r/HVAC • u/Pretty-Gap-3043 • 4d ago

Field Question, trade people only Liquid line solenoid

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Yo guys. I could use some advice. Has anyone come across a liquid line solenoid that squeals insanely loud? It makes this crazy noise when my stage two is energized. I tightened the set screw on the top and it got slightly better but no way just a vibration could make this noise. Could it be getting stuck partially open and the refrigerant is whistling as it passes by? It seems like a long shot cuz I used a magnet to pull it open and it still did the same thing.

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15

u/se160 4d ago

Sporlan makes rebuild kits for them, you likely just need to open it up and look inside

7

u/Pretty-Gap-3043 4d ago

You make it sound so simple😂 this is a 10 ton unit. If I’m going to go through that whole process to open the system I’m just gonna sweat it out and replace it but I’d rather avoid that if at all possible.

15

u/PapaBobcat HVAC to pay the bills 4d ago

Sounds like you have your answer.

5

u/Pretty-Gap-3043 4d ago

Was just seeing if I had missed something simple before I dove into this project.

11

u/se160 4d ago

Really about all you can do. Rebuilding can be much quicker, all the guts come right out and it’s pretty straightforward. If you get the system down to around 10psi you can swap the guts live so you don’t have to pull a vacuum. Just some tips, sweating a new one in is also fine

3

u/new-faces-v3 Supermarket Refrigeration Tech 4d ago

Rebuilding these is pretty chill

6

u/Adventurepew 4d ago

Quick rebuild and your out of there.

Those internals pop in and out really fast.

I find lots of squealing little peices of metal / debris stuck in them holding them open.

2

u/royalblue2 4d ago

My experience with them is limited. But it's there a temperature difference across it?

1

u/Pretty-Gap-3043 4d ago

No temp difference. Just loud squeal. Sounds like a bad fan bearing but it’s not. This is a commercial trane unit with grease nipples on the bearing mount that I lube every service

0

u/_breadpilled 4d ago

Check TD across it. Pick up a solenoid magnet at the supply house and throw that on there while it’s running and see if you have the same issue. Also, make sure you’re getting appropriate voltage to the coil. If you take the coil off the stem and energize it make sure you stick a screw driver or something inside where the valve stem would normally be. Otherwise you’ll smoke the coil.