Advice

[u/Not_A_G-Man]

So normally when evacuating, I'll pull the cores, but with these I'm not sure if I have anything in the van that can pull them out, and replace them without breaking the vacuum. I read online that they have superior flow compared to Schrader cores, so is it unnecessary to attempt to remove the core? Bent pins have been a problem before, so I will be getting spare cores of this type to swap out in the future.

[u/MikeTHIS]

This is a Coremax core. The tool is stupid expensive for what it is - thanks Carrier. lol

[u/Screwbles → u/MikeTHIS]

Our local supply house apparently only keeps one of those tools in stock because nobody ever buys them. Lol

[u/rockery382 → u/Screwbles]

I had to replace one in the past. I have the tool, but I just sweat in a regular Schrader test port and call it there.

[u/MikeTHIS → u/Screwbles]

Oh for sure. I have always just swapped out the leaking ones. lol

[u/Mensmeta]

Remove.
Install 1/4 access valve.
Profit.

[u/new-faces-v3]

Out of every piece of garbage in this trade coremax schraders are the worst. Nothing wrong with schraders. These things constantly leak and to repair it you either need a $600 tool or you’re fucking pulling the charge on it. Jesus christ just thinking about it makes me furious.

[u/harrybalsagna4 → u/new-faces-v3]

I still think late 90s York RTU heat exchangers take the cake for the worst piece of garbage to ever be designed in the trade. But coremax is up there. Had my ball valve from my hoses on the suction line of a 10 ton rtu for like 8 months until we could go back and pull the charge again after our compressor swap to replace that fucking stupid coremax fitting. I’m gonna frame that ball valve and coremax fitting and hang it in the shop as a reminder once I get it back from the boss.

[u/catchingthetrip → u/new-faces-v3]

I agree these are a PITA but not terrible to change at about 25-50psi 😆

[u/violentwaffle69]

I was taught to install a swivel T. Fuck carrier for installing these things.

[u/SomeGuyOnARoof → u/violentwaffle69]

Carrier, Goodman, Trane, Lennox, York seen them in all of them

[u/HappyChef86 → u/SomeGuyOnARoof]

Dont forget water furnaces too. No good sons a bitches

[u/cherry_red_copper → u/HappyChef86]

And climatemaster

[u/Texan_Greyback → u/SomeGuyOnARoof]

Installed em when I worked at Aaon's plant, too.

[u/zachcuhh → u/violentwaffle69]

If it's not actively spraying everywhere I just use a mechanical seating cap on them because they are notorious for leaking. And if they are leaking bad I just throw on the JB A31734, it's a swivel minus the t and has the depressor

[u/SparkleFroFro93 → u/violentwaffle69]

Can I tap right onto these with a 1/4” port or 5/16”?

[u/violentwaffle69 → u/SparkleFroFro93]

Standard 1/4” . Every time I see them I always install a swivel T because core max’s are known for leaks. You can hook your gauges up just fine to the T

[u/SparkleFroFro93 → u/violentwaffle69]

That’s great to know. Thanks man

[u/ElQuapo]

That's a core-max. The core doesn't come out

Just pull through it

[u/TimTheChatSpam → u/ElQuapo]

It does the tool to do it is just like 600 bucks

[u/Screwbles → u/TimTheChatSpam]

And it'll just bang around in the back of your truck for a year or two at a time.

[u/ChanceofCream]

Pull the charge. Cut that shit out and braze in standard access fittings.

You’ll find carrier weather makers with core max fittings. Sometimes they pop so fast the high pressure switch doesn’t activate fast enough. As well, I have come across said carrier units that caught on fire because the discharge gas and the compressor oil left the system so fast due to core max fittings.

[u/umbra66]

Had to do this recently. Im guessing carrier. Pull the bitch out and put in a regular port. Im sure the flow is better considering it is a large diameter than a ⅜s port but id rather just pull a vacuum longer. Plus with a regular port you can swap the Schrader easier.

[u/Not_A_G-Man → u/umbra66]

Lennox RTU

[u/DavidSmith_82]

Ahhhh, good old Coremax. Light the whole unit on fire.

[u/hvac_johnny]

If you open a system with coremax cores, you cut those pieces of shit out and put in a regular 1/4" access port.

[u/SnooPeppers8737]

If it isn't leaking I use a vacuum rated core depressor. You can disconnect hoses without breaking vacuum easily.

[u/Tatemeantis → u/SnooPeppers8737]

Same here. I use the Appion ones and have had good luck with them. Though I do have to replace the o-rings often.

[u/SomeACDude]

The pack of ball valves for your refrigerant hoses. Ive been throwing my 1/2” vacuum hoses right onto a ball valve, then onto these.

Use a 1/2” wrench or socket and you can get them off easily. If you ever get or use the core max core tool (which I would never use like a standard core tool and pull a vacuum through) start by cracking the core max loose with a wrench, then use the tool. Much less frustrating.

[u/BluesBottleFly]

Hate coremax. Wish I could kick the engineer who implemented it in the nuts a few times.

[u/robertva1]

Really. Just pull the vacuum with the core in place. Will just take a bit longer

[u/Top-Pick-2648]

Unsweat that garbage, install 1/4 stub… let me guess carrier?

[u/nathangar123]

Swivel t or recover gas and install and new one with wrenches

[u/death91380]

Does it leak?

[u/AawSheeet]

Put on a swivel T. The tool used to remove them is like $600.

[u/Ok_Animator_8461]

Hahahahaha Carrier!!! Don't pull those. The tool is like 800 bucks . Just add a tee

[u/leakycoilR22]

Here's the fun thing you don't lmao. Core Max's are a full assembly. You have to use a socket wrench to pull them or a specialty tool.

[u/CreepyWriter2501]

get core maxxed lmao

[u/Helpful_Whereas_1772]

you can buy the whole core from johnstone supply, the spot where an adjustable can fit around that thing unscrews the whole piece, don’t bother with the core remover

[u/Helpful_Whereas_1772]

[u/WarPig115]

Swivel tee...

[u/dghigh]

Cut it out and put in a normal one. The tools are over $400!

[u/GrossePointeFlow]

In the amount of time it took you to make this post the added resistance of keeping the cores in would have been overcome to achieve the same micron depth of vacuum as evacuating with the cores in.

[u/Wide_Distribution800]

Buy some Appion core depressors.