s4bill

What are the bare essentials for diagnosing and charging your AC system?

Do you need guages or does itmake it easier if you have them?
Are there specific tools for working with the lines?

Dean_Fuller

Not sure about lines but Harbor freight has gauges for CHEAP. I have had a set for 4 or 5 years now.

Eplebnista

Invest in a set of flare wrenches for the AC lines or any other tubing connection. You will be glad you did.

s4bill

I looked at the guages at HF but I believe they are for R134 only?

dprantl

A set of gauges is a good first step. The charge fittings are different between R12 and R134a, so you either need to get an R12 gauge set, or an R134a set with adapters to fit R12 fittings.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

WallyP

HF gauge set is OK, but HF flare wrenches aren't...

s4bill

What do you recommend as far as flare wrenchs?

Best place to find the adapters?

Dean_Fuller

My set of HF gauges came with everything you need for both 134 and 12.

Rob Edwards

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ns-please.html

s4bill

Dean,

Do you have a model or part number on your HF gauges?

Speedtoys

They only sell one set.

Comes in a red plastic case..theyre working OK for me, just that the valves on the R134 ends..gall up themselves REALLY easy. Someday, I'll buy good ends for the hoses..but so far, no probs.

Eplebnista

I have craftsman flare wrenches from Sears. Had em for 20 years and have no complaints.

s4bill

I have flare wrenches. I think of them as tubing wrenches. I saw these colored AC line and fuel line tools. I thought that is what you might be referring to
I have them because of the 928.

The story goes like this. The wife at the time bought me a $100 or $150Craftsman tool set. It was on sale so it was nice set for the price and it was thoughtful.

I had ordered a tune up kit for the car when I first got it. I was excited. Tune up kit, brand new tool set. Time to put it to use.

I open the tune up kit and it included is a new fuel filter. Well you know where this is going. You cant very easily remove the filter with a standard open wrench. I stopped right there. Got the receipt from the wife and headed to the store. I looked at the price to the add a set of these wrenches and the price of the Proffessional series tool set. I broght home a box of tools. It was the entry level set for the professional series but for the most part it has handled just about every job minus the obvious stuff like breaker bars and speciality tools.

Anyway, my story for the day.

dr bob

Gaugevset is important. A good to great vacuum pump is essential if you ever plan on opening any part of the refrigeration side. Dan P. Can make a recommendation, but minimum is a two stage pump. Get a serious vacuum gauge, electronic, that reads microns. I have an electronic refrigerant detector that has proved indispensable when searching for those furtive little leaks. Find a kit of o-rings too. Plus the hand tools, reefer oil, electronic thermometers, a MitiVac or equivalent, vacuum pump oil.

And most important: a copy of Chiltons auto AC/refrigeration manual. Lots of good universal info in it that will help you avoid a lot of damage.

Speedtoys

I have a 3Hp dual stage vac pump..appears to work well.

But the -same- pump, on two different sets of HF gauges, read different vacuums by 2-3psi.

Gotta love HF.