Great job!!! You know...it's a shame that when these systems are engineered that someone in the process doesn't say, " Hey guys, what if the reversing valve ever has to be changed out? They'd have to take this whole unit apart"!!
I had to replace a reversing valve on a climatemaster water source two-stage heat pump. I had no choice but to remove the compressor as reversing valve was behind it. I think the advantage possibly taking the compressor out of the way it's a pressure test your solder joints. When I cut the compressor out I brazed on some extensions and did a pressure test and did a pressure test. It was a good thing as I missed a couple spots this was a very hard valve to do. I still had to reach in the unit it was way in the back with a compressor out, making it very difficult to see what I was doing. I understand you wanting to get that piece of metal out of your way. Gave you a lot more room. Cutting out the compressor was an Advantage cuz I like to pressure test my solders and I would have hated to have a leak on the reversing valve after I reassembled everything. I'm very impressed with the time you did it a very short period Of time I figured you were screwed starting at 11:30 doing that. I would have figured that's an all day job easy if I would have got out of there in 8 hours I would have felt I did great. I've been doing this stuff for 35 years and that was one of the toughest reversing valve if not the toughest one I've seen. I think it is the toughest
Great job Ted. Thats a job that not just anyone could handle. Your experience and this video makes for an invaluable training aide for the next generation of HVAC technicians. Thanks Ted.
Got to love the way they designed that system( sure didn't think of ever having to work on it for sure) Good job brother, sure looked like a pain in the butt. Have a blessed day.
Time to condemn, the amount of time, at least for me it’s not worth it. You are a Champion, I am too busy to for a job that long, factory rebuild in someone’s yard, not for me.
Glad I don't see these POS package units much lately; so many screws and teased compartments. Business were installing these craptastic Trane units in odd, small offices areas for some time. Seems they began to die en-mass and are quickly being replaced with 1.5 - 3.5 ton ducted minisplit cartridges. Thank you, 2019, until 2025 hits ;)
I don’t like the paste or the gel either, i use this stuff called viper wet rag putty. It comes in a little container with a red top. It’s kind of like wet play dough, as you heat it up it crusted over and stays damp on the inside. I like to place a wet rag over it as well for insurance. But you can reuse it up to 40 times. It works great on txv’s, exv’s and solenoid valves.
Great job! You had that unit down to it's bare bones. If it wasn't warranty and customer had all the money in the world, would have just replaced the whole unit. haha! Guess they don't build RVs like they used to. :-) Changing reversing valves is never fun and I totally agree with your last statement of never wanting to do that again soon on this type of unit!
I feel your pain I've had to put 2 evaporator coils in those units. The old ones where easy. The new ones are a pain. You and I have been doing this too long. 42 yrs for me
Dang, you had to do a lot of surgery on that one! At least the RV wasn't upside down! I've seen that before and I just had to wonder why the hell they would put the side with the 3 big joints facing down?!! Maybe it still would have been a pain but I think I would have pulled the compressor and shielded the wall behind it. I guess I'll find out if I ever work on one. There's a lot of Trane products that I do appreciate the serviceability on like you demonstrated here. I think their WSHPs are the best in the business for a number of reasons. I wish they made low profile split system condensers like Carrier does.
Hey there we call those ham wars and they will give you your money back if you want to get something different. I had them before and mine started acting up and they gave me all the money back for it and they were two years old thanks Jerry South Florida
I agree with your process I done the ones I've changed the same way but I know some guys that would have burnt that insulation up replacing that valve without doing it that way
If the person that owned that unit lived in a $500k home they would be getting a brand new unit installed under warranty. Poor folks always get screwed, When it comes to something like this, it’s a shame that Trane didn’t swap out that unit.
I was thinking the same thing and I live in one lol . It's better to live in a paid for trailer on some acres than pay $1500 a month rent I guarantee it
Brother love your videos, but I think you forgot to clear your hoses at the end of the job. You kept your valves closed on your extensions when you screwed your hoses back on the manifold. Maybe I am wrong, your videos are still awesome.
Absolutely, appreciate your knowledge and teaching. One thing bugs me, isn't it just as important to flow nitrogen during disassembly, as it is during assembly?
I too was taught to use inert gas when brazing. We must be old old school? Edit: After watching more videos, I am going to guess Mr. Cook did use nitrogen but didn't film that step. Been so long since doing service work I thought maybe oxy. scale had lost the bad rap.
I love stay Brite 8 on residential line sets. Where I got burned with stay Brite 8 I changed out an evaporator for a refrigeration system. A walk-in cooler. Most of my experience has been in air conditioning. On refrigeration between the TXV and the distribution head you have to install a correct orifice. The surface must be installed or the flow the refrigerant will be wrong through the evaporator and will not work correctly. Flux got In there and clogged that orifice. After that I always braze on those systems. I would be worried using that on a reversing valve with the small openings the heat in the vibration. Should handle the heat. What's nice about the stay Brite 8 you have nice clean solders. Without a nitrogen Purge brazing you have risk of a lot of carbon flakes on the inside. When I do ductless split systems I have soldering to do I like to use stay Brite 8 on that as well. It's great stuff
@@doddgarger6806 mini splits aren't a throw away if you buy a reputable brand. But they are definitely a better idea than window units I'll agree on that.
Hey Ted nice work as always. Just curious what torch tip you're using on the oxy rig? And it looked like you were using MAPP gas also? Thanks for all your vids brother..always enjoy them.
What about a quick heat or cooling cycle for the new reverse valve is shifting properly and make sure the internal piston was not fried? I speak on my own mistakes. Great video of course
TP Services yes but to be fair that would mean the manufacturer of the reversing valve would be the one that had to fix the problem right? Ever since making that repair years ago I have been worried whether the vibration that broke the first little tube might break it again in the event that it was not a weak tube but possibly too much vibration from the compressor.... The first failure took place in less than one year and now it has been repaired for at least two or three years since that old video I found in an old camera.... so at this point I am assuming the small tubing on the reversing valve was stressed or weekend for whatever reason and that is why it broke.
Did you use new/virgin r410a and did Trane pay for it? Is new/virgin rfrg your policy?, because the EPA 608 classes are always telling us about what can and can't be done with recovered refrigerant.
Would have been tough to weld with the close walls within one inch of the valve... I guess I could have managed it but just got started and sorta winged it till I was done. I was ticked about having to make the repair at all.
Any tech worth their salt knows the difference between bad 3way valves, solinoid coils or a scroll / pot compressor. No doubt said tech was out troubleshooting other calls while old man tore shit up and brazed well.
Yea that job sucks. I would have removed the compressor. You can slide a piece of sheet metal or a torch blanket behind the reversing valve. I know how you feel. I'm repairing Trane WSHP and brazing in very tight areas like this more then i would like to. Good job
Good news on this unit - the blower fan re-fits in 1 minute 30 seconds. Bad news on this unit - the heat pump reversing valve replacement requires entry to one of Dante's circle of hell. Stupid design putting the valve tight behind the compressor and not to the side.
If it were a split I would have replaced drier no matter what because of contamination risk... on a package, it depends what the actual repair is that makes my decision on that. In this case I knew all that had happened was the tube shown that broke... pressure switch prevented any running without gas in system... I chose to do just what you saw. I guess we will see the result. That is an old video seeing as how I still has the Hilmors in the field... I am guessing it has been 3 years since repair... now you got me curious and I will look it up.
Hey Ted. I understand that the system was under pressure but as you were doing the repair the system was open. You did tape the lines which was good but being that the oil soaks up moisture like a sponge as they say. It’s good practice to just change the dryer. If it were an old 22 system I wouldn’t worry. Being that the unit was a year old I’m sure you were fine. what a bitch to replace that valve. How did you stay so calm. I would’ve had a few choice words while repairing the unit. Never the less great work as usual Ted.
@@MarcMeal It was a little over the one year factory labor allowance, the homeowner is a disabled veteran so I did not charge him anything. Also, I just don't see how anyone should have to pay to fix a machine that is only a little over a year old.... maybe something minor but not like this one was. It was just one of those things I just had to eat and get it over with.
I just cant wear gloves. Dont understand why anyone does? Is it for protection against being electricuted or just being cut. Not being an ass. Just curious why I see it so much recently. You sound about my age and nobody wore gloves from 1983 to 2000. :-)
kevin maxey I got tired of seeing my bones muscle tendons and then seeing the Dr have trouble getting the stitches in. I’ve worn gloves for about 10 years now. It takes a while to get used to and my girl friend quit complaining about my rough hands lol
