help with compressor clutch

[stuckthrottle]

The compressor clutch on my ac went out a few months ago. The system is still pressurized and the compressor turns (if I try to turn it by hand). But some rubber material from inside the clutch assy melted off. I'm hoping that all I need to replace is the clutch. Do I need special tools to do this? Maybe something like this: http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=EVP&MfrPartNumber=0600&CategoryCode=3569 ?

Thanks.

 

[CJF]

Should just need a *good* set of snap ring pliers, I think...

Curtis

 

[stuckthrottle]

Thanks Curtis.

So basically its just that center bolt and a snap ring holding the pulley/clutch on?

 

[Rookie2]

Should just need a *good* set of snap ring pliers, I think...

Curtis

Correct. The snap ring is pretty hard to get at with the compressor bolted in place, so you may find it easier to unbolt the compressor. Hopefully your clutch will come off with a few light taps. Mine wasn't coming off so I had to get more aggressive with the taps and ended up breaking off the lip on the end of the nose cone of the compressor. So I bought a remaned compressor with magnetic clutch for about $250.

Tap it to loosen it some, then try to wiggle and work it off by hand would be my suggestion on going about getting it off.


Rookie2

 

[stuckthrottle]

sweet! thanks guys.

 

[Rogorn]

I replaced two magnetic clutches on my daughter's Camry. (Why two? see below...)

A "jawed puller" had to be used to get the "melted" clutch/pulley/coil assembly off once the center bolt was removed.

After that, it took buying 2 more sets of snap ring pliers (I had one set already) to get a pair that would let me get a good grip on the ring and the plier tips were deep enough.

Why 2 clutches?

I did not get the snap ring seated properly on the first replacement. It seemed like it was a good fit, but under load the snap ring slipped out of the groove. When that happened, it allowed the clutch to wobble slip and spin which in turn sheared the wire lead to the coil.

In the end, I had to take a "jewelers file" and slightly clean up the groove so the new snap ring would seat properly. It could be that some of the old "melted" material from the old coil had flowed into the groove. I couldn't see in very well as the compressor was still in the engine compartment. I was able to unbolt the compressor and move it a few inches to get enough room to work on the clutch.

Good luck.

 

[stuckthrottle]

Thanks, I'll be sure to be extra careful when reinstalling (if I'm able to remove it in the first place )

 

[stuckthrottle]

I managed to remove the bolt and I'm guessing what is the pressure plate off the clutch. I'm now trying to remove the pulley but it wont come off. There seems to be a lip on the race/spindle part of compressor that stops the pulley from sliding off. I can't find any snap rings to remove either. Is the snap ring tiny and way in there? Also, from a scale of 1 though 10, how concerned should I be with that green looking oil/sludge that's in there? Last time I checked, the system still had full pressure.



please help and thanks.

 

[stuckthrottle]

So that lip I was talking about, It didn't like being pryed on and snapped off. After that the pulley slid right off and then I saw the snap ring that was holding the magnet-esque? inner hub.
I installed the new clutch and now my AC works, yay! .
However, I did notice that the inner part of the compressor is always turning. I thought the 'clutch' was supposed to disengage the inner part/compressor when in off??? Perhaps I over tightened the inner bolt? Either way I pulled the belt off just to be safe until I get clarification. Also, I the clutch came with two snap rings. A larger one that holds the innermost hub and smaller one which was left over because I couldn't find where to put it.

Any Ideas?

 

[CJF]

You *really* need a factory repair manual. Yes, there's at least one snap ring that you probably blew through, and if I recall correctly (I don't have your year), there are indeed two involved when replacing the clutch. And yes again, the compressor should not be engaged when the A/C's off, and not even all the time when the A/C's on. Curtis

 

[Rogorn]

Perhaps I over tightened the inner bolt?
Any Ideas?

There is gap clearance between the pressure plate and the clutch. There should have been some shims (tiny washers) supplied for this. I suppose the old ones could be reused.

It was difficult for me to measure the gap once the clutch was reassembled (tight but not torqued). What I did was take a small piece of "scotch tape" and tape a flat feeler gauge to the plate. Reassemble and listen for dragging noises.

I recall the fastener (bolt) also has a torque spec.

 

[stuckthrottle]

Thanks ROGORN,

There was indeed a tiny shim stack included in the kit. I triple stacked it without checking. I'm now glad I pulled the belt off. I've already purchased a repair book, just waiting for delivery.

Thanks again.

 

[Rogorn]

a tiny shim stack included in the kit. I triple stacked it without checking

In my case, it was the proverbial "one's too few" and "three's much too many", but two wasn't perfect...

At three, the magnetic clutch would not engage. So, two it was!

I've been holding back... here's the worst part of my little headache:
six weeks later the compressor froze up (and of course, burned out the new clutch!)

So, I'm guessing the compressor was going bad all along and I (hoping to save BIG bucks) took the obvious remedy and crossed my fingers...

But, those added few weeks got us to the end of summer...

 

[Rookie2]

So that lip I was talking about, It didn't like being pryed on and snapped off.

So are you talking about the lip on the nose cone of the compressor? If so that's what happened to me. If it's broken off, how are you able to reuse that compressor?


Rookie2

PS.. the snap ring is a little hard to see, especially if you have dust (like brake dust) built up on that area. Blow it out with conpressed are and the snap ring becomes easily seen.

 

[stuckthrottle]

I'm not quite sure. I'm waiting on the repair manual to arrive so i can see how it was really supposed to look. Did the lip hold one of the snap rings also? I can only guess that the other snap ring would rest there to hold the pulley in place. If so, I'm screwed because I just assembled everything together and the only thing holding the pulley and outer part together is that small bolt that needs shimming.

 

[Rookie2]

I'm not quite sure. I'm waiting on the repair manual to arrive so i can see how it was really supposed to look. Did the lip hold one of the snap rings also? I can only guess that the other snap ring would rest there to hold the pulley in place. If so, I'm screwed because I just assembled everything together and the only thing holding the pulley and outer part together is that small bolt that needs shimming.

I don't remember there being multiple snap rings, just the one that holds the magnet clutch onto the compressor nose cone. The nose cone on the compressor has a grove around it towards the tip of the cone. The main snap ring seats in that grove to hold the magnetic clutch on. The piece I broke off was the small part left from the grove out to the very tip of the cone. I think the compressors are made out of aluminum or a very soft metal, because it didn't take much to break it.

:Beer:
Rookie2