Booby-Trapped Trane tandem 3D-Scroll compressor change out was a real PITA! 

NOTE: *The theme of this video is that it was a BOBBY-TRAPPED service call* It wasn't posted as a fine moment in HVAC repair. But the opposite. This was an example of how NOT to set up a proper comp changeout. This was a scheduled job (by office and ghetto property management) without all the needed components (compressor piping kit, BOTH compressors changed at same time, etc) as this was a shit low quoted property management job that should have been avoided. The compressors were last welded together with FUBAR piping that should have been replaced last time. But they just wanted it to get up and running. After this I would never try to just "get it done" on a tandem scroll without a new piping kit and everything else needed.

That much oil in my van would bring a tear of sadness to my eye... Bad memories

I’ve done that before hauling compressors to the yard in the bed of my truck. Hauled 25 compressors and like 5 tipped over. Power washer and kitty litter is a must!

Damn I bet you had a good laugh about the oil.... glad it wasn't your van

Flux coated Blue 45% rods brother.....fuck all that old-school shit.....get the blue rods and your set

I've done the same compressors before and I found that the pre flux solder from Train really helps a lot. I also tilt the compressor keep the oil level back when soldering. If you dont that oil just burns and you cant get a clean weld .good job!

Enjoyed the video. I’ve tipped one over myself, but never one that big.

Good video 👍

what a job, holy cow

That same compressor was a pain in the ass for me 2 weeks ago. Another vender brazed the crap out it making my job harder to clean up there mistake. Wish the tenants would agree to replace both is what your supposed to do but oh well. Good video btw.

Oof! Can't win 'em all. Those Trane tandems are not so bad..... so long as the copper connections are in good shape. :)

Yikes! Another day in Paradise 😂

Holy hell!

The orifice was left out on the previous compressor change-out requiring subsequent replacement? I usually re-pipe both compressors. The manifolds were still available last summer. Haven't ventured down that road this season yet. RAUJ if I remember 30 ton was the last one I changed.

I don’t do tandem compressors a lot, mostly have on older 20 ton York units. However I would only ever do both at the same time. If one compressor goes out it’s likely to put the second one on borrowed time. I would always buy them strapped to a tandem plate and use a crane to put them on then roof. If you want to use light commercial HVAC units, it’s going to be expensive to repair. That’s just the way it is.

The left-hand compressor was done by Lennox NAS. Was that one also done by them?

Def tipped over in the back of my truck , I had it strapped and some how it came loose . Thinking about it had to be going over the train tracks . Damn

When do you have to put that washer inside the suction port

Trane doesn't try to force you to change both compressors on tandem sets anymore. I did a tandem set in a 15 year old York HP though and you couldn't buy a single compressor from York for it. You had to buy a tandem set on a sled already piped together. It was two years ago and they were Bristol recips. I don't know what you do for one like that now. I got one of two tandem sets my local York Parts branch could find haha.

With all of the times the compressor(s) have failed, I wonder how much oil is still lingering out there in the system waiting like an assassin to murder the next one. Anyhow bro, great video as always. We are both here in the greater Phoenix AZ area, and boy, last week here was a bear heat wise. At one point in Gilbert, I saw 122 while driving East on the 60 at Arizona Ave.

Looks like the same garbage I work on lol trying to scrap copper together to make it all function coherently. Nothings harder than trying to redo someone else's copper to steel braze joint especially if they didn't use the right brazing rod to begin with. Someone mentioned the blue rods. That's what I'm mostly using for copper/steel or copper brass. It's coated with flux but I still use stay-silv with it.

Reminds me of the Exxon Valdez 😂🤘⚡️🤘✨

Thanks for the good laugh.

I am working on an Intellapack with the exact same piping configuration . I need to go back and finish the 1b compressor and the suction line is also damaged . Did you use an 1-5/8" 90 and cut it off or is that a 45? Super nice job by the way ..

Trane sells pre-fab suction and discharge headers, done it plenty of times

Oil Eeeeeeeeeeverywhere! 😂😂😂

big money

Blue rods the ticket

Better his van, then the back of your truck.

👌👌👌👌👌

One thing for sure.. you only do that once! Hard lesson but it won’t happen again.. Looks like a few bags of oil dry are in his future!

For future reference you can still get the prebent sections of piping for these.

What's all that smoke at 0:39 onwards?

I've been through the same mess awful

Missing handcuff bracket between the two scrolls? Brazing the dissimilar metals at the compressor is challenging but very doable; most techs go in brazing too hot. Lower heat and slower approach with 45% or 56% flux coated brazing rods. Get the steel too hot and you’ll need to cut the torch off and try again.

That's one way to rustproof your van...

😂that’s a Lennox job, Lennox National Account Services (LNAS) on the compressor….

Why would oil not come back to compressor, i replace both compressor but oil is not coming back to compressor to the point of motor locking up

Use those orange rods from trane next time you'll alot cleaner welds

His van got a lube job done for this month

really that looks like its from a junk yard.. why not just replace the whole unit.. your patching over patching over patching..

At least crimp the fittings shut before tossing the old comp in the van

Go get new pipe…

low bidders man. Get your money's worth..

Junky equipment