Steve, thank you for your reply.  I reused the old O-rings as they were
tight.  I put it in my question just in case reuse of the O-rings was a
non-no.

Right now, I have had the system pumping down for about 16 hours so it
should be dry by the time I fill it later this afternoon.

John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Cotsford" <Cotsford@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: How long to pump down A/C ?

> Why would you use the old o-rings ?
> You can get adaptor kits at Pep Boys quite cheap and the new ones are
> bluish-green and work with all the oils you may encounter these days
whereas the old
> black ones wont.
>
> I would suggest that you pull the vacuum down for at least 45 mins.
Longer
> if you can wait.
> If you are using a conventional gauge set , then you can open both high
and
> low side to the center hose, assuming thats where you have the pump
attached.
> Both sides will show a vacuum reading and I would like to see at least 28.
> What kind of pump are you using?   Sounds like a medical pump.   It maybe
> worth your while to borrow an automotive a/c pump which probably wont give
any
> volume values.    Once a good vacuum is pulled, I doubt if the volume
means
> much.
> I borrow a friends'.  I dont know what brand it is, he just calls it
Monica,
> lol
>
> I have worked on 3 systems this spring, including converting my recently
sold
> '84 Westy to R134a.       If you want to chat on the phone about it, I
would
> be happy to.
> p-mail me for the number.
>
> good luck,
> Steve Cotsford
> Columbia SC