GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Came across a used Snap-on PolarTek A/C Machine. Wondering if this machine is worth buying for home use? Asking price $3,000 USD.
Used Snap-on PolarTek A/C Machine- worth buying?
- Thread starter GON
- Start date
Snap on does not make the internal parts. I believe robinair does. Robinair quality is all over the map. Some units are great sand others are nothing but trouble.
Depending on how many cars you plan on servicing it might be a good deal for you. It uses the 30 Lb cylinders and those are regulated here in California.
Gotta have a business license to buy one.
Depending on how many cars you plan on servicing it might be a good deal for you. It uses the 30 Lb cylinders and those are regulated here in California.
Gotta have a business license to buy one.
This would be for servicing auto and home a/c, right?
Can you identify a payback period? I'm not sure what car a/c repair costs, but it seems random. House a/c is probably the same. But still, how many repairs would you have to do to break even?
Can you identify a payback period? I'm not sure what car a/c repair costs, but it seems random. House a/c is probably the same. But still, how many repairs would you have to do to break even?
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Appears to be manufactured in 2019.
I have been watching videos of different machines on youtube, I am starting to wonder of the newest machines have technology that makes using the machine easier than older dated machines.
This is the machine that is for sale on Facebook for $3,000 USD.
I think there is more to servicing your car's A/C than just buying a A/C service machine. There is training and other tools needed.
It takes up space. Most car A/C system work without any need for service for many years assuming no accidents. If the A/C needs service then probably something has leaked and that needs to be repaired before using the machine.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Challenge I have is finding competent technicians to work on vehicles, and this also goes for working on vehicle AC systems.
The late model AC machines are reportedly very efficient, effective, and seamless in servicing automotive AC systems. I have watched numerous videos, and feel capable of doing vehicle AC service, especially with the aide of one of these machines.
I just made a $2500 USD offer on a 2023 built Robinair 34788NI. A Seller has one and states it was used just for vacuum testing in a lab.
Additionally, this one of many videos available that discuss the operations of this machine. Looks easy to use for someone who takes the time to get educated prior to use of the machine:
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Hasty update.
Came across a Brand new Robinair 34988NI A/C Machine, Seller asking $6,000. I suspect the Seller is a freight (loss) broker. I offered $4,000 out the door, he came back at $4,500 plus tax, I told him $4,000 out the door, we shall see.
A good deal at $4,000, but not a great deal. This model has a handful of options, which raise the price over the base model. I am not looking for options, just a rock solid late model unit. I learned Robinair is owned by Bosch, which I take as a plus.
The new Robinair 34988NI Premium A/C Machine combines ease of use and superior accuracy. It recovers, recycles, evacuates, leak tests and recharges R-134a vehicle systems quickly and accurately. The fully automatic function will recover, vacuum, leak test and charge on its own without the need to stand and monitor the machine. The product is fully SAE J2788 compliant and exceeds the requirements for charge accuracy and recovery efficiency. Robinair's patented automatic refrigerant refill feature maintains a user-selectable amount of refrigerant in the internal vessel and signals when it’s time to change supply tank, no monitoring required.
The 34988NI will automatically add oil if necessary using load cells that measure the amount of oil removed from the system and automatically putting the right amount of A/C lubricant back into the system, make the 34988NI the only true fully automatic machine available today. The new 34988NI now comes with two separate oil inject bottles so two different types of oil can be stored and injected making it easy and convenient as technicians service different vehicles. A large, easy-to-read color display and a printer are standard upgrades on the new 34988NI. It also has the capability to inject UV dye into the vehicle's A/C system for leak detection and making any future maintenance easier. An optional refrigerant charge and oil capacities database is available for North American market vehicles which saves time from having to look up unknown charge amounts.
Keep your machine operating with 34724 replacement filters or 13172 maintenance kits.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Accessories:
Came across a Brand new Robinair 34988NI A/C Machine, Seller asking $6,000. I suspect the Seller is a freight (loss) broker. I offered $4,000 out the door, he came back at $4,500 plus tax, I told him $4,000 out the door, we shall see.
A good deal at $4,000, but not a great deal. This model has a handful of options, which raise the price over the base model. I am not looking for options, just a rock solid late model unit. I learned Robinair is owned by Bosch, which I take as a plus.
The new Robinair 34988NI Premium A/C Machine combines ease of use and superior accuracy. It recovers, recycles, evacuates, leak tests and recharges R-134a vehicle systems quickly and accurately. The fully automatic function will recover, vacuum, leak test and charge on its own without the need to stand and monitor the machine. The product is fully SAE J2788 compliant and exceeds the requirements for charge accuracy and recovery efficiency. Robinair's patented automatic refrigerant refill feature maintains a user-selectable amount of refrigerant in the internal vessel and signals when it’s time to change supply tank, no monitoring required.
The 34988NI will automatically add oil if necessary using load cells that measure the amount of oil removed from the system and automatically putting the right amount of A/C lubricant back into the system, make the 34988NI the only true fully automatic machine available today. The new 34988NI now comes with two separate oil inject bottles so two different types of oil can be stored and injected making it easy and convenient as technicians service different vehicles. A large, easy-to-read color display and a printer are standard upgrades on the new 34988NI. It also has the capability to inject UV dye into the vehicle's A/C system for leak detection and making any future maintenance easier. An optional refrigerant charge and oil capacities database is available for North American market vehicles which saves time from having to look up unknown charge amounts.
Keep your machine operating with 34724 replacement filters or 13172 maintenance kits.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Accessories:
- Upgrade your machine with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability with 80211VCI Wireless Master Kit. The kit includes a USB Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter and software update SD card to enhance your machine. After installed, use the included OBDII dongle and refrigerant capacity database to read VIN, YMME and automatically pull refrigerant and oil capacities.
- After your machine is upgraded, add the 80212 2-pack Bluetooth Temperature Probes to read and display multiple vent temperatures. Vent temps can be added to before and after service reports, confirming a repair and recording temperature differences.
- For temp probes only, purchase the 80211TMP Wi-Fi/Temperatures Probes Master Kit, which includes the same USB/Wi-Fi Bluetooth adapter and software update SD card to enhance your machine as the 80211VCI kit.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
For those who wonder if the +/- $4,000 USD is worth the price for individual Person (non-tech- non-business), earlier today I came across a random post of a Chevrolet dealer charging $450 to diagnose a A/C issue on a Tahoe. I am not implying the $450 diagnostic charge was excessive, simply sharing the cost to pay a dealership to diagnose an AC issue on a vehicle.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Picked up the new Robinare, in Amarillo this morning..
That is nice. I wouldn't mind having one of these but I don't work on AC enough to justify the cost of one. As a DIY'er, I have been working on AC systems since 2006 and have probably fixed 25 vehicles for myself and family and friends since that time. The only equipment that I don't own is the machine to reclaim refrigerant. For myself I have to take it somewhere to get it reclaimed. Friends and family have to bring it to me empty. I'm looking at getting a reclaiming setup but haven't found one yet.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Garage is already bursting at the seams. These units are bigger in person than in photos..I couldn't find my ramps, had to muscle it out if the truck myself.The next time you need to move you won't have room for all this stuff. It's a hardship but I'll take it for youI won't even charge you a storage fee!
Unit was made in late 2023. Almost every used unit I looked at was almost in $3,000 USD range, and ten to twenty years old. Thought it better to buy new. I am hopeful I can register the unit for warranty coverage.
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GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
As long as you have a place to reclaim the refrigerant in a timely and cost effective manner. You have done more work in the past 19 years than I likely will.
I move often and just don't have anyone to "go to". I don't have the time to play games, so thought to buy this machine.
Now I found out a new requirement. To buy bulk freon, I need to be licensed..to get licensed one has to take a test..I took a practice test and scored 100 percent. Test seemed like a joke, like anyone could pass the test without knowing the material.
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GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Now finding one has to certify themselves to use the machine.. certification appears not to go anywhere. Just fill.out the form.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
This machine was purchased from a large diesel dealer. No idea why they were selling the unit. The dealer gave me a tour of their shop, place was huge..loved the overhead sliding cranes to lift engines, transmissions, etc. cool place..and the shop was very clean and organized. The shop was longer than two football fields.
