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Re: bomb recharge thread, more



Mike Arman wrote:

> The points here are follows (summary of thread to date):
>
> 1. No danger of drilling dead bomb, assuming normal precautions taken.
>
> Drilling is recommended disposal procedure anyway.

Agreed.

> 2. Handling of 2,000 psi nitrogen is not a problem.

Agreed... if you've got a MIG welding setup, you've already got a nice
tank of nitrogen... see below.

> 3. Need to determine fill point, valve configuration and installation.

Since the shell of the bomb is not thick enough to thread, Whatever you
attach your gas line to will have to be welded onto the bomb, or screwed
into a threaded boss that is welded onto the bomb.  Even if you do not
need to/intend to cut the bomb open to get at the diaphragm, you'll
still have some welding to do.

>
>
> 4. How long will the fix last? Have to try some and see. Best outcome
> would
> be seven more years. Worst outcome would be not at all.

I replied to Phil & Judy Rose directly, and noted that most bomb's I've
changed have lasted even longer... 8-12 years.I agree that the gas could
slowly seep away through the diaphragm (provided it is rubber,) into the
hydraulic system, but I don't think this rate is linear.  Consider  how
your hydraulic hoses and oil cooler lines degrade with age-- oil is not
good for rubber, even synthetic rubber.  Rubber hoses, and gaskets
become increasingly porous with age when left in long term contact with
oil, so I'd not expect a recharged bomb to last very long if the old
diaphragm is still in place.

> 5. Other problems may exist in a particular bomb besides nitrogen
> leak-down. Some will not be repairable.

Amen brutha... and this won't be apparent just by inspecting them.  You
won't know until after you remove it, repair/recharge it, and reinstall
it.  Now THAT's gambling... but gambling IS fun.  (I'd BET that phrase
"close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades" came first from the
lips of a poker player with reference to an ALMOST good enough hand.
I'd be more inclined to play poker or horseshoes than gamble with this
particular "grenade."  I don't particularly enjoy doing repair jobs more
than once, or driving around with dangerous brakes.)

> >
> >Good luck!
> >
> >Eric Maxon "The Manicured Mechanic"
>
> Eric, your "Good luck!" is appreciated, even though I somehow don't
> think
> that is how you intended it (grin). That's OK, though, I promise not
> to be
> insulted or start a flame-fest. There is the distinct possibility that
> this
> will turn out not to be possible, but at least we will have looked at
> it
> before doing what the dealers want us to do - buy a new everything -
> fix
> nothing - throw it all away without even trying. I do note that you
> have a
> few bad bombs lying around - I doubt that you just have them around
> because
> you're making a collection of them  . . . you must have something in
> mind,
> or you'd just throw them out. (wink wink nudge nudge)

The "good luck" was in earnest-- If someone ELSE can weld and has the
MIG setup, (I can't and I don't,) and they want to try welding a fitting
onto a bomb, and they don't mind replacing their bomb AGAIN if this
doesn't work, I say go for it.  If I tried it, I'd only end up with a
mess and a headache.

With respect to the dealership mentality of replace everything, that is
not at all what I'm about-- precisely why I clean injectors instead of
selling new ones for $50-$80 each.  When I CAN fix something, and it's
economically feasable to do so, I do it.  When I'm working on my own
cars, I'm much more likely to fix something as opposed to replacing it,
since I'm not paying my hourly rate!  Remember that my customers pay for
my labor, and if it's going to take me an hour to fix a $25 part, it's
not worth it to do so.  Even at $250 for the new part, I STILL don't
think it's going to prove worthwhile in the long run to recharge them.
Consider that you're going to lose about 1/2 a quart of CHF in the
process of chaning the bomb, you're going to have to replace the rubber
o-rings or copper washers on the high pressure lines at the bomb,
(dealer only... I've tried to find them elsewhere.. no luck,) and you or
I are going to spend an hour at this task.  If the bomb either doesn't
work the first time, or fails in a matter of months instead of years,
this whole exercise will have been a waste.

ABOUT FACE!

Winks and nudges well taken... sometime soon my 5000's bomb will fail,
and that will be the signal for me to try cleaning out the check valves
of one of these old bombs.  So, after all of my ranting, I will try this
on my own car, and let everyone know how it goes.

I will also be experimenting over the next few months with rebuilding
hydraulic pumps and doing R134a conversions on 4000's and 5000's-- both
of interest to all of us-- I WILL post the results.

Fun discussion Mike... I should have gotten involved in this group
sooner... now I'm avoiding my work!

Eric Maxon
Chicago, IL.

>
>
> It is also possible that I'm doing this because I just like to fix
> things
> (where possible). Heck, I've got an Audi, right? I've fixed all sorts
> of
> strange stuff, from a Bulova Accutron wristwatch (the one with the
> tuning
> fork) to doing a brake job on a DC-7 - 128 brake pads on multi-disc
> brakes
> - to fixing VGA monitors, and I install my own multi-line phone
> systems,
> KSU and all. It's just a HOBBY - my business is international finance
> (commercial plug!).
>
> With best regards,
>
> Mike Arman