If you are good with silver-soldering - there is not much to fixing AC.
You will need to buy add-on Schrader valve, but those things are just few buck on ebay.
Once you solder the crack, you add the valve on low pressure line and hook up vacuum pump.
Venturi-type vacuum pumps that works with compressor sell for about $20.
Than you will need fill hose with gauge. Once you vacuum the AC you leave it for few hr to make sure the system holds.
If it does - recharge best by weight, but observing pressure is good too.
It is complicated the 1st time, but I learned those tricks years ago and that also let me replace compressor on $6000 refrigerator that was on its way to dumpster.
