Originally Posted By: Extreme-Duty
Thanks, that's probably the info I needed. And yes, it's R134a refrigerant. Nice instruction, rob! The pipe I've bended is the 180 degree hose fitting connected to the compressor. I assume the hose between the compressor and the condener is on the high pressure side. It might be wild speculation, but I would not expect 450 PSI to blast this pipe. Is pulsation an issue in these systems?
Also, is there some kind of corrosion protection in the refrigerant?
High-side pressure will vary a lot depending on application. I've worked on R134A systems that would barely top 200psi on a 100 degree day... and I've worked on other systems that could easily see 350psi. Depends on condensor design, refrigerant charge, air flow... lots of things. While 450psi might be possible in some applications, I've never seen it. The highest head pressure I recall seeing in a properly functioning R134A system is maybe 350-375psi. I would be very surprised if your tractor's system went higher than that. As for bending that high-side line: so long as it's properly clamped in place and isn't being subjected to excessive stress and vibration (and it won't be if the lines are properly clamped in place and parts aren't pulled tight or anything), then I wouldn't worry about it. I've never seen a steel a/c line break due to the pressure- they always fail due to excessive rust, or flexing and vibration. Unless your compressor is failing, pulsation should not be a problem.