Page 14 - August 2015 Volume 9, Number 8

It’s August and it’s hot, at say they can fix anything, but who really don’t know
what they are doing when it comes to air conditioning. Things can go from bad to worse more quickly than you would think, as in example B below.
Example A: The A/C is not working in a King Air. The compressor is found to be bad; in fact, it blew up (see photos)! Debris went through the system to the receiver dryer. We removed the compressor and the receiver dryer, flushed the system between those two points then removed the flush. We then installed a new compressor and receiver dryer, and replaced a couple other items as needed (belts, current limiter). Next, we serviced the system with the proper type and amount of refrigerant. It ran great on the ground run.
Example B: Another King Air’s A/C is not working and its compressor, too, is found to be bad. The compressor was removed, the system was flushed, a new compressor was installed, but the A/C just blew hot air. The Freon level looked fine, and the shop wasn’t sure what to
least in my part of the world.
So far this season, I’ve dealt with everything under the sun and in the shade when it comes to air conditioning (A/C) problems. I’ve solved these issues by looking first at the usual suspects – compressors, vent blowers, and low refrigerant levels. In other cases, it was the less common – condenser and evaporator.
Air conditioning is a topic unto itself and either you get it or you don’t. There are plenty of very capable A&Ps out there who will tell you right off the bat that they’re no good when it comes to air conditioning. Have respect for those guys; they are doing you a huge favor with their honesty. Unfortunately, there are some who
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2015
MAINTENANCE TIP
KEEP YOUR COOL
Notes on King Air A/C
by Dean Benedict