The purpose of this study is to analyze the behavior of a reversible two-cylinder refrigerant compressor manufactured by Bristol Compressor Incorporated. This compressor contains a specialized linkage that causes the compressor to transition from a two-cylinder compressor to a single-cylinder compressor when the direction of rotation of the crankshaft is reversed. The linkage accomplishes this by reducing the throw of one cylinder to zero. Of interest are the conditions to which this linkage is subjected when the direction of rotation is again reversed, causing the compressor to return to its two-cylinder functioning. When this reversal takes place, a collision occurs within the linkage. These repeated collisions are thought to be the cause of fatigue failure of the linkage in many of these compressors. To verify that this collision is the problem, an understanding of the stress state during the collision is needed. This thesis begins the work necessary to determine the dynamic stress state present within the system. A FORTRAN program was developed that modeled the kinematic behavior of the system under operating conditions. The program predicts the accelerations, velocities, positions, and internal forces present within the system during startup conditions. Also, a method has been developed to model rotary sliding contact between two cylindrical surfaces. This method is developed and investigated in hopes that it will facilitate the modeling of the behavior of the compressor linkage in a dynamic finite element analysis. / Master of Science