Hi all, my Mach II GT needs refurbishing and I need answers to these questions so that I can make an informed decision whether or not I am capable of doing it myself:

1. When discharging the refrigerant from the schrader valve connected to the service port, what kind of container do you use to collect the refigerant?
2. If no. 1 is done correctly then can the refrigerant be used to regass the unit?
3. I currently have only the one schrader valve connected to the service port on the compressor, I believe it is on the low side; for optimum maintenance/upgradeability/recharging - should I have another schrader valve service point on the high side just after the condenser and before the drier/filter?
4. Apart from the cost what is the difference between using bronze flex lines and braid in comparison to stainless flex lines and braid?
5. Does anyone know of any no-*******, honest, capable HVAC Engineer/single stage phase change builder who can work to exacting standards?

That's all for now, this may be an ongoing thread depending upon the answers I get.

1. I think you will find, that if you arent qualified, its actually illegal/dangerous so knowingly vent this type of gas into the environment.

Other points are beyond me.

For 5, i would recommend xtremesystems, who have an entire forum dedicated to builder relations etc (most of its negative, but most people never praise a good job, so take with a pinch of salt).

Builder/Customer Relations : http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=265

Hey Sim0n, yes I know it is illegal to vent any type of CFC refrigerant into the environment hence my asking question 1.

Thanks for being honest about the rest.

Re: XtremeSystems.org and its customer/builder relations - I have read through some of that thread and would never use any of them in there for several reasons. Firstly, some of the builders seem to be extremely backed up with work taking on too much they can handle but being paid up front with the cost of the unit; secondly, the majority of builders are located outside of the UK making P&P and Customs passage extremely expensive and troublesome.

I shall have to look elsewhere for answers, I am sure there are some very good sites that specialize in Phase Change. BTW, is Marci gearing up to do Phase Repair work for O-CuK?

He's been there and done it, include re-gassing modifications.. he stopped doing it coz it was way to much work for not much money.

If XS doesnt have many from blighty have you tried benchtec ? thats the home of uk extremists.

I'm a little late but thanks for the reply Sim0n. Yes I do know about BenchTec and I'll most probably find a competent builder there judging by some of the threads I've read. I just wanted to explore possibilities here first. Thanks!