A/C condensor units

Getting some a/c condensor units in the next couple weeks. 9 total. I am getting these units from someone I know, but basically its an apartment building that was hit bad with hail and the units don't look good anymore so they are replacing them, when they remove them they are draining the freon (They require it) so basically all I have to do is break down the units, I am a fairly young scrapper as many of you know so I never break down a/c units at this quanity so anything you guys reccomend to break them down faster, anything I should leave in that isn't worth removing? Thanks guys. Ill keep you updated, and whence I receive some I will try and post pictures, and breakdown pics. Thanks

they might be All different but try and put them in groups of like units. This makes tooling MUCH easier. The more you do the faster you get. I break them completely down

Breakum down. Remove metal n cut coil loose. Cut the macaronis off the end of coil. Might research on here n decide if u want to tackle the compressors. I do motors,compressors all the way down.

Originally Posted by MattyNoNeck

Personally, I leave the compressor the way it is. My yard buys them at their own rate and it's a pretty good rate at that. I try to break everything else down, though. Copper, compressor, radiators and electric motor.

Ditto. The compressors out of AC units are usually a royal PITA to get the copper windings out for two reasons. They have a realitively heavy coating of shellac (or like stuff) on the windings themselves, which makes them hard to remove. Also the cord that holds them together is very stiff, and likewise makes it difficult. I will remove the windings out of refrigerator and freezer compressors all day long as they generally do not have the same coating, but do not mess with AC compressors. My yard is the same, they have a separate price for compressors, so I get more than shred.

I'll look into the compressors. All if the units are the same brand and model. Thanks guys!

Ok Devin you are getting nine A/C units great, coming from a apt building they are most likely three ton package units, or they might all have air handlers, or they might be larger roof top units? It really doesn't matter, what ever they are it's pretty simple and it will become second nature to you as they are for me. What you will need to to this painlessly is a screw gun with three different size bits,
First one 1/4 inch, second a 5/16 third a 1/2 inch. You should also have a six inch extension for those hard to get at conners, you will also need a good pair of wire clippers, and a pair of bull cutters. The trick to doing a/c units is simple you take apart the outer cage take all the screws out, many guys try to cut time by only removing a few but that will bite them, now the top of the unit that has the electric motor in the center usually 1/4 inch bitt ,cut the wires and remove the four 1/4 inch screws the motor will fall out if they have a butter fly nut with a wood chizzle on bolt hit with hammer the screws will fall apart, once that's done cut the coil out, then cut all wires on compressor and inner parts, with the 1/2 inch bitt and evtenchion remove the four bolts on the compressor, we clean all coils after we break down all units , that means that little tin strip take your time try cutting as close as you can, as far as cutting your compressors we do it because I have a plasma torch, but if I were you I would just sell the compressors as sealed units with out the plasma it can be time consuming, and messy with all the oil. I would get a letter from the complex stating you are the right full owner of the scrap , if your state requires the document. Good luck.1956

i think the most important thing you need to know is ...make sure you clean the coils......there more than likely will be a thin piece of steel on the outer edges of each coil.....it will have little half circle copper tubes running through it......they are easy to remove with a saws all...if you dont have a saws all there are many other ways to get them off.....a wood chisel and a good hammer works well.....if im out and need to clean one on the go i always take my old corn knife ( machete ) i lay it up against the copper ends and i hit it with my hammer ...after you get the hang of doing it that way it is very quick and easy.....the best way is a saws all in my opinion...i just wanted to give you another idea in case you didnt have one

You all were talking about compressors out of a/cs, frigs, whatever. How many of your "yards" make you drill a couple of holes in the bottom and drain out the oil? The place I take my non-ferrous takes "sealed units" (not sealed anymore the way he wants them!) drained or he won't take them (about twice the going rate of shred). I don't really mind it unless I hit one of the windings inside. That wakes me up a bit!!

My main yard, an my secondary yard, don't have any restrictions as far as the oil an such goes. I just take them in whole. Both pay more then shred or I'd just save them till I had time to open them.

Sirscrapalot - True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful. - Paul Sweeney

Originally Posted by DakotaRog

You all were talking about compressors out of a/cs, frigs, whatever. How many of your "yards" make you drill a couple of holes in the bottom and drain out the oil? The place I take my non-ferrous takes "sealed units" (not sealed anymore the way he wants them!) drained or he won't take them (about twice the going rate of shred). I don't really mind it unless I hit one of the windings inside. That wakes me up a bit!!

There really is no need to drill any holes. You have several holes when the copper lines are removed, and the oil can be drained thru those. I have never had a problem draining the oil out of those holes, whether it is a refrigerator compressor or an AC compressor.

Right now .26 a lb for sealed units your yard is cutting the units them self just want you to have the oily mess
99% of sealed units go to Pakistan, they also sell the used oil from them

Thanks everyone and thanks 1956, I've been looking into this and I'll clean. Coils with a sawzall or angle grinder, decided to sell compressors as sealed. Units are all normal residential sized units each apartment has there own, I wish they were the nice big ones, I'll get there some day. 😋

Originally Posted by DevinThaScrapper

Thanks everyone and thanks 1956, I've been looking into this and I'll clean. Coils with a sawzall or angle grinder, decided to sell compressors as sealed. Units are all normal residential sized units each apartment has there own, I wish they were the nice big ones, I'll get there some day. ��

If you use a sawzall, try 16 tpi blades. Those are what I have found are the best for removing the copper macaroni with.

Originally Posted by DevinThaScrapper

Thanks everyone and thanks 1956, I've been looking into this and I'll clean. Coils with a sawzall or angle grinder, decided to sell compressors as sealed. Units are all normal residential sized units each apartment has there own, I wish they were the nice big ones, I'll get there some day. ��

Do what you say you will do, be on time to pick em up, word will spread around through the contractors.

Originally Posted by MattyNoNeck

I should have clarified earlier that my yard does take them as SEALED compressors. I brought in ten at one time once and they didn't say anything about drilling holes or draining oil.

And why Pakistan? Just curious

Its all about money when they import copper in a copper form the government charges them a very high tariff, sealed units are sealed units not importing copper, even though there is copper inside

they do not conceder that importing copper go figure pakies?