I worked for a Carrier Dealer back in the later 80’s. That was the premium air conditioner. The furnace was a 120,000 btuh and was touted as a premium mid efficient furnace due to the spark ignition. I never had one that leaked in the transition from the copper to aluminum. The big problem in those days was the compression fittings on the service valves. We ended up just brazing the line sets to eliminate the problem. You ain’t buying nothing today that will last like that stuff did. Thanks for the walk down memory lane Theodore.👍👍🇨🇦
Bout 3 yrs ago I replaced an old 2 spd lennox 88 model tough old bird. I did see an old westinghouse unit wedge shape entire top flipped open its was dead no pad
I grew up with a blue 1972 Carrier Round One. Was ALWAYS enamored with everything about it. The sounds it made, its appearance, how it operated, etc. The compressor finally DID die in 2014, and my dad entered it in my local HVAC company’s “Oldest AC Contest.” Turns out…we had the oldest air conditioner in the Lehigh Valley (PA), and won a brand new Lennox unit!
I had a Lennox unit that was installed in 1969 and work until 2007. The only reasons for replacing it was 1. The evaporator was clogged and not accessible 2. R-12 was being phased out and got too expensive to replace. It was a beast, running through nearly forty years of Texas summers.
That just comes to show how well things were built back in the day, when most if not all products were made in the USA. My Aunt & Uncle still have their Kennmore washer & dryer set from 1982 when they brought their first home, the washer is a real workhorse and sets the standard for clean clothes.
It's real sad that two other repair techs looked at it, probably saw how old it was and just straight up told him he needs a new one without actually taking the time to open it up and see exactly what went wrong. The reason he hovered around you, too, is probably because he thought one of the other techs might have compromised the unit or maybe he had experience with something like that in the past. Just you being there, letting him follow and explaining what you saw, fixing it even if it's temporary, makes all the difference.
Ted, I just worked on one just like this one...40 years old and like you said purring like a kitten after repairing a burnt connection at the compressor terminal like this one. My customer was over the moon happy she did not have to replace her system. Great job as usual.
I've got very similar Carrier indoor and outdoor units in my home. Still heating and cooling the house since 1978, the year my house was built with very few issues. Thanks to RU-vid channels like yours, I've been able to replace the indoor blower motor once, the fuses and capacitor for the outdoor unit once and have kept it running just fine. After hearing the problems newer "technologically advanced" systems with ECMs, "ultra-low NOx-monitoring" gestapo electronics - I will NEVER buy another system as long as I can keep this running on my own.
I actually just fixed a womans AC that she had another company tell her she needed a whole new $8,000 unit and all it was was the compressor start cap. It was a Goodman from 1977...!!!
My dad's house was built in 1961. Had a Carrier 3 ton unit. We sold the house 10 years ago. The AC was still working like a champ. Freon 504 system. Incredible!
Five star service call Ted. Wow that Carrier is 2 years older than my perfect running 3 ton York condenser. I never condemn a piece of equipment until I’m positive it’s not repairable. It’s a pleasure to watch a knowledgeable and honest tech work.
Just had a job. We went in months ago and gave a quote for a full reinstall for ac and the homeowner declined and sad they can get someone cheaper, a couple weeks ago we got a call from the same homeowner that there ac wasn't working so we looked into it and whoever did the job only replaced the condenser and not the coil and mixed R22 with 410a. its always the we can get it cheaper then having it done right and you get what you pay for
At your age and the Quality of your company, your reputation is VITALLY important! YOU>>>>do the right thing for the right reason! It's a pleasure to watch you preform on these videos!!
Our company takes care of a school in our town that still has several old Carrier round ones from 1984 and 85. They look just like this unit, except they’re silver. And those things are tough as nails from what I’ve seen. There’s one in particular that I worked on in ‘21, and I noticed the compressor sounded like it had pieces of metal bouncing around inside of it, and I figured it wouldn’t make it through the rest of the summer. That sucker is still kicking today.
In S Florida the round ones were popular with builders, but became inefficient with age and most lasted about 10 years ... people who pushed them got about ~ 15 years tops. You could hear the holdouts because the startup sound is so iconic
Wow, so cool to see these old units. It's why I'm subscribed. Such a simple fix, and while it may not have much time left, I do hope it at least sees it's 40th before it's time to go.
looks like the upper mid west or New England area. im in central Texas and a licensed home inspector. its awesome you sorted this out for the client. Obvious its way past its useful service life and an energy pig. The crumbling steel heat exchanger full of rust gave me goose bumps!!!! none of this stuff lasts this long down here. My parents had a 1988 Trane 900 on their house in north west Arkansas, but it hardly ever got used much up there from the mild temps most of the time. It ran just fine, but the last tech that cleaned it wired the condenser fan backward and it worked just fine. I disassembled it maybe 20 years ago to clean it and swap the wires on it!
Much respect for your work ethics, we younglings definitely can learn a thing or two about being honest with our clients and at least bother to get our hands dirty to diagnose.
It's got my Lennox beat by about 6 months. I'm on season 4 with the Ole thing and it's running great. Love that you took a minute and actually looked and found a problem when everyone else just wanted to bum rush him a new system. Surly you earned his business. Nice work Ted.
A new system would likely be much better for him. Sure, it's lasted a long time, but he's probably paying 3x more in electricity to run the thing than he really needs to.
Had a 1981 Sears central AC unit in my home when I moved in. Looked very similar to that carrier unit. It was fully functional, but the furnace needed upgrading badly. I ended up scrapping the AC unit which I had a hard time doing because it worked wonderfully...made about as much noise as an outboard boat motor at full throttle, but it pumped out some ice cold air! This was about 2016. I imagine it would probably still be operational
Good old units. My old supervisor has 3 chest freezers from like the 80s in her basement that still work and she said her fridge was from like '78 and still works.
That connection on the compressor may have just corroded and created a high resistance point. That would account for the melted insulation on the black wire. I wouldn't be surprised if that condensing unit gave another season of good performance. The compressor sounded very healthy. The fan motor - - well, time will tell! Good repair Ted.
Great video! Especially as I’m sitting here listening to my 1986 Trane heat pump humming away outside. Fantastic that you got the old girl working again.👍
Good save and excellent service to the customer; the other 2 previous techs probably didn't even look at the unit and were probably only interested in selling him a new unit. I am in Vic Australia and I cool our house with a 1980 package aircon and it runs perfectly (I did modernise it with a contactor and replaced all caps and most of the wiring). I always enjoy your videos, thank you for the vids
You're right about those fan motors. Installed AC last summer. This year started it up and the fan motor was bad. Wasn't difficult to replace it myself.
I serviced a Carrier liquid cooler with three 06E compressors from 1982 for a number of years until I moved to a different location in 2020. Changed the oil and the valve plates but that is all. Would not be surprised if it is still running.
The way that Carrier unit looked & ran ( could use a good interior cleaning though) I'd say he has a few more yrs left in it even with it being nearly 40 yrs old.
My parents have a 1988 Carrier High Efficiency Plus. I am pretty sure its a 38ES036. The unit has been completely flawless, but Its been a true disappointment dealing with service providers. Ever since around 2010, nearly everyone they called just for a checkup every couple years, really didnt want to do anything but sell my parents a new unit. Some made up issues, pointed out alleged leaks that were just minerals or corrosion, or they said they were on borrowed time and that they should just get it out of the way before prices allegedly went up during the summer season. Year after year, it works perfectly. Cant say the same for this Lennox piece of crap I have myself. Nice to see honest people out there leading by example.
Those old ribbon burners 3 wire pilot assembly . I always say sweet music when I hear that compressor. Only thing bout get someone by they'll end up using someone else replace unit . I love a god challenge like that good ole carrier. My mother in-law tech 2000 I installed lasted 29 yrs not bad
I would replace that wire (and the yellow one as it is looking a bit melty near the connection), clean it and call it good. It would probably live a good while longer.
Goes to show that a sealed leak free system is one very good reason why some systems will go on and on for decades. It did look like those connections on the compressor simply got oxidized enough to created much resistance as the yellow wire looked like it was heating up as well. Clean terminals and new spades would likely keep that compressor going for longer than you'd think. The installer on that air handler was so patient in cutting that hole on the cabinet for the gas line supply. Makes you wonder if the Wiss sheet metal cutters weren't all he had in his bag of tricks that day. At least Ted Cook took the obvious road to help out the custmer and make them a believer as to who knows their stuff while the previous two HVAC simply decided the customers equipment is too old to work on. Just maybe those guys were just too young to work on them.
Somebody sold them an IWAVE Air cleaner! LMAO. That yellow run winding wire was swollen and melted as well, will be the next one to go if he waits to long to replace it. I was 13 when that was installed, damn!
Trane isn't the only company that uses spine fin tubing... Old GE room air conditioners use spine fin as well. I have several of them from the 70s and 80s still working great. They also used glued refrigerant lines, which is amazing because it actually stands the test of time very well.
That same age compressor and brand about 30 years ago at are house the fan blade broke my dad goes in the garage comes out with a piece of aluminum cuts it shapes it drills the holes in it I think he riveted it on there puts it back together works perfectly. Now my dad was definitely not an a/c tech he was a lineman by trade. But about a year later the a/c tech came to replace a capacitor they got too talking about the fan blade and the tech says I don’t know how it’s running so smooth and you got the bend just right the guy was really impressed.
Many times, that's the best solution......get the customer's existing rig working for now.... then make a replacement suggestion. I fix computers... I had one I fixed (old) for someone and I told them it wasn't going to last a LOT longer... they got 9months more before it failed, and ordered the new PC from our shop.
I’ve always had trane units at the houses. One at our old house and one trane and two carriers at my current one. The trane ones are awesome and I expect to last like this one
Yessir. Did the same thing yesterday on a circa 1989 Rheem rectangle. One burnt terminal and 5 minutes later she was whistling dixie!!! This lady also had a couple jacklegs out that wanted to only sell her a full system replacement.
I've got a 1985 Hyundai Pony with working air conditioner. Brakes are shot, lower control arms and front spring cups are about to fall apart from rust, engine smokes, but it has ICE COLD AIR.
it's interesting to see how little things have changed since then. Other than the fact that this unit has 2 squirrel cages, The internals look almost exactly like the AC at my house.
I saw what I believe was a heat pump version of one of these the other day on top of an office building, it was the kind that has the hail guard where the coils are visible/fan motor is not grille-mounted. It was running and the line was frozen, hopefully it lives
F.I.L has a mobile, contained unit Payne 50EE024 self-contained unit, 1982 I believe.Replaced the blower capacitor supposed to be 15ufd, testing at 3 ufd. Replaced the run cap 35/5, reading at 25/2 ufd.Replaced the smoked contactor. Sounds normal, runs beautiful.
