AC Accumulator Questions...

[SHOtimer]

So, my BDA has been broken for going on 2 years and i'm getting around to pulling the dash in a couple weeks.

While I have it apart, it is getting a new heater core, blower motor, BDA, and i'm rebuilding the AC system (already has a newish compressor, so new condenser, orifice valve, accumulator).

I have two NOS Ford accumulators. One made for R134a, and one made for R-12 (they are identical apart from the low pressure hookup).

The R134a one was stored in a Ford box with the caps on the end of it...and the rubber hose portion on it almost has a permanent crease in it...if you squeeze the hose it will become completely round, but at rest it has the crease.

1. Is this something I should worry about, ie: will the pressures within the system cause this hose to not crease, or will the crease present a restriction in flow?
-I tried to see if an AC shop would replace that piece of hose, and they couldn't/wouldn't.
-This part made manufactured in '97.

The R-12 one has an unknown history, albeint NIB. It did not have the caps on the end sealing it up. The hose is perfect. It was manufactured in '00

***
My questions are:

-Is the interior of these two units the same (R-12 vs R-134a)?

-Should I be concerned about the hose crease/restriction, will that restrict flow, or straighten out with pressure?

-Obviously I could use the R-12 one, and put an adapter on the fitting...but my concern is that it didn't have the end caps on it, and the whole purpose of the accumulator is to absorb moisture, so is it ruined if it has been exposed to open air?.....and if it was made for R-12, should I not bother using it for an R134a system?

-OR since they are both old...so i not use either of them and buy a new $80.00 aftermarket one?

Thanks guys,

Doug

 

[32MTX]

accumulator's need airflow through them to get to the de-moisturizing ingredients(yes I know the proper name don't feel like figuring out how to spell it lol)

if its not capped off its not the worst thing for them. They do have a service life of about 3-5 years supposedly. But that is when they are being used. Look around you should be able to find a shop somewhere that will put a new piece of rubber line on the accumulator assembly for you...... You might need to look up something more along the lines of a hydraulic shop rather then a mechanic shop. 9.9 times out of 10 I haven't seen a repair shop with the proper tools to do a crimp like that on a line.