Trane Heat Exchanger

[hands]

I have a heat exchanger to replace in a 12 1/2 ton Trane YCD RTU. This will be my first Trane HX, but I have changed many other HX's in York, Carrier and Lennox RTU's. The shipping weight of the HX is 375 lbs. My question is, can four guys change it without a crane and is there any tricks I should know on getting the old one out and the new one in?

[yellowirenut]

this just the HX or the entire kit...gas valve blower and all?
how tall is the building?

[y7turbo]

crane to the roof then 2 guys can get it to the unit and install it.

thats how we do all voyager HX's except for the small 5 tons units.

[Southern Mech]

2 guys and a crane, same cost as 4 guy's and breaking backs and cussing, make it easy on yourself. work smarter not harder.

[chill67]

Did two this week. As stated before, crane to the roof and 2 men to remove & install. Our heat exchangers came with combustion motor & gas valve installed already. Hardest part of the job was fighting the ice on the roof.

[Southern Mech]

Did two this week. As stated before, crane to the roof and 2 men to remove & install. Our heat exchangers came with combustion motor & gas valve installed already. Hardest part of the job was fighting the ice on the roof.

yeah that's always fun, run up to the unit and hang on or you slide 5 ft away.

[dandyme]

HX will probably be less than 100 lbs

the crate it comes in probably 275 lbs

[just_opinion]

HX will probably be less than 100 lbs

the crate it comes in probably 275 lbs

Hey man. They gotta make money some how. Freight

[hands]

The reason I said four guys is because there are two heat exchangers to replace. The other one is a small five ton RTU and the customer wants them both done the same day when they have a shutdown next week. The building is around 25' to 28' high, but they have a scissors lift we can use. I figured four guys could get both HX's on the roof and then split up with two guys on each unit and all four could work on removing and installing the big one if needed. Looks like the top and back of the units need to come off along with a few hundred screws. The local Trane only sells the kits, HX, gas valve, combustion blower, hot surface igniter and high limit.
Thanks for all of the replies.

[chill67]

No need to remove top of unit, just a few screws on top at combustion motor end. Lift top about 1" & keep there with 2 x 4 or something. Remove hx at slight angle & reinstall at slight angle to clear sheet metal offset on right hand side. We discovered it is best to leave the upper panel with mesh screen off until hx burns off. 1st one we fired partially clogged mesh screens with what appeared to be melted plastic.
Hope this helps!

[hands]

We changed out both heat exchangers today. Used a crane to get them on the roof and the old ones down. We had to remove the top and back panels of both units. The 5 ton unit was harder to do than the 12 1/2 ton unit.

[yellowirenut]

a crane to get the old ones down...hmmm interesting concept.

[y7turbo]

a crane to get the old ones down...hmmm interesting concept.

Some places dont look kindly on letting gravity remove the heat exchangers from the roof.

[cperk]

Some places dont look kindly on letting gravity remove the heat exchangers from the roof.

But it's so fun watching them hit the ground!

[Southern Mech]

a crane to get the old ones down...hmmm interesting concept.

crane is there, might as well use for what you paid for.

[y7turbo]

But it's so fun watching them hit the ground!

yes it is..