Trane Centravac Overhaul

[emcontrols]

As already mentioned there will be no money to be made unless the 25k in tools have already been paid for that doesnt include the 10k in tools to do the bearings, and 2 weeks for a first timer is extremely conservative more like 3.5 weeks and thats assuming nothing has to be sent off to be repaired, and lets not forget to rebuild the vane assemblies and a whole mess of other details that an experienced tech takes for granted. I would strongly consider the assistance of a pro at least for consulting or onsite training, it would be well worth it. As far as the UCP2 fastpak no longer available, ch531 yes just ordered one, If you want to go touch screen, change to MCS panel or custom unless you want trane to own that customer with the adaptaview. Just my 2 cents, Im a contractor so my opinions are different than the factory guys. Both are excellent choices and really depends on your needs.

[Healey Nut]

#70 is officially in the books . Fired it up today and yes still had the butterflies and the pucker factor , guess it will never go away no matter how many I do ? Anyways she was fine wound up no problem
#71 starts next week CVHE500 heat recovery machine .

[triggerhappy]

#70 is officially in the books . Fired it up today and yes still had the butterflies and the pucker factor , guess it will never go away no matter how many I do ? Anyways she was fine wound up no problem
#71 starts next week CVHE500 heat recovery machine .

Healey now you have me thinking and doing a little figuring of my own.

Are you only counting bearing inspection or what??

If it is a duplex and both ckts. are done is that one or two??

[Healey Nut]

Healey now you have me thinking and doing a little figuring of my own.

Are you only counting bearing inspection or what??

If it is a duplex and both ckts. are done is that one or two??

Im counting based on every chiller that I have pulled apart completely.
It could be a straight forward bearing/internal inspection or a motor failure, a conversion or just plain bad leaker that needed regasketing or even a new centravac that came down to the bare bones to get it in the machine room .
A duplex to me is two chillers .

[triggerhappy]

Ok.
I have been getting alot of brg. inspections on duplex machines the last few years. In my area they are getting of the age to regasket. It is a little long in one place for me but what the heck.

My longest job was a few years ago I rolled into a plant ( I literally mean rolled into. They let me drive the truck in the plant and park at the end of each chiller) and did brg. insp./regasket on seven CVHE1280's in a row. Spent the better part of the winter there.

But like you said it was very nice inside, the boilers were in the same plant and it was nice and toasty warm but not to hot. Tshirt weather.

[milkyway]

I think the gantry alone is 5 k. Then you will need
Chain fall minimum 2, torque wrench- spanner wrench, Dolly's, impact , larger sockets,
And if your doing bearings, your gonna be in real trouble . Referring to the rear motor bearings that are pressed together.

As already mentioned there will be no money to be made unless the 25k in tools have already been paid for that doesnt include the 10k in tools to do the bearings, and 2 weeks for a first timer is extremely conservative more like 3.5 weeks and thats assuming nothing has to be sent off to be repaired, and lets not forget to rebuild the vane assemblies and a whole mess of other details that an experienced tech takes for granted. I would strongly consider the assistance of a pro at least for consulting or onsite training, it would be well worth it. As far as the UCP2 fastpak no longer available, ch531 yes just ordered one, If you want to go touch screen, change to MCS panel or custom unless you want trane to own that customer with the adaptaview. Just my 2 cents, Im a contractor so my opinions are different than the factory guys. Both are excellent choices and really depends on your needs.

[milkyway]

Ok.
I have been getting alot of brg. inspections on duplex machines the last few years. In my area they are getting of the age to regasket. It is a little long in one place for me but what the heck.

My longest job was a few years ago I rolled into a plant ( I literally mean rolled into. They let me drive the truck in the plant and park at the end of each chiller) and did brg. insp./regasket on seven CVHE1280's in a row. Spent the better part of the winter there.

But like you said it was very nice inside, the boilers were in the same plant and it was nice and toasty warm but not to hot. Tshirt weather.

When you say bearing inspection what exactly are you referring to, motor bearings, ? Or does a bearing inspection require more that that? Such as gas removal and such?

[triggerhappy]

I do not beleive that I have ever seen a open drive Trane Centravac.

[Nuclrchiller]

Once saw an open drive CenTraVac that had been converted from steam turbine to electric motor. Was used for backup, and had not been run in a long time. It was in a plant that had been converted from steam to electrical. Large absorption chillers had already been replaced by centrifugals, and this one was the last to go. Might have already been taken out of service when I saw it. It was due to be replaced soon. That was at least 25 years ago. It was a two stage machine, I think a benchgrinder, but not sure at all.

[humbled daily]

I am with these guys on this, stay away, risk management would tell you risks far outweighs the rewards on this. As far as the butterflies are stated, you must include one long sleepless night before the early mourning butterflies set in.

[Otis201]

We have contractors all the time who want to sell overhauls but neither have the experience or equipment to do the job so they hire us to provide rigging and buy blocks of hours for labor, 80, 100, 120 or what not. They are responsible for recovering refrigerant, evacuating chiller, charging chiller,insulation, clean up, parts, etc. We do the overhaul and that's it. They can watch and learn and help where they can. But they take on all the liability for warranty. Somehow they are able to sell it this way and still make money I suppose.

[milkyway]

And those sleepless nights and the butterflies will want to make you go jump off a bridge.,
But if u think that's bad, if that thing scrambles ,. May as well shoot your self !!!

I am with these guys on this, stay away, risk management would tell you risks far outweighs the rewards on this. As far as the butterflies are stated, you must include one long sleepless night before the early mourning butterflies set in.

[humbled daily]

You know, after reading all the above stress, risks and worry time, makes me wonder why we choose this trade anyway.

[RichardL]

I do not beleive that I have ever seen a open drive Trane Centravac.

The largest "Open Drive Centravacs" I have worked on were (6) Model # (OCV) were the original chillers installed @ Disney World in Orlando. Driven by GE-J47 jet engines with flexible shaft from the engines gearbox to the compressor. With only one set of vanes on the first stage, they would only unload to 40% of rated tonnage. Most failed within first year due to wear at tube supports in the evaporator. I do remember a VERY heated discussion with Tranes chief design engineer (Andy M.) as he assured to All present (Loudly) that Tranes tubes were rolled (expanded) at the supports and wear at the support could not happen...I snatched out a half a dozen tubes and requested an apology or a copper suppository was about to be administered. I never received an apology and as calmness set in, I forgot about the suppository statement.

[Nuclrchiller]

The bench racing is usually over once Richard joins in...

[RichardL]

The bench racing is usually over once Richard joins in...

I'm sorry Billy.....Even tho' I am retired (Fully) I still enjoy reading the wise posts here put up by those far more adept now than I ever was.
Guys such as yourself that are willing to share their knowledge truly fascinate me to the fullest. My hat is off to each and every one that posts here for making this Ol' poots day a little brighter. My "Brothers-in Arms" make me very proud of our chosen profession.

[Nuclrchiller]

I'm sorry Billy.....Even tho' I am retired (Fully) I still enjoy reading the wise posts here put up by those far more adept now than I ever was.
Guys such as yourself that are willing to share their knowledge truly fascinate me to the fullest. My hat is off to each and every one that posts here for making this Ol' poots day a little brighter. My "Brothers-in Arms" make me very proud of our chosen profession.

My last post was meant entirely in friendly jest, so no apology needed Richard. And I feel the same way about this site. Your posts are among those I look forward to reading. They are not only informative, but your writing style puts a smile on my face.

[triggerhappy]

The bench racing is usually over once Richard joins in...

Awwww.... and we were having so much fun.

Maybe now we can see who has the biggest.......

[txhvac]

My last post was meant entirely in friendly jest, so no apology needed Richard. And I feel the same way about this site. Your posts are among those I look forward to reading. They are not only informative, but your writing style puts a smile on my face.

Agreed!

[bcgnet]

You know, after reading all the above stress, risks and worry time, makes me wonder why we choose this trade anyway.

agreed..i ask myself this almost every day...i've done 20+ teardowns. never scrambled one but i did have an impeller rub on my very first one as lead tech. i didn't center a diffuser plate and was too green to check the radial on the impeller going back together. spun great by hand, but at start up when the shaft lifted.. a sound that wakes me from a dead sleep to this day. i was lucky and damage was minor but i did have to go back in. as far as the "pucker" factor...i'm puckering just typing about it..if you're not nervous when you push the button, then you have no soul