Got my repaired A/C lines installed along with the new receiver dryer, couldn't hold a vacuum. Wasted a little freon to find the leak, it was at the receiver dryer blocks. Couldn't get them to seal, and noticed that they were not putting pressure evenly on the gaskets, the blocks were tight on the stud/nut side but not in the tube side. Realized that the built in washers on the nuts were flat, so I flipped them over, put them in a socket, put a ball peen hammer on it and smacked them a few times. Got a nice concave surface to preload the block a little better, then I folded the little tab on the gasket that normally bends into the stud well to give more even surface for the block to sit on. Worked perfectly.
Then I filled it with a couple of cans of Dust-Off (R152a) and it got cold and started cycling the compressor clutch normally.
Hopefully it holds pressure over night and I freeze my face off tomorrow.

 

I've had trouble with the receiver/dryer studs being banged up such that it was hard to get the nuts to tighten sufficiently. I ran a die over them to fix that. I also use Nylog Gasket Thread Sealant and Assembly Lube (PN RT201B) which is available on Amazon and other places.

I'm gonna have to try the Dust-Off R152a for refrigerant. R134a just ain't doing it.

Edwin

 

Make sure you are using the correct nut on the receiver drier, make sure the nut has the large sturdy flange attatched.
whenever I replace my drier I always save the old studs from the block, they are removed with an Allen wrench.

 

Crap, it all leaked out again. I even tried putting vice grips on the tube side to hold the flanges tight. Helped a little, lasted two days instead of 1/2 a day.
I was hoping you would chime in frosty, I am having a devil of a time with this thing...

Even designed a clamp for the unsupported tube side, but that would only be a band aid for the real issue, whatever that may be.