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Post by birkie on Jun 22, 2018 13:34:56 GMT
Great news! I will note that the compressor on my 1550 chest freezer (which is very similar) gets uncomfortably hot during pulldown, and it has an internal fan (but no fins)
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 22, 2018 18:21:11 GMT
Great news! I will note that the compressor on my 1550 chest freezer (which is very similar) gets uncomfortably hot during pulldown, and it has an internal fan (but no fins) Thanks birkie I let it run for close to 6 hrs today. It actually brought the box down to 19 degrees! I think thermostat is stuck. I just pulled the thermostat out. Here are some pics. Do things look normal? Dipping the bulb in ice weather doesn’t make the contacts open. Is a bowl full of ice and small amount of water is cold enough ? Thanks AJ. |
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 22, 2018 18:43:24 GMT
   . Sitting the entire thing in my normal freezer does make the contacts open. |
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Post by icebox on Jun 22, 2018 20:07:31 GMT
Possible progress maybe ? I was looking at things last night and decided to fire it up just to see if any thing changed . They kinda did. Now almost half of the right side if the evaporator gets frosted now. Before it was only about a 1/4 frosted. Wile I was looking over things I noticed That the front feet were adjusted all the way up. So I had to tilt it backwards to adjust them. Then I tilted it forwards some wile looking over the compressor and condenser lines. This is making me think that there’s probably a clogged line . If it’s a clogged line are there any other tricks to help move the clog along ? Thanks AJ.  So glad it looks to be working - that certainly sounds cold enough. Was the reduced frost line you got before running with the door open ? Unless it's sat in a cold garage it's not unusual not to get a fully frosted evaporator with the door open - especially with capillary tube expansion devices. Or maybe there was a partial blockage that's cleared now. Anyway sounds good now! |
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 22, 2018 20:26:12 GMT
Possible progress maybe ? I was looking at things last night and decided to fire it up just to see if any thing changed . They kinda did. Now almost half of the right side if the evaporator gets frosted now. Before it was only about a 1/4 frosted. Wile I was looking over things I noticed That the front feet were adjusted all the way up. So I had to tilt it backwards to adjust them. Then I tilted it forwards some wile looking over the compressor and condenser lines. This is making me think that there’s probably a clogged line . If it’s a clogged line are there any other tricks to help move the clog along ? Thanks AJ. So glad it looks to be working - that certainly sounds cold enough. Was the reduced frost line you got before running with the door open ? Unless it's sat in a cold garage it's not unusual not to get a fully frosted evaporator with the door open - especially with capillary tube expansion devices. Or maybe there was a partial blockage that's cleared now. Anyway sounds good now! Hi icebox. The frost line in the video was with the door closed. When I opened the door everything melted with in a few minutes and started dripping . The box temp was a little above 40 at the time. I can’t remember exactly how long it had been running at that point. I need to start writing things down ... now I just need to figure out what’s up with the thermostat. |
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Post by icebox on Jun 22, 2018 21:47:50 GMT
OK I understand. The thermostat in this case should measure the evaporator temperature and switch off when it gets to maybe 0 DegF. (Much cooler than the fridge temperature.) What worries me is that the part of the evaporator that the sensing element is on is not getting cool enough. You might be able to test that the thermostat is good by removing it and placing it in a working freezer. When you take it out you should here it click back on as it warms up. Someone here may have a better idea though.
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Post by ckfan on Jun 22, 2018 21:52:11 GMT
If the contacts opened when you put it in the freezer it should be fine. I think that since the whole evaporator isn’t getting frosty that is probably the issue. I bet that the part it is clamped to isn’t getting cold enough to make it turn off.
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 22, 2018 22:07:59 GMT
If the contacts opened when you put it in the freezer it should be fine. I think that since the whole evaporator isn’t getting frosty that is probably the issue. I bet that the part it is clamped to isn’t getting cold enough to make it turn off. That’s what I’m thinking. If the door is open for a few minutes that area does start to melt pretty quick. I put the thermostat back in. So I’m going to just keep letting it run for a wile and see if it starts frost up anymore. Seems to get a little better every time I fire it up. |
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 22, 2018 22:47:04 GMT
Hi
I just want to share a story with you all.
When I was growing up my friend and I use go visit his great aunt that lived next door to him. We’d go about once a week and visit for a few hours.
Walking through the front door of that house was like walking into the 1940’s. No joke ! I think the newest thing in that place was a console TV combination radio phonograph from the 1950’s or maybe early 1960’s and she still watched tv on it every day. It was a Magnavox. And this was in the early 1990’s. She had a GE refrigerator identical to this one (that I’ve been trying to get working) in her kitchen. I remember many times, sitting in her kitchen hearing it kick on and off wile we were chatting. She use to make us ice cream sodas all the time . I remember being kind of fascinated by the inside of that refrigerator and how much ice used to build up on it. when we’d stop over on “defrost” day everything would be out on the table or counter and she’d have towels laid in side on the bottom. And she would say “eat what you want wile it’s still cold” haha.
Everything thing in that house including the fridge she had was in pristine condition.
She was a little eccentric but honestly one of the nicest kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. When she passed away in 1998 around the time me and my friend graduated from high school. (She was well into her late 90’s) The family pretty much tossed everything . No one wanted all that old stuff! If my parents wouldn’t have protested it, I would have brought home more than truck load of stuff ! It’s kinda funny how you don’t think about something for so many years and then you come across an item like this fridge and it brings all those good memories back.
AJ
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Post by turbokinetic on Jun 23, 2018 1:38:01 GMT
Hi I just want to share a story with you all. When I was growing up my friend and I use go visit his great aunt that lived next door to him. We’d go about once a week and visit for a few hours. Walking through the front door of that house was like walking into the 1940’s. No joke ! I think the newest thing in that place was a console TV combination radio phonograph from the 1950’s or maybe early 1960’s and she still watched tv on it every day. It was a Magnavox. And this was in the early 1990’s. She had a GE refrigerator identical to this one (that I’ve been trying to get working) in her kitchen. I remember many times, sitting in her kitchen hearing it kick on and off wile we were chatting. She use to make us ice cream sodas all the time . I remember being kind of fascinated by the inside of that refrigerator and how much ice used to build up on it. when we’d stop over on “defrost” day everything would be out on the table or counter and she’d have towels laid in side on the bottom. And she would say “eat what you want wile it’s still cold” haha. Everything thing in that house including the fridge she had was in pristine condition. She was a little eccentric but honestly one of the nicest kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. When she passed away in 1998 around the time me and my friend graduated from high school. (She was well into her late 90’s) The family pretty much tossed everything . No one wanted all that old stuff! If my parents wouldn’t have protested it, I would have brought home more than truck load of stuff ! It’s kinda funny how you don’t think about something for so many years and then you come across an item like this fridge and it brings all those good memories back. AJ
That's a great story. I really appreciate these.
It's great to meet people like this, sad when her children didn't appreciate the things she loved. I understand not needing the things, but to just callously throw away the things your mother had and appreciated all those years.... man that is so hard to think about.
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Post by elec573 on Jun 23, 2018 2:16:24 GMT
I agree with what turbo said !
But another-thing is the things they make today, are not made to last !
They are made as cheaply and as quickly as possible.
One of the old advertisements for ge , was an elephant standing on a ge mt cabinet to show how strong it was.
Just a thought how is your door gasket ?
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 23, 2018 6:35:58 GMT
Hi I just want to share a story with you all. When I was growing up my friend and I use go visit his great aunt that lived next door to him. We’d go about once a week and visit for a few hours. Walking through the front door of that house was like walking into the 1940’s. No joke ! I think the newest thing in that place was a console TV combination radio phonograph from the 1950’s or maybe early 1960’s and she still watched tv on it every day. It was a Magnavox. And this was in the early 1990’s. She had a GE refrigerator identical to this one (that I’ve been trying to get working) in her kitchen. I remember many times, sitting in her kitchen hearing it kick on and off wile we were chatting. She use to make us ice cream sodas all the time . I remember being kind of fascinated by the inside of that refrigerator and how much ice used to build up on it. when we’d stop over on “defrost” day everything would be out on the table or counter and she’d have towels laid in side on the bottom. And she would say “eat what you want wile it’s still cold” haha. Everything thing in that house including the fridge she had was in pristine condition. She was a little eccentric but honestly one of the nicest kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. When she passed away in 1998 around the time me and my friend graduated from high school. (She was well into her late 90’s) The family pretty much tossed everything . No one wanted all that old stuff! If my parents wouldn’t have protested it, I would have brought home more than truck load of stuff ! It’s kinda funny how you don’t think about something for so many years and then you come across an item like this fridge and it brings all those good memories back. AJ
That's a great story. I really appreciate these.
It's great to meet people like this, sad when her children didn't appreciate the things she loved. I understand not needing the things, but to just callously throw away the things your mother had and appreciated all those years.... man that is so hard to think about.
I know it’s shame they tossed all that stuff she had. It killed me not to be allowed to bring anything home. I think that’s why I’m feeling so hell bent on fixing this fridge . You mite say it’s part of my childhood haha AJ |
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 23, 2018 6:54:34 GMT
I agree with what turbo said ! But another-thing is the things they make today, are not made to last ! They are made as cheaply and as quickly as possible. One of the old advertisements for ge , was an elephant standing on a ge mt cabinet to show how strong it was. Just a thought how is your door gasket ? You’d never be able to have an elephant stand on modern day fridge. It would be squashed like a pancake ! I can honestly say that the new Frigidaire refrigerator I have is not one my favorite appliances. When it goes into defrost all the ice cubes that I keep in a bowl get half stuck together and the ice cream gets really soft almost melted. It’s about 5 years old and I’d say it’s the basic economy model. Plus I think the thing is ugly. It doesn’t go with my kitchen at all . If I get this old GE running its definitely going in the kitchen. We live in throw away society. Almost everyone I know that’s in my age group (I’m 38) could care less about getting things fixed. It’s the norm to toss it and buy a new one. And a lot look at me like I’m nuts for buying old alliances and fixing them up to use. Although everyone always to likes my stove. It’s a 1961 Frigidaire flair 40 inch double oven model. It always gets lots of attention when I have company over. The door gasket is in good shape. It has a small crack in one spot. But it seems to seal really good. I went around the entire gasket with a thin peace paper and it holds tight at all points with the door shut. AJ. |
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Post by ajc31980 on Jun 24, 2018 0:18:40 GMT
Sadly I think progress has stopped at the half way point. I tired advice on heating up the capillary tube and it didn’t change anything.
I did how ever get some numbers to call from a coworker of mine. He said both are guys that have been doing work on Appliances for a long time and that one of them may be able to help. Keeping my fingers crossed. Of course with it being the weekend I couldn’t get ahold of anyone today. So hopefully Monday will bring me some luck.
I was also wondering, since r12 coolant isn’t really used anymore. What could be used in this ridge to replace it ? That’s if it does need recharged . I kinda want to know everything I can . So when I talk to these guys I have to something to argue with lol.
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Post by turbokinetic on Jun 24, 2018 1:22:24 GMT
Sadly I think progress has stopped at the half way point. I tired advice on heating up the capillary tube and it didn’t change anything. I did how ever get some numbers to call from a coworker of mine. He said both are guys that have been doing work on Appliances for a long time and that one of them may be able to help. Keeping my fingers crossed. Of course with it being the weekend I couldn’t get ahold of anyone today. So hopefully Monday will bring me some luck. I was also wondering, since r12 coolant isn’t really used anymore. What could be used in this ridge to replace it ? That’s if it does need recharged . I kinda want to know everything I can . So when I talk to these guys I have to something to argue with lol.
That's so frustrating about it not continuing to improve.
There's still R12 out there, but it's costly. If the fridge is low on charge, but the leak is not able to be found (a 20 year leak?) they can add R12 to it. The amount needed wouldn't likely be very expensive in the grand scheme of things.
When you contact the repair guys, they will probably have a procedure in mind to troubleshoot it and fix it. I would offer what you have seen and heard with the fridge, but be careful that they don't feel as if you're trying to sway them to do any certain thing first. I hope that doesn't come across wrong - I'm not trying to criticize you! I know how repair people are. Often you have "one shot" when you first meet them to not make them feel uneasy. If that goes well, then they'll often go the extra mile. Remember that whoever comes will be stepping way outside their comfort zone to troubleshoot this for you.
As far as refrigerant alternatives, there is a CG ball-top with R152A that's been running for a couple years. There's also Andrew's CK that has had R152A for a month or so now and is working awesome. I have a meter-miser Frigidaire with R152A which is also working excellently. This refrigerant may be something the repair guys are hesitant to use. If they are not open to using it; there are other alternatives sold in the automotive trades that are R12 substitutes. They are mixtures of gases that approximate the temperature / pressure curve of R12. The problems are, blends tend to separate and leak out their different components at different rates. In my opinion, based on what life has taught me with car A/C - blends are a second choice. A pure refrigerant such as R152A, R12, R134A is a better choice for the longterm life of the machine.
If your problem ends up being a blockage, the repair guys have a refrigerant recovery machine that can remove and save the charge for re-use. They can remove the refrigerant, cut open the lines so that the ends of the capillary tube are visible, and work with the blockage directly.
Good luck getting someone who is enthusiastic about the old machines! Will be anxiously watching.
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