Looking for good A/C manifold gauges R134a

[Lx460]

Not interested in HF, been down that road.

I don't do much A/C work but when I do, I don't want to worry about leaky valves, crappy hoses, fittings that leak, plastic knobs that snap off when you turn them, etc.

I figure for $200 I can get something good, I just don't know what brands are better. I know Snap-on sells them, but have no idea if it's just branded by somebody else or ???? Are Snap-on warranted like their other tools? I don't have a truck rep, so I'd be buying from their website.

 

[Carguy99]

Look for a set of robin air on CL. they've been around for ever. Recently I aquired my dads set, they were pretty beat up. Leaked sticky valves. Called robin air 120$ now they are like new. Converted to 134.
Best part they were my dads.

 

[jetdawg]

mastercool and robinair

 

[Jarhead0408]

I'd search eBay work a set of Robinairs'.

You can find them pretty cheap on there. I've found quite a few sets that are cheaper in price than the HF sets and that includes shipping!

 

[Ohmthis]

You can find manifolds on CL or eBay for pretty cheap. Then get a good (yellow jacket, robin air, master cool, marsh) gauges for it and a set of good hoses from these companies. I personally like yellow jacket. You can get a whole set new for around $120-160 if you shop around.

 

[atikovi]

I switched my a/c tools from Robinair to Yellow Jacket last year when I wanted to upgrade to a larger pump and found all the Robinair and Mastercool pumps were now made in China. My original USA made 15 year old Robinair pump was working great but couldn't imagine a Chinese version lasting that long so I switched to Yellow Jacket. Made in USA. Got a 4 valve version of this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yellow-Jack...H_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27eb32ce2f&vxp=mtr that does both R134A and R12 in one unit with the included hose adaptors. I even used it to top off my old R22 house central air unit.

 

[crewchief888]

i've been using a mastercool set for over 10 years.

guages have been replaced a couple times. (end up getting smashed in my service truck)

a co worker has the HF set, after replacing the disconnects with something of better quality they work fine...

 

[bonneyman]

You can find manifolds on CL or eBay for pretty cheap. Then get a good (yellow jacket, robin air, master cool, marsh) gauges for it and a set of good hoses from these companies. I personally like yellow jacket. You can get a whole set new for around $120-160 if you shop around.

This!

Here's some pics of used gauges sets before and after restoration.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Good job on those bonneyman! They look great!

I've got an older Robinair set like that. I'll have to polish it up some time.

 

[bonneyman]

Good job on those bonneyman! They look great!

I've got an older Robinair set like that. I'll have to polish it up some time.

Thanks!
Remove all the hardware, and lightly wirewheel the manifold. Then, thoroughly clean the manifold with a mild soap like Green Clean. Then apply Turtle Wax paste wax and buff like crazy!

I prefer gauges with a brass case and glass lens held in by a screw ring. A little more delicate if you drop them, but ALOT more scratch resistant then Lexan lenses and cases.
I get the local auto glass shop make me up a pair or two of the lenses special for me. About $6 a pop.

 

[jetdawg]

Lovely work there bman.

 

[bonneyman]

Lovely work there bman.

Thank you.

When I first started out in AC, I only had one set of gauges. (Think it was around $90 back then). I couldn't afford spares, so, I had to use the most durable, bomb-proof design I could find. It's only been the past 10 years or so that I started "collecting" manifold sets so I always have a spare in case I drop or step on one.

 

[bonneyman]

For the OP, I didn't think of this until now.

I don't know what pressures R134A runs at or if those specific gauges have quik release fittings on them. If not, you definitely want to install a set on whatever manifold you buy. Saves burning your fingers with liquid freon when you remove the hoses. These are the one I get for R22 - like I say, don't know if they make ones that will work on R134A fittings.

http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/y...rs-valves-and-parts/sealright-quick-couplers/

 

[Wamsutta]

bonneyman - Do you ever use the temperature scales that are on the gauges? I noticed the low side gauge has no temperature scales.