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Old 02-19-2015, 01:55 PM   #1
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Rebuild or Replace A/C?

I have a 1976 Armstrong a/c that has a bad compressor. All things considered, should it be better to buy a new one or get the old one repaired. I can pull the old unit off and on, and as far as I know install a new one. My time is free, but I really only want to do it once and right. I would have to find a shop for repair work.
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Old 02-19-2015, 02:24 PM   #2
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Check out this thread for some guidance.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76432
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Old 02-20-2015, 08:16 AM   #3
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The new models are a lot more efficient than a 39 year old model.
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Old 02-20-2015, 08:20 AM   #4
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The new models are a lot more efficient than a 39 year old model.
Not that much and to add insult to injury the new ones are not repairable. If they quit working they get tossed and a new one installed, regardless if they are in warranty or not.

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Old 02-20-2015, 08:51 AM   #5
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Rebuild or replace a/c

It seems to me that it is not unusual for new units to only last five years or less.

Are you sure it is the compressor itself that is bad or might it be bad capacitors or a bad relay?


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Old 02-20-2015, 11:14 AM   #6
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air conditioner

The fan capacitor went out and the unit continued to run for ten minutes without the fan. After replacing the capacitor the fan worked, but the unit now only cools half as well as it used to. I don't know the compressor is bad, but am thinking that I burned some windings. I am not an electrician, nor do I know a whole lot about hvac.
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Old 02-20-2015, 02:14 PM   #7
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1976!

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Originally Posted by terrencecolp View Post
I have a 1976 Armstrong a/c that has a bad compressor. All things considered, should it be better to buy a new one or get the old one repaired. I can pull the old unit off and on, and as far as I know install a new one. My time is free, but I really only want to do it once and right. I would have to find a shop for repair work.
It has more than served a useful life. Buy a new one. Yes ; you probably burned some windings.
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Old 02-21-2015, 09:03 AM   #8
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Your best bet, by far, would be to replace the whole AC unit.

New compressor + old components = guaranteed trouble in the not-too-distant future.

Trust me. Thinking I could save a few bucks, I've gone the "budget" route before. When dealing with refrigeration, it just doesn't pay.

Keep in mind, in terms of overall cost, there's not much difference between repair vs replace. And when you factor cost with overall performance & reliability, AC replacement is your best option.

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Old 02-21-2015, 09:38 AM   #9
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Rebuild or Replace A/C?

Repairing the old unit, the one that lasted for forty years, instead of replacing it with one that has a designed lifespan of five years is not really being cheap.

The old Armstrongs have a simple, rugged, repairable, and reliable design of which there is no modern replacement that is even close.

Yea there is an element of risk when repairing one of these units, but there is something cool about preserving the best RV air conditioner that was ever built in America.


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Old 02-21-2015, 01:01 PM   #10
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Rebuild or Replace A/C?

I should note that it will be easier to pay someone $2,000 to replace the a/c than to find a competent person to replace the compressor of the old unit, because unfortunately, the entire American culture has gravitated toward a disposable society.

I guess my attitude of non compliance bleeds through as defiance through many of my decisions these days.

Lol, I defy the industry that sells entirely disposable RV air conditioners!


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Old 02-21-2015, 01:08 PM   #11
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I agree with Mr. Morgan to a point. The newer units aren't designed to last as long as the old ones were. The problem with a forty year old a/c unit will be the corrosion of the evaporator and condenser coil fins. You can spend a ton of money refurbing the old unit, only to have pinhole leaks start to develop in the sealed system, and I doubt you can find replacement coils for them... Maybe, but they'd probably be custom built, and stupid expensive. The only reason I would go for a refurb on the old unit is if I wanted to keep the aesthetics, or "classic" look... Which I don't care for anyways (personal thing, I know).

Newer units are more efficient by design, which will reduce the amount of current needed to run your air conditioner, or by using the same amount of energy, you will get more cooling capacity. The main weak spot you will find in the new units will be the use of plastics that will break down due to exposure to the sun, and the use of non serviceable motors for the fan motor, meaning sealed bearings, you can't oil them. I'm guesstimating the age of my replacement unit to be around the ten year mark, and the squirrel cage fan, made of plastic, cracked at the hub. A few bucks later, and an afternoons work, and I now have a metal squirrel cage replacement installed. I fully expect the new units to last longer than ten years, with a few tweaks here and there.

I personally like the look of the lower profile, more streamlined units.

So, to summarize, aesthetics, energy, sealed system... But it would be cool to take one of those old things and get it working again... I've rebuilt antique single cylinder gas engines, with the old hit/miss governor set up. Cool old engines, built to last forever, but I'd replace it with a Briggs and Stratton any day of the week if I had to do any work with it....

It's your baby, do what makes you happy!!! That's what really matters. If it makes a tingle run up your leg every time you see that old unit humming up there, then have at it!

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Old 02-21-2015, 05:18 PM   #12
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If or when the 41 year old unit craps out and it is more than just a capacitor or relay. I will be seriously looking at a split A/C unit.


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Old 02-22-2015, 12:55 PM   #13
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By split, do you refer to an a/c that also heats? I hadn't thought of that. That in itself is a good argument for a replacement.
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Old 02-22-2015, 01:25 PM   #14
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A split system is the design where there is an indoor and an outdoor unit, with the condenser and compressor located outside, and the evaporator located inside. They have "split" the system into two sections. The unit typically on a camper is known as a package unit...

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Old 02-22-2015, 01:30 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrencecolp View Post
I have a 1976 Armstrong a/c that has a bad compressor. All things considered, should it be better to buy a new one or get the old one repaired. I can pull the old unit off and on, and as far as I know install a new one. My time is free, but I really only want to do it once and right. I would have to find a shop for repair work.
I would highly encourage you to repair the original Armstrong. It is fully repairable, unlike a new AC unit. Repair parts are available, but not necessarily easy to find. That's my free advice.
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