Peanut not sitting flush

Friendly format provided to inquire about automotive a/c systems.
Archived Forum

Moderators: bohica2xo, Tim, JohnHere

Post Reply
JSchuricht
Posts: 2
Read the full article
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:00 pm

Peanut not sitting flush

Post by JSchuricht »

I am missing something obvious here but I haven't been able to figure out what it is. The peanut fitting on the AC accumulator isn't sitting flush if I tighten the retaining nut. Is there a shim that I am missing or a different oring I should use? This is on a 2000 F-250 7.3.

This started as a compressor and accumulator replacement. Found the leak afterwards and the peanut not sitting flush. I have replaced the line and the accumulator a second time and it still won't sit flush so I think I am doing something wrong.

Nut loose and it sits flush
Image

Nut finger tight, torquing it down makes no difference
Image

Inside the hole is empty
Image

Single oring in the groove

Image
User avatar
Cusser
Preferred Member
Posts: 846
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:29 am

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by Cusser »

Measure the depth of the fitting, and measure the depth inside the accumulator hole, to make sure that it CAN fit flush. Even try without the O-ring to see if it sits flush.

Last year I bought a replacement high pressure AC line for my 1998 Frontier, the cylindrical fitting on the aftermarket fitting extends 14mm, yet the cylindrical fitting on the original Nissan unit extends just 9.5mm. My math skills tell me that's 4.5mm difference, a TON !!! So the fitting on the new line was 5.5mm longer than on the factory one !!! I had to cut that shorter to get that to seat flush inside the compressor. The O-ring was in the same location luckily. No leaks there in 1 full year of running.
Image
JSchuricht
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:00 pm

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by JSchuricht »

Thanks. This is only when I tighten the nut. It sits flush by hand.
User avatar
Mr Bill
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:17 am

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by Mr Bill »

It could be the bolt in the accumulator is bent back some, I think if it were bent more towards the hole/opening it would set more flush. You could try a washer under the nut,don't know if that might help. that's a very poor design, at least what would have probably been be better is, if they would have put a little hold down plate on there, sort of like fork looking plate, like what most mfg's use to hold down the distributor.
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". -Vernon Law-
User avatar
Cusser
Preferred Member
Posts: 846
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:29 am

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by Cusser »

JSchuricht wrote:Thanks. This is only when I tighten the nut. It sits flush by hand. Single oring in the groove
Image
Hmmm- your O-ring channel is shallower than the one pictured on my Frontier in my earlier post. The Frontier O-ring stays in its channel and seals around its sides to the cylinder that it fits in. If your channel goes all the way back to the fitting, then it seals mostly on its sides.

So question is: does your "channel" extend all the way back (under the O-ring) ? Can you post a photo without that O-ring ? If your O-ring does seal on its sides, maybe a slightly-narrower O-ring would work. You'd need to look for a different size green refrigeration O-ring at NAPA or Carquest or similar, in the little drawers.

For one of my former vehicles (believe it was my 1994 Suburban, I had purchased a new accumulator which did fit, but the supplied O-rings were different thickness than the old ones, so I purchased ones at Carquest same size as the previous ones.
User avatar
Mr Bill
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 8:17 am

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by Mr Bill »

This is the same fitting I found on a YouTube video, the o-ring looks about the same.
Attachments
YouTube Video.JPG
YouTube Video.JPG (29.54 KiB) Viewed 9347 times
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards". -Vernon Law-
User avatar
JohnHere
Preferred Member
Posts: 1196
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:20 am
Location: South Carolina Upstate - USA

Re: Peanut not sitting flush

Post by JohnHere »

If it sits flush when fitting it by hand but not when you tighten the nut, it seems to me that the threaded stud isn't perpendicular to the matting surface, as Mr Bill suggested.

Try tightening two nuts (jam nuts) against each other on the stud, then turn it 180 degrees. Now, remove the jam nuts, re-attach the fitting and one nut in the normal manner, and see whether it now fits flush.

Alternatively, you could also try installing the old stud. It could be that the new stud is slightly bent.
Member – MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association)

Thankful for the responses you have received? Please consider making a monetary donation to this Forum.
Post Reply