A/C crimp

[Kingstir]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

One additional note on the crimp process:

When at NIRVC I noticed a tech applying sealant to the fitting. I asked him about it and he told me that they have had comebacks from leaks but once they used the black sealant (Permatex Ultra Black most likely) there were no more leaks.

Are you saying they applied a sealant to the fitting where it crimps on to the hose? I can’t imagine any sealant that could help with that kind of pressure.

[Cruzer]

The sealant was on the inside of the crimp and outside of the hose. They claim that solved any future small leaks.

[Harleyed]

Forget the crimping tool
Get a new factory hose
That’s what Spartan would recommend

[brobox]

Originally Posted by Harleyed

Forget the crimping tool
Get a new factory hose
That’s what Spartan would recommend

Problem is the new factory hoses have the same bad fittings. Much better to upgrade the fitting. One can read here how many new coaches have had bad fittings on there hoses.

[Cruzer]

And the factory hose is about 50' in length. Good luck trying to run that through the framework and various bulkheads by the fuel tank and rear axle. Labor would be excessive and the crimp repair has proven to work.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

And the factory hose is about 50' in length. Good luck trying to run that through the framework and various bulkheads by the fuel tank and rear axle. Labor would be excessive and the crimp repair has proven to work.

In addition, others have posted as high as $1,500 just in labor to replace the AC hose. Yep, an upgraded fitting and DIY labor is better option than replacing in this situation. Something I would not have thought of without posts like this, me not being an AC expert.

[jbhobbs54]

I have the AC crimping tool as I install after market AC in hotrods. One thing I do when making custom hoses is to clock them so it is easier to put them back on after crimping. Basically a test fit to make sure things line up and the hose isn't twisted around, mark both the fitting and hose. Makes it mush easier to reinstall the hose when you are done. I have never used any sealant and have not had returns for leaks.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by jbhobbs54

I have the AC crimping tool as I install after market AC in hotrods. One thing I do when making custom hoses is to clock them so it is easier to put them back on after crimping. Basically a test fit to make sure things line up and the hose isn't twisted around, mark both the fitting and hose. Makes it mush easier to reinstall the hose when you are done. I have never used any sealant and have not had returns for leaks.

Would you volunteer to teach the class to whoever makes up the hoses for our coaches. They have an extremely high failure rate. Thanks for sharing that with those of us that have not replace a fitting, but probably will in the future. I also liked the tip that Nowabechbum shared" rotating the crimper 90 degrees and crimp again. Double crimping is something I have used for years rigging deep-sea fishing lures, but never thought of applying that to AC crimps.

[ransil]

Originally Posted by brobox

In addition, others have posted as high as $1,500 just in labor to replace the AC hose. Yep, an upgraded fitting and DIY labor is better option than replacing in this situation. Something I would not have thought of without posts like this, me not being an AC expert.

new hose is $6-10 per ft $300-500 for the hose and probably 2 hours to pull i thru. I see if i have the receipt pretty sure i saw in in the bundle.

[dave&ginny]

Thanks to 737 Driver (Tor) I received my crimp tool yesterday for the A/C. Hopefully this next week I'll get this project done. Then I'll pass it on to the next Entegra owner

[jbhobbs54]

Chuck, sure no problem. My crimping tool does not require double crimping. It crimps all the way around the hose. There are some crimpers out there that roll the fitting and hose around in a die, they are harder to make leak free. Mine does not rotate just plain old crimping.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by ransil

new hose is $6-10 per ft $300-500 for the hose and probably 2 hours to pull i thru. I see if i have the receipt pretty sure i saw in in the bundle.

Just mentioning what others said they have been charged to replace the hose. Using your figure and Cruzers, 50 ft hose at $8. a foot $400 and 2 hours at $$150. shop rate, $300. That cost would be $700. Versus $135, for crimper with 15 minutes labor and not have to make an appointment with a shop. However, I am one of those that would rather do it myself knowing it was done right. Not like the first guy that caused the leak to begin with. I know some would rather have others do it.

[Gary.Jones]

It also requires pulling a vacuum. That is used for that?

And Mr. Hobbs, what crimper brand do you use.

Getting any sort of adequate crimp is something that seems beyond what many shops can do. I have had it done two times on this Cornerstone and have given up. I have heard good things about the ability of the Foretravel factory to do that crimp and it is on the way to Houston from home and I plan to give it another try and pay them to do the crimp. If that fails, maybe I will spend some more money and buy a good crimping tool and try myself. Or I will wait for NIRVC to get the self contained unit that fully is mounted on the fire wall and has no hoses to the compressor in the rear and give that a try.

Until that time, I run the three roof AC units, the Onan (the diesel costs so much already that the addition Onan consumption gets "lost" in the total bill), and a small fan sitting on the floor beside my driver seat and that combination works well.

Gary

[brobox]

Gary, if you have an AC guy there in LA mine will vacuum mine for a beer at the end of his day. Also recharge for the cost of freon. Just another way of getting it done.