Has anyone accomplished this at home? I need to weld on a new beadlock fitting on to the discharge hard line coming off my compressor. I was considering using Harbor Freight Low temperature alumnimum welding rods and a MAPP torch. These rods melt at about 790*. Would this be an issue since the line will always be very hot? Any advice would be appreciated.
I dont think the high side will hit 700* If you go with the rod and youve never done it before look at some youtube vids first. Heat the surface of the item your welding and let the rod melt and flow on it rather than melting the rod with the torch. let cool for a min before you touch or move anything.
Do you need to repair the line or is the fitting stripped/crossed? AC fittings can be swaged on, Crimped on, spun welded or silver soldered. Is this the line that goes into a hose up to the condenser drier with an O ring onto the compressor head? Is that end bad or the threaded end bad?? Id replace the length rather than repair it. If you really want to repair it, read on: If you can, take a smaller piece of tubing, or turn down a piece of aluminum and make an alignment barrel for inside the tube. Chances of a successful butt weld are about zero unless youre an experienced TIG welder. Other issues to consider are CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN... clean everything with fine sandpaper or emery just like soldering copper, wash with brake clean AND DO NOT TOUCH with bare hands. Wash and rinse ANY oil inside as well. If its at a straight run in the pipe, Id use a tubing cutter and repair with a compression fitting with a FILM of Permatex "Right Stuff", and the last solution is to cut the pipe out and replace with a length of AC rated hose. The discharge temp is not an issue at this point, but harmonic vibration is. Run the compressor and put your hand on it... tingles don't it? Bill in TR
if this is the same stuff that you get at the car shows and flea markets where the guy connects 2 cans together, the connection is too porous and refrigerant will leak through, might want to find a good refrigeration guy and see if he can use 45 percent on it
What I am doing is replacing my entire discharge line since it is old, trashed, and leaking. I am going to cut the line coming off he compressor and weld on a #8 beadlock fitting and run new hose to my aftermarket parallel flow condenser.
