Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum

I have a brand new set of santech gauges and its leaking pressure. I had to snug the hose connections with a pair of channel locks and it minimized the leak. Its still leaking a very small amount. Do you all have to tighten the hose connections like this. Is this normal or the correct way to go about this. I dont want to damage anything

I bought replacement seals for my service gauge fittings.

Cusser wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:58 am I bought replacement seals for my service gauge fittings.

This.

You should not have to use any mechanical means to tighten the fittings.

The seals are definitely replaceable. I keep a close eye on mine and replace them all if they show any signs of wear or deterioration. I use a pointy tweezers to R&R them. Your new ones might have been trimmed a little too short from the factory.

It can easily be solved by replacing the seal. But it is true that at isolation, a straight leak line appears curved due to the logarithmic scale. With typical vacuum gauges, there is no way to definitively tell the difference between a real and virtual leak.

??
Perhaps you have the wrong forum, or have been in the hot sun too long

Make sure the seal has not fallen out. Very odd for a New Santech set to leak like is mentioned.

Im ordered some santech seals and replaced the seals and it leaks worse
id like to get some yellow jacket but cant find none that are 134a
what gauges do you guys use

penguins25 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 6:01 am what gauges do you guys use?

I use R-12 service gauge set from well over 3 decades ago. I have both Ford/Mazda-type and GM/Toyota type high side adapters. I have one vehicle (1988 Mazda truck) still on R-12 (thanks to Tim at ackits.com for supplying a new compressor in 2014).

I use R134a service gauge set from Harbor Freight. One of the hose seals fell out, and I just ordered new seals online - very reasonable - and keep them in the case with the service gauge set in case it falls out again.

"Im ordered some santech seals and replaced the seals and it leaks worse
id like to get some yellow jacket but cant find none that are 134a
what gauges do you guys use"

Something is not right.

Please post a pic of a closeup of the end of the hose and of the seals you bought.
Last I knew for the seals it didn't matter if 12 or 134.

Were you able to remove all bits of the old seal?
I will try to post a pic of the end of one of my hoses

Most likely damaged from using a crescent wrench to tighten. Santech are some of the best gauges available. That's my internet opinion.