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[allante666]

The metal (aluminium?) pipe which runs from the bulkhead on th epassenger side, along the inner wing and then connects to the condenser at the front. On mine, where it is clipped to the inner wing just about halfway along its length, it has a very small leak. I cant see it unless i use a UV light but its there and its losing my gas pressure over a two or three day period.  Does anyone know if I could use a compression joint and just cut the bad bit out and rejoin it?
If so, as its a half inch diameter pipe, do you know where I could get the aforementioned compression joint and secondly, what sort of pressure does this pipe run?

Any help appreciated.

[Mike Pavelin]

You can't bodge an A/C line. Go to an A/C specialist or replace it.

[The Transporter]

The corroded section can be either cut out and a new section brazed in or the new section can be fitted in using a crimp as made by Vulkan Lokring... The choice of repair depends on how easy it would be to remove the pipe and if it is accessible enough to get a crimping tool in there  Brazing is always better

[allante666]

Thanks. HOpefully sorted it as ive found someone with a scrapper with no engine in so if his line is ok I can get to it easily and have that one. Im swapping my engine shortly so should be able to do it then.

[Dave69]

brazing an air con ally pipe ? not worth the hassle when there are so many breakers around

[The Transporter]

...... Assuming the pipe on the scrapper hasn't corroded. If it has rotted under a steel clip, I'd guess that the problem would be pretty common... If you can get a good pipe then that is the best option but if you can't then brazing is a good option..

[willo]

brazing an air con ally pipe ? not worth the hassle when there are so many breakers around

 

[allante666]

Yeah im hoping its not too common a problem, havent seen the one on the scrapper yet. Im only assuming its under a clip, I cant see it properly but using a uv light i can see that its in a place thats touching the inner wing. Ill know better when I get the engine out.
(no, im not taking the engine out just to replace the pipe! im changing the engine as well)

[The Transporter]

Cool, when you fit the replacement pipe blob plenty of grease under the clip and round the area of the clip... The pipe will sweat when the aircon is running and if the pipe is anywhere near steel (Clip?) then the alloy will rot... It's a trick that the motor industry learned from Rand Lover

[mad mechanic]

if the pipe has a hole in it and is straight for 20 mm either side of the hole it can be repaired using a proper connector, looks very mucj like a copper pipe compression fitting but it made of alloy and is specially made for just occasions. we use a motor factor called andrew paige and they stock all the sizes. did one a few weeks ago using the 3/8 gland. it costs around 15 quid for a gland. so much easier than replacing the pipe if its one of the long ones.
hth andy

[allante666]

Transporter Yeah, is that along with the trick they learned from British Leyland of using non captive nuts on every bolt so you need two spanners and universal joints in your elbows to unfasten them? (Land Rovers I mean, not Jeep, Jeeps are ok they are designed for Americans with big pudgy hands!)

MM, yes thats what I was originally looking for, if the pipe on the scrapper is naff Ill look into that thanks. The pipe has an O/D of 1/2 inch. wheres Andrew Paige based?

[mad mechanic]

the one we use id from wakefield in west yorks but they part was actually bagged up as an autogem part. so should be available from most proper factors.
andy

[daved]

Used to do air con in my prev occup and had quite a lot of farting around with air con pipes a couple of years back on cars.

I would avoid s/h pipes like the plague. Similar age + same model = potentially the same (hidden to start with) fault.

You can successfully repair these type of pipes using some (limited selection of) plumbers or (massive selection of) hydraulic compression fittings and appropriate pipe or hose. Your local hydraulic supplier will advise and supply if you go in with the pipe diameter. Somewhere like Pirtek can make up a hose that is impervious to the gas/oil mix to your spec. Other hyd suppliers can too but some may not carry the more specialised hose although they will usually be cheaper if they do. They will also bend a pipe for you if you go that route.

Extremely easy and usually massively cheaper than manf parts 

[daved]

You can't bodge an A/C line. Go to an A/C specialist or replace it.

correct you shouldnt bodge but it is easily within the scope of a diy'er to make up and fit often to a far higher spec for significantly less money

[daved]

Cool, when you fit the replacement pipe blob plenty of grease under the clip and round the area of the clip... The pipe will sweat when the aircon is running and if the pipe is anywhere near steel (Clip?) then the alloy will rot... It's a trick that the motor industry learned from Rand Lover

good scheme if youre stuck with a fitting , other less messy option is to get hold of a rubber covered p clip, pennies from most decent motor factors.

[The Transporter]

good scheme if youre stuck with a fitting , other less messy option is to get hold of a rubber covered p clip, pennies from most decent motor factors.

Used to fix hundreds of ally aircon pipes now it's just a hobby if folk bring me the pipe... Many manufacturers used the rubber insulated clips but the water still bridges between the two metals over the rubber (Especially where they are in a position to collect a bit of road salt) and electolytic corrosion goes wild.... Remember the Peugeot 306?

Funny you'd have thought that a RandLover would have been better protected given the ammount of oil they leak from every orifice...

[daved]

good scheme if youre stuck with a fitting , other less messy option is to get hold of a rubber covered p clip, pennies from most decent motor factors.

Used to fix hundreds of ally aircon pipes now it's just a hobby if folk bring me the pipe... Many manufacturers used the rubber insulated clips but the water still bridges between the two metals over the rubber (Especially where they are in a position to collect a bit of road salt) and electolytic corrosion goes wild.... Remember the Peugeot 306?

Funny you'd have thought that a RandLover would have been better protected given the ammount of oil they leak from every orifice...

nope , never been stuck enough to have anything to do with 306's 

my problem with the grease option is if you put enough on to potentially overcome the intergalvanic corrosion  youve got a blobby mess that'll get washed off by virtue of where it is ie wet and mucky plus itll attract grit and crap. Never ever had a problem with the decent quality p clip solution in many years of engineering.

What I did have a problem with was cleaning the grease off ol seals etc when I used to get the job a s a sprog working on the aircraft.

I agree with you about the landrover ineffectiveness 100%  but there again youd also expect them to start first time    lol

 

[The Transporter]

Ha! Aircraft are built to a standard..... Cars are built to a price...

Yeah, grease makes a big blobby mess but it helps keep the water out...

[daved]

Ha! Aircraft are built to a standard..... Cars are built to a price...

or you repair maintain your own car to a standard  

[The Transporter]

Ha! Yeah...... I've repiped almost all of the aircon system at the front end and new condenser on my XJ... No way am I going off road without air conditioning....

Peugeot used rubber insulated clips to prevent corrosion on the 306..... 18 months after the launch of the face lifted model there were over 800 aircon pipes on back order due to corrosion.... I'd cut out the corroded section and braze in a new piece and paint in Epoxy resin...

[daved]

The metal (aluminium?) pipe which runs from the bulkhead on th epassenger side, along the inner wing and then connects to the condenser at the front. On mine, where it is clipped to the inner wing just about halfway along its length, it has a very small leak. I cant see it unless i use a UV light but its there and its losing my gas pressure over a two or three day period.  Does anyone know if I could use a compression joint and just cut the bad bit out and rejoin it?
If so, as its a half inch diameter pipe, do you know where I could get the aforementioned compression joint and secondly, what sort of pressure does this pipe run?

Any help appreciated.

is it sorted and staying that way ??

[allante666]

Its absolutely sorted! I sold the car!!  (got another WJ though )

[Bubba]

well done i think