[billybek]

They (the contractor) may have been running the system short of gas due to the mismatch in pumping capacity.
The condenser will show a high pressure if it is logging up too much refrigerant because of a too small expansion valve. The refrigerant leaving the condensing coil should be sub cooled 10 deg F from saturation. For R-22 typically you see 200 psi = 100 deg F at saturation. Subcooled 10 deg F the liquid line temp should be about 90 deg F.
On the evap side, typically for air conditioning duty you see suction pressures somewhere north of 60 psi at the lowest. Why? 60 psi = 33 deg F. Any lower and you start seeing frost and ice on the coil and suction line. You usually see the TX valve set for about 15 deg superheat for air conditioning duty so that would make the suction line temperature 48 deg F at 60 psi suction.
Now that you have a mismatched system, short charged perhaps (too keep head pressure down) with bubbles in the liquid line will cause the TX valve to pretty much go wide open and not control.
At this point all bets are off, but it sounds like they trim charged the machine to provide you with some service.
The coils should be matched in capacity or this system will limp along like a dog with two dicks.
Hope this helps.