If the fittings are available, and where might that be from, install fittings onto a propane tank, or any other that would serve this purpose, to be able to evacuate the r134 from a system with a vacuum pump into the tank just so that the system can be worked on without just letting the 134 to atmosphere? I don't expect to be able to reuse the 134, just don't want to be a jerk and let it go out.
I think I have my problem narrowed down to the orifice tube being plugged or at least one of the possibilities. The clutch kept cycling and I was told maybe low on 134. But brought it up and then finally bought some new gauges as I didn't want to take a chance using my old r12 manifold and take a chance on messing something up. I know that it was unlikely, but it gave me an excuse to by new set...[8D] Before I go tearing into this, does anyone have any other thoughts other than the orifice what might be the problem. The low gauge will go from about 30 up to 60 if I rmember right, but the high side sits at about 102 or 103 moves up and down SLIGHTLY, but hardly... so there is not any flow on that side. Inside air hardly gets cool at all. Plus with everything off, EVERYTHING... the clutch kept cycling every 3 secs or so. I finally pulled the plug off the clutch coil.
Plus the wife's Saturn, the clutch goes without cycling at all. Stays engaged all the time. So now I have to troubleshoot that one too. So taking any helpful suggestions on that one too. I have not done A/C for a long time and there wasn't any 134 yet then.... Shows how long ago... late 80's and I only did low level TS and repairs at that.
Thanks in advance for any help and hope everyone had a great holiday.

 

Anything is possible but I would think that if the orifice tube were clogged that your high pressures would be higher than that. Those pressures are relatively lower than what they should be, however the orifice tube on these models are fairly accessible so it is not a bad thing to check first and then recharge the system to make sure it is at the proper level. I don't see why the propane tank wouldnt work if you can find fittings for it however, you will have a hard time disposing of it because a recycling company will not take it if it is not in a DOT approved container.

 

I haven't looked at the pressures yet.
Just thinking about the propane bottle idea. Sure it would work. First you have to evacuate the propane bottle and bring the vacuum down to about 30". Then you have to buy pipe thread fittings and adapters to accomodate your a/c hose.
With 30" of vacuum you should be able to empty your a/c system. then you can do your repairs. Then you need to evacuate your a/c system and vacuum it down to at least 15" so that you can add a full charge of 134a + pag oil..........Hmmmmm.
I think I would take it to a shop and have them evac the system and recharge it for you after you have replaced the orifice tube.
Oh yeah, now how do you dispose of the propane bottle with the old r134a charge in it, if you did it that way?

 

There are laws on the R-12, but the 134A is suppose to be enviromentally safe (or so they say)

You could use an air tank or other like tank to pull it out, but you will not get it all to Evac.

A shop will charge you a good fee to do it for you and still not Evac it all, if you feel its safer that way. And you can refill it yourself with about any over the counter recharge kit.

 

I had expected that if I dropped off the tank at one of those recycling places and indicated to them what was in the tank they would just take it and dispose of it.??? no..? If not, the other thought I had was to take it to a shop and ask them to evacuate the system for a fee. Am I not mistaken that if a recharging system is used to evacuate the system that the 134 that is pulled out is supposed to be able to be put back in after repairs?? I really don't know anymore. I didn't know that it was suppose to be legal (possibly) to let 134 go to atmosphere either...?? is that the case.. but guys I am in the most mucked up state, other than confusion, that you could ever hope to NOT be in,. CA.! So I am going to presume that they have about 7 or 8 other lasws just for little ol' me.
I fianlly got my Service Information software to work on another machine other than the laptop that is cursed. Going off that and my set of Helms, there wasn't really anything else mentioned about the high side pressure being higher or giving any other leads using what they may be.
How about a switch being faulty and not being open/closed when it is called on to do so.? I really can't afford to have some shop ream me for something that I am more than capable of doing except having a problem diagnosing the problem this time.
thanks....

 

At 70deg, 50% humidity your low pressure side max should be 28psi, high side pressure should be 160psi and outlet air temp should be 43deg
This is with the windows closed and A/C in max cold
The compressor cycles on and off

My understanding is that R134a is not environmentally safe, it is environmentally "friendlier"