PennSilverTaco's HVAC BS MegaThread!

Taking apart the "shell" of the unit without causing damage was surprisingly easy...

 

I believe that this is the run capacitor, which is one of the most common items to fail on a central air-conditioner or heat pump...

 

@Taco critter

This is where all the money is!

 

You could build a homemade air compressor with that unit assuming it’s still in decent working order.

 

You mean just the compressor?

 

the condensers have start capacitors, none I’m aware of have run caps at least in the US.

 

yes. Several videos describe the process.

 

If I built my own air compressor, I'd want one out of a 5-ton unit!

 

I always thought that oval-shaped think was the run cap...

 

I went medieval on this thing!

 

I think the whole system was operational, but my best guess is that the condensate pump overflowed at some point, which caused the indoor coil to rust out and start leaking...

 

Part of the heat exchanger...

 

Gas burner...