New tools!

I've always liked to have a 30lb. bottle of r134A on hand,if you can get one.With the number of vehicles you have it wouldn't be a bad idea,but that's my opinion.They are getting very expensive lately though.

BNielsen said:

I was honestly looking at the exact kit local to me on marketplace, local shops won't do anything for less than $200 and even then they don't want to do anything more than a recharge.

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I figure since I usually have 3 to 4 vehicles to maintain (4 for a while now but hoping to narrow it back to 3 eventually) I should go ahead and invest in the tools. Last time I needed A/C work it was a few years ago when my new-to-me 300 suddenly went warm, during the summer while I had family in town and we were ferrying everyone around. A quick visit to my buddy got it vacuumed down and charged up, and it's been reasonably good, but seems to take a while to get cold. He's no longer available for my A/C work though and I'd rather figure it out myself now instead of spending the money trusting some new, unknown shop.

Now I've got the black SS to check out soon as it's cold but not as cold as I'd like, the 300 could stand a check-up, and of course the red '93 is 100% inop as-purchased so it's going to need a full exam. The silver SS gave us a scare the other day when it unexpectedly wasn't blowing cold at all, but worked correctly on the next re-start.. so I'm gonna write that one off to GMT800 electrical gremlins and hope it doesn't happen again anytime soon.

Richard

someotherguy said:

Orion A/C gauges and Robinair 15500 vacuum pump (2-stage, 5cfm) - hope they don't suck, and optimistic I can become proficient with A/C work.

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Don't forget the flush-gun.

I have the gauge set (Mac-branded, probably made by Mastercool) but everything else comes from the loaner-tool program at O'Reillys.

Forgot to mention along with the 30lb tank you'll need a way to measure how much you're putting in the system....I bought a 70lb scale at HF,seems pretty accurate.I'll usually do 1lb incraments,letting the system settle for a minute between shots(right word?),Burbs take 4lbs. with rear a/c.Using those damn 12oz. cans gets old real quick.

grampadirt said:

Forgot to mention along with the 30lb tank you'll need a way to measure how much you're putting in the system....I bought a 70lb scale at HF,seems pretty accurate.I'll usually do 1lb incraments,letting the system settle for a minute between shots(right word?),Burbs take 4lbs. with rear a/c.Using those damn 12oz. cans gets old real quick.

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Most parts stores require that a person has a "609" certification before they will sell a 30 pound tank. I believe that I did mine through a company called Essco?


Edit; it was through Esco. They charge $20 for an open book test.

I have just discovered my favorite new tools, adjustable height work platforms. I am only 5ft10in and my truck is way too tall for me to work on anything in the engine bay without climbing up to kneel on the radiator support panel and lean over the engine. This only leaves me one hand to actually work with and it takes longer to climb up and down than it's worth. Then if I need to get underneath I have to jack it up higher still. So I was at the hardware store and saw these and a light bulb came on in my head. They are for painter/decorators and they can be extended taller if needed. It means I can now jack the truck as high as I can to work underneath, and still reach across the engine. So much easier to work on now, if only I can find the time.

GrimsterGMC said:

I have just discovered my favorite new tools, adjustable height work platforms. I am only 5ft10in and my truck is way too tall for me to work on anything in the engine bay without climbing up to kneel on the radiator support panel and lean over the engine. This only leaves me one hand to actually work with and it takes longer to climb up and down than it's worth. Then if I need to get underneath I have to jack it up higher still. So I was at the hardware store and saw these and a light bulb came on in my head. They are for painter/decorators and they can be extended taller if needed. It means I can now jack the truck as high as I can to work underneath, and still reach across the engine. So much easier to work on now, if only I can find the time.

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I've got one of those, except not adjustable height, and it stays set up permanently for various things. Generally for the kids to help with stuff but i use it frequently as well. Great things to have.

I've heard great things about those inductive heaters. The huge advantage I see, is that a shop's insurance premiums go down when they get rid of the oxy-acetylene torch. The insurance company is very allergic to torches as they're considered a fire hazard, and rightly so.

OTOH, there's a limit to how powerful the inductive heaters are. Crappy "consumer grade" "Hobby-use" inductive heaters are expensive. Proper professional-grade units are REALLY expensive. But they're probably "worth it" especially when considering the fire safety aspect.

I don't own an inductive heater. So far, my oxy-acetylene torch hasn't failed me, nor burned-down my shop, nor set fire to the carpet in one of my vehicles.

Definitely more of a tool for the “shop mechanic who has everything”.