, Scribbler

From: 6cuda6
To: "gmclist"
Sent: Saturday, April 2, 2022 1:45:29 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: Replacing the AC compressor

I went with the new Sanden ac compressor. I ordered it from Applied as a whole kit. I’ve had no issues the last 5 years with it. No
modifications needed as it comes with new brackets. Now I can change valve cover gaskets on the right side without removing the AC brackets.
Scott

Scott i would love to support Jim at Applied more but the exchange and shipping just trashes any chance of doing such so i have to resort to everyones
knowledge and good old elbow grease/fabrication skills.
--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Fortunately, we have JimK to get things right.
When my A6 was leaking badly, I tried try suppliers of Sanden and another that said they A6 bolt-in replacements.
None actually were, I finally got a hold of the friend that knew about resealing the A6. Man, that thing is heavy.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
The problem with the original compressor is that there are new parts for
the rebuilders and they end up reusing the old parts which fail.
We were having to warranty so many of the old ones till we started the
Sanden Kit.
Sanden compressors create lot less drag.

> Fortunately, we have JimK to get things right.
> When my A6 was leaking badly, I tried try suppliers of Sanden and another
> that said they A6 bolt-in replacements.
> None actually were, I finally got a hold of the friend that knew about
> resealing the A6. Man, that thing is heavy.
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL,
> GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum
> Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
It could be a lot of things but some more questions.

Does it make noise when the engine is running without the AC clutch engaged? Or does it make noise only when the clutch is engaged (meaning the AC
is on full). Does the AC clutch switch off and on (cycle) when the AC is on full?

Where I am headed with these questions is the possibility it is the clutch, or clutch bearing, or the front bearing on the compressor shaft, or just
a worn belt.

All of these can be replaced on the coach without loosing the refrigerant.

Also have you tried looking at the pressures with a set of AC gauges?
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
> It could be a lot of things but some more questions.
>
> Does it make noise when the engine is running without the AC clutch engaged? Or does it make noise only when the clutch is engaged (meaning the
> AC is on full). Does the AC clutch switch off and on (cycle) when the AC is on full?
>
> Where I am headed with these questions is the possibility it is the clutch, or clutch bearing, or the front bearing on the compressor shaft, or
> just a worn belt.
>
> All of these can be replaced on the coach without loosing the refrigerant.
>
> Also have you tried looking at the pressures with a set of AC gauges?

Ken clutch engages runs for about a 2 or 3 minutes then it sounds like their is rocks in it. Compressor doesnt cycle off when the noise starts. No
noise with clutch disengaged.

I havent put gauges on it yet, going to do that in a couple weeks when i get home.

--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
Besides incorrect charge there could be air/moisture in system. Do you know for a fact it was properly evacuated before last charge? I would think an
A6 with broken internals would be noisy all the time not just after 2 mins. I had a noisy R4 compressor on an 80s GM that would get noisy after a few
mins and adding R12 quieted it down. Then the suction line was ice cold all the way back to the compressor, not just to the receiver dryer.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
> Besides incorrect charge there could be air/moisture in system. Do you know for a fact it was properly evacuated before last charge? I would
> think an A6 with broken internals would be noisy all the time not just after 2 mins. I had a noisy R4 compressor on an 80s GM that would get noisy
> after a few mins and adding R12 quieted it down. Then the suction line was ice cold all the way back to the compressor, not just to the receiver
> dryer.

Honestly i dont....that is why im thinking of doing it just incase its indead not charged correctly.

--
Rich Mondor,

Brockville, ON

77 Hughes 2600
 
The a6 is higher capacity than the Sanden, recommended if you're going to use extra evaporators. Find a shop with a gray haired tech and have them
rebuild it if it leaks. The Sanden is much lighter weight, and the Applied kit makes it a bolt - in conversion where everything fits as it should.
It should run one small outboard evaporator. Or use only outboard and fit two, skip the OEM one to which the airflow path is incredibly convoluted.
Someone had a picture of a pair mounted in the side kick panels with fans, the plumbing might get expensive. Find an 80s Suburban in the junkyard and
remove the rear A/C unit and the Y pipes on the refirgerant lines. Mountit where you like.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
John,
We now supply the Sanden that has the same capacity as the original, soit
can support the aul coil if needed.

On Mon, Apr 4, 2022 at 4:41 PM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

> The a6 is higher capacity than the Sanden, recommended if you're going to
> use extra evaporators. Find a shop with a gray haired tech and have them
> rebuild it if it leaks. The Sanden is much lighter weight, and the
> Applied kit makes it a bolt - in conversion where everything fits as it
> should.
> It should run one small outboard evaporator. Or use only outboard and fit
> two, skip the OEM one to which the airflow path is incredibly convoluted.
> Someone had a picture of a pair mounted in the side kick panels with fans,
> the plumbing might get expensive. Find an 80s Suburban in the junkyard and
> remove the rear A/C unit and the Y pipes on the refirgerant lines.
> Mountit where you like.
>
> --johnny
> --
> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
> Braselton, Ga.
> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
> in hell
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
I purchased the larger Sanden compressor from Jim and it does work well with my OEM dash evaporator as well as a large 18,000 btu auxiliary evaporator that I had used for years with my original A6 compressor.
It works well and mounts easily without the large mounts over the valve cover that the A6 uses.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> John,
> We now supply the Sanden that has the same capacity as the original, soit
> can support the aul coil if needed.
>
>> On Mon, Apr 4, 2022 at 4:41 PM Johnny Bridges via Gmclist <

>>
>> The a6 is higher capacity than the Sanden, recommended if you're going to
>> use extra evaporators. Find a shop with a gray haired tech and have them
>> rebuild it if it leaks. The Sanden is much lighter weight, and the
>> Applied kit makes it a bolt - in conversion where everything fits as it
>> should.
>> It should run one small outboard evaporator. Or use only outboard and fit
>> two, skip the OEM one to which the airflow path is incredibly convoluted.
>> Someone had a picture of a pair mounted in the side kick panels with fans,
>> the plumbing might get expensive. Find an 80s Suburban in the junkyard and
>> remove the rear A/C unit and the Y pipes on the refirgerant lines.
>> Mountit where you like.
>>
>> --johnny
>> --
>> Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
>> Braselton, Ga.
>> I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me
>> in hell
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata ASE
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
I am running the sandeen. the sandeen has alot less load on the engine... the engine does not even flinch when it kicks in or out. It also can
support an aux evaporator.

there are other places you can buy them, but I have to say there is also lots of different sandeen compressors out there on the market, and you might
be best to go to applied and pay the shipping. there are some that will fit our original hoses, and others do not. different belt configurations
too. and as Jim said it looks like maybe even capacity differences.

Lots of people running the OEM compressor and that is fine, but I am pretty happy with the sandeen in that I doubt it effects gas mileage at all, it
does not labor the motor, but the old a6 you could tell when it was on just by sound.


--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/