I have thermostat on heat set at 73, airhandler comes on but outside the outside unit isn't running. Just happened tonight.

I called a contractor to check my (C)Rudd heat pump. The tech said the TXV valve was bad. He charged $104. Well they have to order the parts and it will be three weeks. They gave me a quote of $575 - $600 for the repair. My opinion the unit is under warranty it should not cost me anything. The valve is soldiered in line when the unit was made. Rudd should stand behind their products with their warranty. If my car brakes down and is under warranty I pay nothing for repairs. Rudd's warranty covers just the part, not my fault it broke cover the labor and freon too.

If your unit is still under warranty then first verify that fact, second contact a Ruud dealer. If they also want to charge you outrageously, then contact Ruud and talk with them. Explain your situation calmly and most likely you will get good results. If they stonewall you tell them you will get a different manufacturer's unit.
HOWEVER... having said that, there is one problem you need to answer first. You said in your description that the outside unit didn't run; did it not come on at all? What have you checked (ie. Breakers, control voltage)?

Repairman_red, Before I called the contractor to check the unit out I reset all the breakers,still didn't make any difference. The contractor set the thermostat on 76 and went outside hooked guages to outside unit. When the unit came on it made a loud clicking noise and shut off. He didn't check anything electrical. He showed me the valve that he said is bad. Now the outside unit has not ran since. I have tried it on heat and ac. By the way I checked Rudd's website and they say to call a contractor from a list they provide. The only phone # is for Corp. office. I called a contractor from the list they told me they would have to come out and recheck the unit.(another service charge) Also the warranty only covers parts not labor or freon. So another service call to repair it. They asked me if I had extended warranty that it would cover the labor. Of course the contractor that installed it didn't mention all this to me. I am sorry to say he has since passed away. I just don't like the way the warranty is set up.