rexc
New Member
Posts: 31
|
Post by rexc on Dec 19, 2021 20:38:30 GMT
Fellow Members,
For about 15 years I have owned what I think is a 1952 Imperial Cylcamatic two-door. I brought it home because it had a nice porcelain cabinet, and it was working great when I picked it up. When it made the several hundred mile trip to my place, I plugged it in, and it came right on, just as expected; however, when I came home several hours later, the compressor was still running, but there was no cooling. The unit repeated this same trick over and over during these past years. A friend of mine thought it might be low on refrigerant and checked that, but nothing he/I did made any difference in behavior.
Well, on Thursday I moved the unit from one location to another, almost taking the old girl to the dump. Well, when I plugged it in at the new location, it came on as always (runs a bit loud) and brought the unit down to the A setting and shut off (something I do not remember it doing previously). When I came back 24 hours later, fully expected a warm unit, it was still working, something it has never done in these 15 years. And, it is still working today!
So, what happened? Was there a restriction somewhere that was freed up during the move, or what? Did I originally mess something up when I moved the working unit? Did that mess-up somehow resolve itself in the second move? If I move the setting to 1 or 2 where it was before will it stop again? Inquiring minds want to know!
Thanks!
Rex
|
|
|
|
Post by jake on Dec 19, 2021 21:45:00 GMT
Hi Rex and welcome to the forum! I have read that some of these Frigidaire Imperial models had a feature which allowed you to pull the cold plate, in the lower fresh food compartment, forward for cleaning behind it. I don't know if doing that would stop refrigeration. This is a cycle defrost model which means that the cold plate in the fresh food compartment will defrost when the compressor shuts off. You will notice longer cycle times because of this. I would suggest trying to move the cold plate forward and then backward to see if that's what happened. Don't use excessive force on it. Just a gentle tug to see if the cold plate is designed to move. Then push it backwards into position again. The normal cold control dial setting is number one for these. You should also tighten down the two compressor bolts if you plan on moving the refrigerator again. Then loosen them again when you put the refrigerator back in service. One last thing is that after sitting in storage for a while the refrigerator will not start to get cold for about an hour after you turn it on. Especially if the refrigerator has been stored in a cold, unheated area.
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Dec 20, 2021 17:25:42 GMT
This intermittent working problem sounds like a moisture blockage in the capillary tube. Intermittent cooling is the hallmark of moisture blockages.
|
|
rexc
New Member
Posts: 31
|
Post by rexc on Dec 20, 2021 21:35:14 GMT
Dear Jake and Turbo,
Thanks for your reply. I am sure the only thing I ever did to the cold plate was to remove that decorative Fridigaire aluminum cover when the unit was not working. I am going to see whether the cold plate moves. I have noticed that it takes these machines longer to begin refrigerating than others, but when displaying the problem, it actually made ice and got cold in the refrigerator cabinet, and then hours later, it stopped cooling but kept running.
Turbo, can a moisture blockage go away? It has been running now for four days--though I will say that it is now running on the B setting, but there is ice in the freezer and the fridge is still quite cold.
Thanks, guys! Rex
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Dec 21, 2021 2:35:52 GMT
Dear Jake and Turbo, Thanks for your reply. I am sure the only thing I ever did to the cold plate was to remove that decorative Fridigaire aluminum cover when the unit was not working. I am going to see whether the cold plate moves. I have noticed that it takes these machines longer to begin refrigerating than others, but when displaying the problem, it actually made ice and got cold in the refrigerator cabinet, and then hours later, it stopped cooling but kept running. Turbo, can a moisture blockage go away? It has been running now for four days--though I will say that it is now running on the B setting, but there is ice in the freezer and the fridge is still quite cold. Thanks, guys! Rex Hi Rex. Moisture blockages are famous for coming and going at random. It may work for weeks or months, then stop working again. Or it may only work for an hour or two. |
|
rexc
New Member
Posts: 31
|
Post by rexc on Dec 22, 2021 14:43:11 GMT
Turbo, thanks for that news, even if it's a bit depressing. Is there a cure for moisture blockage? Rex
|
|
|
|
Post by turbokinetic on Dec 22, 2021 14:48:38 GMT
Turbo, thanks for that news, even if it's a bit depressing. Is there a cure for moisture blockage? Rex It's just how it goes with the old coolers. The way I prefer to solve these problems is to hook up a vacuum pump and place the system under vacuum overnight, while keeping the unit warm with a warm air heater. This will remove moisture which is in the lines and coils. Then, after that, fill it with dry nitrogen. Cut out the old filter-drier (if it has one) and install a new one. Then recharge with new refrigerant. That normally gets them working consistently. It might also be a good idea to install some Supco S88 oil treatment to the compressor oil. That can help with sticking parts in the compressor, if it is actually failing to pump when it acts up. This would cover both bases, the moisture and the possibility of sticking parts in the compressor. |
|
