LX3310 AC compressor locking up

[Old Machinist]

I am mainly posting this to see how many others experience this issue. I think the tractor needs a higher volume fan or a larger condenser.

The compressor on my LX3310 locks up with the least little debris in the screens and condenser. Clutch will start squealing and the compressor quits turning. It starts off cooling good and usually makes it through several hours of work but if I fail to clean it before using it again it pulls this. Especially if you try to leave it running with the tractor not moving. It did it today and I got almost nothing out of the screens, radiator, and condenser. Blew the little bit out that was there and it was okay again.

I have evacuated and recharged the system to make sure it wasn't over or under charged. Had the roof off and blew out the evaporator. I usually clean the screens, radiator, and condenser after every mowing.

 

[DaveFromMi]

Interesting that it locks up rather than high pressure switch shutting it off. That sounds like a defective compressor. Lockup like that is usually a catastrophic compressor failure, never heard of one coming back from that.
It could be that the clutch air gap is too large. Easy to check with a feeler gauge.

 

[Old Machinist]

Interesting that it locks up rather than high pressure switch shutting it off. That sounds like a defective compressor. Lockup like that is usually a catastrophic compressor failure, never heard of one coming back from that.
It could be that the clutch air gap is too large. Easy to check with a feeler gauge.

That's a good thought Dave. I will check that one day soon.

I know I am not the only person experiencing this issue. I have read of others with the same condition on one of the FB groups. I was wondering if or how common it was.

 

[MyFarm]

That's a good thought Dave. I will check that one day soon.

I know I am not the only person experiencing this issue. I have read of others with the same condition on one of the FB groups. I was wondering if or how common it was.

 

[MyFarm]

I'm having a similar issue runs 3-5 minutes and starts to freeze up ( clutch stops spinning and the belt get hot ( Belt is tight. THis AC sys hadn't worked for a long time, I evacuated and began recharge. Is it possible to adjust the clutch assy if it has too big of a gap (AC is Denso 447200-7443 (10P08E

 

[Old Machinist]

I looked up the specs and checked it out today. Clutch coil should be 3 to 4 ohms and mine is 4.8 so probably close enough. The air gap isn't easy to measure since it floats on spring clips. Best I could tell it was a snug .024" but I could force a larger feeler gauge in it. Specs were .016" to .025".

I went ahead and pulled the clutch face and cleaned both surfaces with emery cloth. I was hoping to find a shim or two but I didn't find a shim. I heard a clink noise when I removed it so I suspect the shim went into never gonna find it land. When I put it back together the clutch would turn without wanting to turn the compressor but the surfaces were touching. When I started it it spun free but did make one attempt to turn the compressor a fraction of an inch so I guess I need to source some shims and add some clearance now.

The clutch surfaces were not damaged or grooved so it hasn't spun enough to cause damage there.

Stay tuned!

 

[Old Machinist]

The lost shim crisis is averted. I had some 6mm wave washers that are .021" thick and fit perfect. Being spring steel they should be plenty hard enough to serve as the shim. With one washer in and the bolt tight it has .010-.012" clearance.

I'm not convinced it will solve the issue since it was within spec before but I closed the air gap by about half what it was.