Air con compressor shim removal fix

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd have a quick look at my air con problem today (intermittent engagment of the compressor clutch). Measured the gap between the clutch and the pulley and it's bigger than it should be so I thought I'd take it off to see if I could remove the shim/washer behind it to reduce the clearance as has been recommended before.

Now my stupid problem is... how do you hold the clutch in place to undo the bolt? It just spins and there doesn't seem to be any obvious way of locking it in position...

From what I can tell, the clutch should just come out as a unit once the centre bolt is removed - or am I missing something?

Guy

kooky_guy said:

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd have a quick look at my air con problem today (intermittent engagment of the compressor clutch). Measured the gap between the clutch and the pulley and it's bigger than it should be so I thought I'd take it off to see if I could remove the shim/washer behind it to reduce the clearance as has been recommended before.

Now my stupid problem is... how do you hold the clutch in place to undo the bolt? It just spins and there doesn't seem to be any obvious way of locking it in position...

From what I can tell, the clutch should just come out as a unit once the centre bolt is removed - or am I missing something?

Guy

Click to expand...

Special tools are specified for stripping aircon compressors. Maybe a site like Autocool have them listed. At least you can look and maybe make some.

wammers said:

Special tools are specified for stripping aircon compressors. Maybe a site like Autocool have them listed. At least you can look and maybe make some.

Click to expand...

Hi Wammers.

I only want to take the clutch off, not dismantle the compressor itself. I understand that this can be done with it in situ - there's only a centre bolt. My problem is that I can't see how to hold it in place while I undo the bolt. This is apparently quite a common fix, but none of the articles that I have read actually mention how to do this first part of the job.

Perhaps it's just so blindingly obvious that it's not worth mentioning!

I'll go and stare at it some more and see if inspiration strikes...

Guy

kooky_guy said:

Hi Wammers.

I only want to take the clutch off, not dismantle the compressor itself. I understand that this can be done with it in situ - there's only a centre bolt. My problem is that I can't see how to hold it in place while I undo the bolt. This is apparently quite a common fix, but none of the articles that I have read actually mention how to do this first part of the job.

Perhaps it's just so blindingly obvious that it's not worth mentioning!

I'll go and stare at it some more and see if inspiration strikes...

Guy

Click to expand...

There is a tool for holding the clutch whilst nut is undone. And a puller for removing clutch. Some times they come off easily some times they don't.

Oh. See what you mean now.

Spose I'd better scrub that job for today then.

Cheers

Guy

The front plate has access holes to take M6 screws. If you have a couple of long M6 bolts, screw them in and use a bar through them to enable the rotor shaft to be "Jammed". The centre bolt can then be undone. On the Sanden compressor fitted to P38's, the endplate fits onto a parallel shaft with a Woodruff key, on the one's I have removed, they have slid off fairly easily. Just make sure that the woodruff key is not dislodged on refitting, make sure it's tilted slightly downwards at the front so that the endplate slides over it when slid back on...it will realign itself during the process. The centre bolt should be retightened, but don't go overboard. Remove the holding bolts..job done!!

Thanks Irish. That sounds like it'll work.

Just got to find me some bolts! Going on holiday in a couple of weeks and I'm probably being optimistic that the weather will be good enough to warrant the air con but it'd be good to be prepared!

Guy

You could buy a length of M6 studding or allthread as some call it from your local hardware or DIY store and cut a couple of short pieces off it.
It's cheap to buy.

Irishrover said:

You could buy a length of M6 studding or allthread as some call it from your local hardware or DIY store and cut a couple of short pieces off it.
It's cheap to buy.

Click to expand...

Well, maybe not my local DIY shop. They're not called 'Fook All Are Us' for nothing.

Good thinking though. I'm sure I can find some.