TXV

[Dowadudda]

I have been fortunate to come across some medium size grocery work as of late and have been going through things with a fine tooth comb. Basically these stores are a mess but they are becoming straightened out. What I did when I first encountered this work was become overwhelmed, but now what I am doing is, every call that comes in I try to tackle just a bit more, dig a little for something else. And it has been going okay. But what my question is.

WHO THE )*&^%$#@!@#$%^&**(() is cranking on these TXV's.

Leave them the !@#$% alone.

Every god %&(%^(^ valve be it a TX, a holdback, a diff, a epr, all set wrong.

I hated the valve setting class in junior high. Cause I am an impatient person. but lately, I am having to relearn patience.

[Dad]

hey dow


Had many boxes the same way. All it takes is one tech that has worked at these same locations for a couple of years. Every time you go to a new box you find the same thing over and over.

Frustrating at best but you know what to expect and you are ready to give a fix.

[smilies]

Because there are not enough market techs and co's hire anyone. Then "anyone" opens up txv to get cases colder because that's what this other guy did on this other call. Days or weeks later, on call, whole lineups are warm. 4 hours later leak is located and gas is added and journeyman goes home. I know I'm rambling but that's what happens here. Seems like low liquid=open txv & epr.

[R12rules]

Last Spring I worked with a company who were market only. They took over a chain of stores In Austin and all of the ice cream cases were the same way, TX valves had been fiddled with!

Every time You saw the store manager, he asked when his ice cream was gonna come down in temp!

It simply took time to work out all the major bugs. And the way those valves were adjusted, they WERE the major bug!


But there is also another factor. The market man himself.
And I am talking about a good market man, not some flunky.


We were working late one night on a FF line, hose and all. Finally got the ice to disapear and all the fans turning. Got the freon feeding once again and noticed the temp slowly drop back down.

However, it was NOT coming down evenly across all five cases. AND .... one of those cases was not droping very much at all.


Me being the low man on the food chain, I decided to throw my two cents worth out there.
I sugested we open theinlet screen and see if the TX was even feeding refrigerant. Versus making countless adjustments to the thing.

The other guy sent me out to fetch a new valve while he isolated this circuit and pumped it down.

I figured at the worst, it was a power head. But probably just the inlet screen was dirty.



This guy was positive the valve needed replacing since it wasnt feeding.
I didnt know more than this guy did, I just knew something differently than he did.

It was the inlet screen.
Once cleaned the case dropped so rapidly we were heading out the door before we knew it.



So go figure.
This guy was SHARP! But he had a very bad habbit.


Dow, you got your work cut out for yourself!

[Freezeking2000]

Yea r-12 and Dow..who always f%%$$##s with the txv valves. I would do just as you said r-12. I almost never played with the valve, if i did it was 1/2 turn only.

And valves almost never go bad only screens and power heads.

[Dowadudda]

I always check my screensn before I suspect the valve. And too I need my full column too.

Most cases you can shut the liquid down right then and then just pop the screen out and take a look. No need to go pump out that circuit. I do it all the time.

[shaka]

I Worked with a guy several years back, Every call he went to. He would start adjusting the valve. I called him Mr Superheat. I guess he fixed a unit once that way, So he think every call the valve needs adjusting.

Dow maybe he moved in your area?

I feel the same way about those guys because they just make our work a lot harder

But sometimes when they mess something up real bad and they keep having a call back, and when you show up and fix everything that also make you a HERO. Sometimes that feels good and I thank the hack for it.

[NedFlanders]

I worked with a guy like that

Every call either had a bad TXV or needed a superheat adjustment. I used to call him "captain superheat"

[shaun66]

i only service supermarkets, never a need to adjust the TEV.
The only time i adjust them is when i commission the supermarket, have all the techs trained no to adjust them after i have started the store up.
if i see a work order with a TEV adjustment on it, i give the tech ****

[frozensolid]

It would not be surprising to find out, that those suction outlets never had a temp probe, or pressure gage on them before you got there Dow. The positive is this. After you tune that store to where it should be. The electrical savings alone, will make you very desirable to your customer.

Quality never goes out of style.

[Dowadudda]

I am a tuner at heart more than I am anything else. Nothing better than grooving on some work you put into something. I like tight temps. Tight pressures. Purrin like a kitten.

[R12rules]

Originally posted by Dowadudda
I am a tuner at heart more than I am anything else. Nothing better than grooving on some work you put into something. I like tight temps. Tight pressures. Purrin like a kitten.

This would be hog-heaven! However, the two major market chains in my area are low-ballers!

Both outfits which are contracted to service them are quite capable to do nice work. However, they're hands are tied.
Sad story but true.

So there is NO tuning being done presently! And corp dont seem to care, as long as the stores are online and the managers dont gripe!


During the short life I had inside markets here, my work was doing three things; add gas, change units fix leaks. Oh ... and change contactors!




That is not market work. That is simply putting a band-aid on a gun shot wound!
Although the sedcond outfit was much better than the first about finding and fixing extras while on site.

[frozensolid]

R-12 if it is really as bad as you say in those stores, this could be a great opportunity. All you have to do is make one right, and they will see the difference.

[Dowadudda]

It is indeed bad. It's sure not like it use to be. But. If you are under contract. It's in your best interest to spend some time tuning up front. And be organized about it. I will usually play with a store for about a week or so. And all my settings, all my notes, all my potential disasters, all my unique and also average parts, all this info is compiled into a simple, in fact very simple spread sheet(s) in an organized folder on my laptop. Those notes get built more and more over time. I can't tell you how many times those notes have saved my a$$ in the middle of the night. A quick example being something as simple as a what is on a certain circuit from the floor to the rack. You could not imagine how screwed up store maps can get after about ten remodels. Personally, and it's because I am an ass, I don't write the correct info on the rack. It's in my secret notes. I compete.

R12. I know how you feel though. Hey, just relax. You aint going to fight this all by yourself. And personally, I think things will open up in about 3 more years. And we will all be rich again.

[Wannamakeice]

whats scary is the fact that these techs dont know how to adjust a txv ~ if ~ it did need it, let alone diagnose one .:rollseyes:

[270wsm]

Been doing lil market refrigeration for the past year. I have never adjusted any TXV. Almost always the screen. Anyone have any advice or tips for a newby in the market world?

[condenseddave]

Search the site using the word "racks". You'll be busy for awhile.

[cctrol]

the dumbest thing I have come across, was this.

Some idiot had been partially closing the suction line ball valves on the rack, apparently to 'adjust' the suction pressure and control the circuit temperature.