Armstrong AC Compressor

[carol4266]

Does anyone know where to obtain a new or rebuilt compressor for my Armstrong ac?

[TomW]

Look in your Yellow Pages under "air conditioning parts and supplies".

Be warned that one challenge is finding a technician who will work on an RV air conditioner.

The other is challenge will be paying for the work - Armstrongs use R-22 refrigerant which, since it is no longer legally manufactured, has skyrocketed in cost (it is still legal to sell it).

Tom

[Jammer]

Most commercial refrigeration services can obtain and install replacement compressors, and can provide refrigerant. Some may be unwilling or uninterested in working on an RV. Persistence.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Most commercial refrigeration services can obtain and install replacement compressors, and can provide refrigerant. Some may be unwilling or uninterested in working on an RV. Persistence.

Other than "Persistence", I think I said the same thing in a more folksy manner.

Courage,
Tom

[Jammer]

Commercial refrigeration contractors are not the same as air conditioning contractors.

[TomW]

You are right -they generally abhor dealing with non-commercial people.

Tom

[Jammer]

It depends. Persistence. All you need is one that will.

Some air conditioning contractors may be able to fix an Armstrong but in general they don't do many compressor replacements. Usually the outdoor unit is replaced as an assembly.

Commercial refrigeration contractors do compressor replacements every day.

Try both, perhaps.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Jammer

It depends. Persistence. All you need is one that will...

Patience is not my strong suit.

You can always study-up & buy your own tools for A/C service.

I'd own a silver-soldering rig by now if my buddy Kenny was not in the picture:

Adventures of a Curious Fellow: One A/C Repair After Another

Tom

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by TomW

You can always study-up & buy your own tools for A/C service.

Finally went this route. Suburban is getting a new rear evaporator today.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by TomW

Look in your Yellow Pages under "air conditioning parts and supplies".

Be warned that one challenge is finding a technician who will work on an RV air conditioner.

The other is challenge will be paying for the work - Armstrongs use R-22 refrigerant which, since it is no longer legally manufactured, has skyrocketed in cost (it is still legal to sell it).

Tom

Legally R-22 can be produced until 2020 (see January 1, 2020 under "Phaseout Schedule"), but NEW systems were prohibited from using R-22 after 1 Jan 2010 and have to use reclaimed/recycled refrigerant. I'm sure that prohibition reduced the number of facilities producing R-22 and is part of driving up the price. I suspect part of it is also inventory manipulation by those who are still supplying it.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Legally R-22 can be produced until 2020 (see January 1, 2020 under "Phaseout Schedule"), but ...

I sit corrected - Thanks for the info.

Regardless, the stuff is still really expensive! Although it is unusually important to keep my Bay Breeze blowing cold air, I worry about the future cost of keeping that part of my Overlander original.

Tom

[damonbeals]

I just had my A/C unit serviced and 24oz of R-22 was $45.

Look around for a local Mom and Pop heating and air, give them a call and explain in detail what you have and what you want done, and then see how they react. That is how I got my unit serviced. Don't bother with anyone that has a big ad in the yellow pages or is part of a chain.

I had the cover off the unit, and a ladder and boards on the roof all ready for them, and they really appreciated that, because they where not used to working on Airstream roofs.

Damon
#4827

[johnamjr]

Has anyone ever made an aluminum cover for their Armstrong ac? Also our unit has been working good it's 40+ years old now. any tips on keeping it that way?

[featherbedder]

When changing compressors with new or rebuilt why can you not use new style refrigerant as they do this with cars all the time when changing on older cars with r22 and purging systems? My son has done many times.

[rmkrum]

Have changed out car AC systems from R-12 to R134A.

It requires different lube oil, and a change out of the orifice to get the flow right. Compressor and hoses can also be an issue depending upon the system...we had to do it because the compressor died, and it was easier to go to R-134A at the same time.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

When changing compressors with new or rebuilt why can you not use new style refrigerant as they do this with cars all the time when changing on older cars with r22 and purging systems? My son has done many times.

Older cars used R-12, not R-22. Most car upgrade kits have the necessary parts (such as rmkrum mentioned) for using R-134a as a working fluid instead of R-12. I doubt such a kit is available for an old Armstrong.

[TomW]

Car compressors are sold without oil.

Home/business compressors are shipped pre-filled with oil.

Different refrigerants require different oils.

Older cars had R-12 refrigerant. New cars have R-134a refrigerant. R-12 requires mineral-based oil; R-134a requires synthetic oil.

The different oils are incompatible. Here is a link to something I wrote which provides additional insight:

Adventures of a Curious Fellow: Tom’s A/C Wërks

Bottom line - home & automotive A/C compressors have different rules.

Aloha,
Tom

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by featherbedder

When changing compressors with new or rebuilt why can you not use new style refrigerant as they do this with cars all the time when changing on older cars with r22 and purging systems? My son has done many times.

R-22's thermal properties are different than R-12 and R-134a. You would have to redesign the system and change out the capillary tubes and use a compatible compressor. It is likely that the BTU/h capacity of the resulting system would be lower, because R-134a generally provides less cooling than R-12, and R-12 provides less cooling than R-22.

Newer RV air conditioners use R-410a which operates at much higher pressures and requires thicker walled tubing. If you switched to that it would work great until you burst a tubing wall on a hot day.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Legally R-22 can be produced until 2020 (see January 1, 2020 under "Phaseout Schedule"), but NEW systems were prohibited from using R-22 after 1 Jan 2010 and have to use reclaimed/recycled refrigerant. I'm sure that prohibition reduced the number of facilities producing R-22 and is part of driving up the price. I suspect part of it is also inventory manipulation by those who are still supplying it.

R-12 was phased out completely in 1996 (no new production as with R-22 as of 2020), and while prices and availability have fluctuated, you can still buy the stuff if you have an EPA license. They have it in stock at the local NAPA for $50 a pound. Recycled refrigerant, mainly from junk pre-1996 cars, has been more than enough to keep up with demand.

R-22 will probably have fewer problems with price and availability than R-12, because it isn't used in cars. Automotive air conditioning systems will all eventually leak, but that isn't true of the home air conditioning systems and appliances for which R-22 has been used.

[perryg114]

Try grainger.com for a new compressor.

Perry