I got a dilema and it is not quite Mopar related.The air conditioning in my combine needs to be charged but it is the old R-12 setup in a 79 John Deere 4400.I called the dealer and he said no conversions are available for it.I saw an ad in the farm paper for freon and called the guy.He is down in a lil town in Missouri and sells do it yourself charging bottles that cover a number of types of freon{R-134A R-12 R-22 etc}Claims it is all Fluro Hydrocarbons and works in all systems.Low price on it too,but my inner voice tells me how can it be???????? I,m leery....I called the local Napa store about buying a A-C manifold setup that handles R-12 and R-134A.After he in formed me that R-12 is still available in a 30 lb. container for the "Princley" sum of $1541.00 and you need A-C certification to purchase the R-12.I have boosted my A-C in my one tractor with a can from Carquest that has a guage on it,but that is strictly for 134A only.Was wondering if anybody had any experience with a similiar situation as the guy in Missouri or solved the problem another way.The nearest John Deere dealer is almost 40m miles away and I can see the $$$$$$$ adding up on a service call already.

I see craigslist ads regularly for (1) to several individual cans of R12 for ~20 ea iirc. If you can buy several cans that way locally plus beg or borrow an R12 gauge set to get it into your system & your system is just a bit low with no other issues you might very well take care of the prob for cheap

pretty much same as cars.
freeze 12 or some other name are used to directly replace r12.
BUT the general fear is that they are highly combustible. So a leak might cause a fire.

Most people here that have tried it feel they work just fine.

A/c components are pretty standard. you might find the same parts used for some car you can replace it with to convert it to r134a.
but be aware, it will not be as cold.

I'd consider changing the compressor and condensor over to R 134.

Maybe get a used junkyard compressor?

Going to need new hoses and dryer either way I'm betting.

I don't have any experience with the flamable gases they use for AC, sorry.

But don't you have to find the leak first?

R-12 is not hard to find. A buddy at work buys and sells it all the time. He finds 30lb sealed bottles for less than $300 all the time, as a matter of fact I picked up two for him a few weeks ago. As far as certification, you take an online test and pay $20.

http://www.epatest.com/

He has his, but is rarely asked when he buys.

Dennis

My 72 Charger left the factory without AC. I installed a complete factory AC from a wrecked 73 Charger. I flushed all the components before installing them. I removed the little piston in the back of the RV2 compressor, replaced drier and seals, added a cycler and filled it with R134A. That was in 2001. I drove around in 101 degree weather yesterday. AC cooled really well.

when my son converted my ramcharger all he had to do was screw in the fill adapter for the 134 system then fill it---the adapter looks like a hose fitting----doesnt cost much either---talk to one of the guys at a service station that handles AC units---bet he could set you up----bob

John Deere dealer can get a compressor from a tractor that would be 134A friendly,but it would be $450.00. Just trying to do this as Inexpensive as possible.Reason system is low is because the motor went 2 years ago and when I yanked the motor to overhaul it,I had no choice but to open the line to get the compressor out of the way to yank the motor.Wasn,t hardly anything in it when I did do that...I like some of the suggestions you guys are offering.

I use the ES12a Industrial. It's hydrocarbon based and I'm sure some will about that, but in my black heat-absorbing Dakota it will flat out freeze you. When I first converted it, the center outlet temperature was 38 degrees on a 90 degree day, and that was idling in the driveway. 52 degree drop over ambient is pretty decent. I bought the 63lb equivelant cylinder for $180 with free shipping. I'm willing to deal with something flammable versus something that causes cancer.

http://autorefrigerants.com/co00033.htm

I really cant believe how many people actually buy into all the BS about r-12 conversions Just get one of those el-cheapo recharge kits from Advance or Autozone and make your cabin cool again.
Don't believe all that BS about changing your drier,compressor,seals,etc...
I have been a tech for over 30 years and have converted probably over 100 cars with 100% positive results without changing ANYTHING other than the freon
Gus

I sell r-12 cans for 25 a can.You can buy 30 # cylinders on craiglist for 3 to 400.To me,with a small leak,thats 10$ for every lb,its worth it to be cool.