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Robinair 1/4 MFL - 1/4 FFL Adapter

doctorgonzo on Tue July 30, 2013 7:29 PM User is offlineView users profile

Year: 1991
Make: Honda
Model: Civic
Engine Size: 1.8
Refrigerant Type: R12
Country of Origin: Canada

Gentlemen. I'm kinda new at this so please bear with me. I recently purchased a 1991 Honda Civic that has been nicely restored and has a brand-new air conditioning system installed, with about 600 miles on the chassis since installation. The system is not functioning for what the prior owner described as a "slow leak", and handed me a brass "adapter" or coupler and pointed to this part as the culprit. The coupler is a simple 1/4" male to 1/4" female type very much like the Robinair 10250 1/4 MFL - 1/4 FFL Adapter. Upon closer inspection by a mechanic, it was found that the coupler had damage to both a little metal part inside, and the o-ring or more or a rubber sleeve to be more accurate on the female side of it.


How did this damage occur? Well, upon inspecting the high-side port on the refrigerant line itself, it was found that the valve core was sticking out. Installing any coupler or adapter on top of this protruding valve core would of course be sketchy at best. Attempts to either tighten the valve core to fully install it or to remove it were futile using multiple tools. It was stuck! So realizing the worst case scenario was to have a custom hose made for this car (Honda discontinued the part), I let my mechanic pull the offending, stuck valve core out with needle nose pliers. It was evident that the nylon sealing element on the valve core was badly damaged, but upon close inspection with a mirror, the threads appear to be fine!

A new valve core was found and it refused to thread into the high-side port.

It occurred to my mechanic that we might be able to get another coupler like the one that was damaged, like the Robinair 10250 1/4 MFL - 1/4 FFL Adapter and just screw it on, charge the system up and call it a day. Does this plan sound sound?

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Most people don't even consider injustice until it happens to them.

mk378 on Tue July 30, 2013 9:22 PM User is offline

The Robinair 10250 is NOT what you need. It is a intended to be used at the end of a service hose, so it is a valve that opens when screwed onto the port and closes when removed. You need something that will close off while remaining screwed on. In the Robinair catalog (page 7) I see the 40410 or 40421 should be suitable, assuming you have 1/4 MFL-- see below. When putting onto an aluminum MFL you should use an o-ring on the flare instead of a metal on metal seal.

If its the official Honda system, remove the line from the car (simple, disconnect at both ends and unplug switch) to inspect really closely why the valve is not going in. There may be part of an old valve still in there. Also you should be able to find a used line and replace the whole thing.

Also if it's the OEM Honda system, the high side port should be 3/16 MFL, at least it is on my car.



Edited: Tue July 30, 2013 at 9:23 PM by mk378

doctorgonzo on Wed July 31, 2013 6:09 AM User is offlineView users profile

Wow, so much crucial advice packed into a few sentences, good writing and thanks! I was committing the egregious error of just guessing that the high side port was 1/4" MFL. Most likely it is 3/16" MFL, as you stated. There's a wrecking yard in town that is supposed to have this line, I'll check it out in the A.M. I'm excited to be learning a bit about this hobby and am excited at the prospect of that Civic's A/C blowing cold air eventually. I'll report back. Oh, should I try the Robinair 40410 fix, what composition of o-ring do I use here to attach the coupling?

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Most people don't even consider injustice until it happens to them.

doctorgonzo on Wed July 31, 2013 6:15 AM User is offlineView users profile

Thought of another question: Is the valve core the same for the 3/16" MFL port as for the 1/4" MFL?

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Most people don't even consider injustice until it happens to them.

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