Compressor Failure

**$_aei** · 06-25-2008, 06:48 PM

Replaced compressor and Reversing valve on 3 ton Gibson. Pilot line broke off on valve and compressor shorted starting with no R-22. Now 2 mos later the compressor sounds like it has a mouth full of marbles. How much bad luck can one customer have?
I added a bi flow dryer not on orginal install, used Nitrogen during reassembly
pulled a good vaccum ( with micron gage attached ) am I overlooking something?or is it just bad luck?

**beenthere** · 06-25-2008, 06:51 PM

Might want to put a filter in the vapor line between accumilator and compressor next time.

**$_aei** · 06-25-2008, 07:14 PM

I have never seen a filter in suction line, The unit seems to have a bad bearing in the compressor, would any debree that happens to make it throught the accum. cause bearing failure?

**iraqveteran** · 06-25-2008, 07:19 PM

first thing you need to do is find out what killed the first compressor!!!

If you don't have that knowledge, how can you prevent it from happening again???

**beenthere** · 06-25-2008, 08:09 PM

It use to be very common to install a filter in the vapor line between the accumilator and compressor.

The RV may have left a lot of moisture get under the oil in the accumilator.
Yes trash can gt to the bearings.

**beenthere** · 06-25-2008, 08:12 PM

It use to be very common to install a filter in the vapor line between the accumilator and compressor.

The RV may have left a lot of moisture get under the oil in the accumilator.
Yes trash can gt to the bearings.

**bmathews** · 06-25-2008, 08:16 PM

I'll put a suction line drier right before it goes into the compressor if it was a bad burnout. Especially on a heat pump. You need to check the entire system very well to determine what might have caused the compressor to go out so soon again. Somethings going on. It might have been a bunk compressor, probably not, but you never know. I got a bunk replacement compressor once. Changed it again after checking out system and haven't been back in 4 years for the compressor.

**billva** · 06-25-2008, 08:26 PM

What kind of data can you provide from the first change out?

**$_aei** · 06-25-2008, 08:42 PM

I didn't install this unit , just ended up with it . The unit is a 12 seer Gibson Heat pump. I'm not certain why the unit was replaced, HO said they replaced line sets , really didn't look that way to me. I saw plenty of problems I really didn't like with the install , no Biflow dryer, return too small , disconect not very safe. orginal failure pilot line broke off Reversing valve, ( gibson/ nordine seems to have had a problem with that , unit tried to start with no R-22 compressor shouts out, I replaced details in first post, now 2 mos later compressor seems to have a bad bearing.

**beenthere** · 06-25-2008, 08:44 PM

Could just be coincidence. Might still be part of the original problem. Could be slugging because of teh poor return. Washed out oil maybe.

**$_aei** · 06-25-2008, 09:04 PM

I changed the Return @ 1st Failure, I'm not going to knowing leave a problem with any unit unless the HO just refuses my advice. I just want to be as certain as I can that its not something I may have overlooked that caused the compress to fail, first times kinda straight forward, compressors short out when started with no r-22, the second, maybe just a crappy compressor, not common of a Copeland Scroll But still possible, just trying to do all that I can to insure it doesn't reoccure.

**udarrell** · 06-25-2008, 09:07 PM

I installed a lot of suction line filter/dryers in my day. I used to change out a lot of compressors in those days, largely due to improper installs, by the super fast install guys.

Maybe the piping needs evaluating for proper oil return to the compressor.
Every possible compressor failure cause should be checked out.