Hi

How are will this project be? Should it be attempted?

1985 740 Turbo Intercooler runs great after sitting for two years. R-12 seeped out of the system. I had it recharged and when the clutch pulley was engaged it sounded awful. Really loud knocking. After 10 minutes or so the cool air stopped and so did the noisy knocking. later on in the day the clutch engaged and then the clutch pulley bearing must have seized. Smoke came out of the clutch pulley assembly.

I don't want to drain the system and replace the entire compressor if possible. I bought a black light and put on some UV sunglasses and couldn't find any leaks in the system. I had dye put in with the recharge. The question is can I pull the clutch pulley without releasing any R-12 and should I bother buying a new clutch pulley? How can I determine if the compressor shaft siezed along with the clutch pulley or if it was just the pulley.

I think after I pull the face plate to the compressor all I need to do is pop off the snap ring and then pull the rest of the clutch pulley. I'm on a tight budget so detailed help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds

Hi it sounds as if the compressor has seized internally. Perhaps the lubricating oil leaked out with the R12 over a long period of time (years). If you can turn the outer part of the clutch by hand then the compressor is not seized internally. If you can't easily turn the outer part then you need a new compressor. Will the engine turn the compressor pulley without noise and smoke? If yes then it's not the pulley. The outer part engages the pulley when the clutch coil creates an electromagnetic field and pulls the flexible outer shoe inwards to engage the pulley. You don't need to remove the freon to service the clutch but in your case I think you need a compressor.

Not sure which compressor yours has, butmost can replace the clutch/bearing assembly on the car, but chances are the compressor is siezed up. Either way, it may be cheaper to buy a new compressor. If yours has a sanden/ seltec or diesel kiki you can get a complete new sanden 709 here : http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/compressors.html
for not much more than a new clutch assembly and puller/ installer tools and your compressor problems will be done with.
If your old compressor siezed, make sure to flush the lines good.
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-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '82 Mercedes 300SD