fixing air conditioning in tractors

just got the bill for fixing the ac in one of the tractors and it was $2500!!!!! What tools would a guy need to do these repairs? Anyone have a good set they would recommend? It seems like it needs to be fixed every year or both spring and fall! Thanks.

Many things depend on what coolant it has. If it has the old R-12 that cost about $200 A 12oz can now days. If it is switch to 134A that is and easy $20 per can fix and any body can do it since many cans have there own hose hook up and all you need to know is which line is the low and high side so not to hook up to the high side

Old,

Menards had R 134 for $3.88 per can a few weeks ago!

20 yrs of knowledge , then the tools . gauges , reclaimer, scale of charging station . certification depending on local laws .

FIRST thing you need is some knowledge of how the system operates and protocols for repairing it.

Outside of a course at a tech college, the DEERE FOS for air conditioning is about as good of info as you are gonna get. GOOGLE the ISBN, 086691353X.

a friend of mine (serious tight wad) had purchased some R134-A at NAPA it cost him around $ 10 for a can he installed it and then he found out it was on sale at menards for something less than $4 a can he was hot! especialy when it leaked out in a week

Well I can't really tell you much about the AC repair that was $2500. You did not say how much was labor and what parts where used.

Many times on a JD sound guard cab if you have to replace all the cab lines, the compressor, the re-dryer, and the expansion valve the parts can easily be over $1500. Replacing those cab lines is a real fun job too.

So your bill could be outrageous or it may not be.

As for what you need to repair the systems. A good reclaimer and knowledge of how each system works. It is much more than just throwing freon at the system and calling it good. There are several good repair that cover doing AC repairs.

Had a local repair guy that used to not charge very much for "fixing" AC systems. Found out he was just putting in "stop leak" and recharging them for guys. It was all fun and games until the systems started failing and the guy did not know how to fix them correctly. The guys found out that to fix a system after it has the "stop leak" in it is expensive. The only good way to do it is to replace just about the whole system because you can't get the stuff out of the system. When it gets old it flakes off the inside of the lines and plugs the expansion valve.

(quoted from post at 21:51:00 07/31/13) FIRST thing you need is some knowledge of how the system operates and protocols for repairing it.

Outside of a course at a tech college, the DEERE FOS for air conditioning is about as good of info as you are gonna get. GOOGLE the ISBN, 086691353X.

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The industrial HVAC course at my local tech college is $920. You can pay extra to take the AC certification test at the end so you can buy Freon.

$2500. seems a bit excessive especially if they did not give you a quote. It had better not have any leaks.
My equipment, which is not top of the line,some where in the middle; I would guess that I have $1500 to $2000 in. The education is above that. Then comes the fun stuff like the recovery tanks that have to be re certified every 5 years if they get moved over the road. Oil in the vacuum pump is considered hazardous waste so disposing of it does cost something. Tractors and cars can be difficult to find the leaks and do the proper work on them. I find them to be a challenge some days I would rather not do.

(quoted from post at 22:27:29 07/31/13) just got the bill for fixing the ac in one of the tractors and it was $2500!!!!! What tools would a guy need to do these repairs? Anyone have a good set they would recommend? It seems like it needs to be fixed every year or both spring and fall! Thanks.

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or $2500, I would expect it to be done right and clearly it is NOT if it all leaks out twice a year!! Any jake leg can keep adding to replace what has leaked since the previous add, but that is NOT fixing the leak!! Find a more competent repair man.

Well by the time I drove the 25 mile one way and back that saving would be eaten up by the gas I burned trying to save a buck LOL

I've got at least sixteen cans, I'd be happy to let you into them for $50 a piece..........

Doing it yourself doesn't necessarily reduce your bill from $2500 to FREE.

Parts cost is parts cost and....

A. It's not cheap.
B. It's going to be the same whether you do it yourself or pay someone.

The compressors on some of these tractors run upwards of $1500 or more.

If the guy charged you $2500 and replaced the compressor, maybe some other components too... It's probably not that out of line.

The combine A/C charge lasts about 6 months or one season. Takes one or two cans to make it work again. So I could spend a small fortune like you are doing and maybe get it fixed or just put in a can or two each season. I bought about 150 cans at roughly $4.00 each which should last at least a few years. Also about every 2-3 years the older car needs a can. She ran into a raccoon which did some front end damage and apparently they didn't throughly check the A/C condenser. Rules say the A/C shop shouldn't recharge a system without making the necessary repairs. Don't know how many bend this rule.

I've done a little AC work at the landfill on Cat 936-G compactors.. I use a lime green dye, inject it in and top off the refrigerant to look for leaks.. Shows up real well , even on those nasty compactors.. Repair the leak , then charge the system