ginny
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by ginny on Aug 28, 2018 15:09:01 GMT
I need help repairing my beloved CK B16. It started overheating and had to be turned off. Anyone know of someone in my area with expertise?
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ginny
New Member
Posts: 14
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CK B16
Aug 28, 2018 15:10:07 GMT
Post by ginny on Aug 28, 2018 15:10:07 GMT
Duh. My area is iowa city iowa!
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Post by Travis on Aug 28, 2018 16:00:15 GMT
One of the most knowledgeable members is in Chillicothe, IL. I am sure he will respond later.
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Post by coldspaces on Aug 28, 2018 17:33:51 GMT
Hello ginny, it sounds like something has happened to cause it to not start right. That could be real serious like a compressor problem or hopefully more likely a bad start relay. The wiring on these is rubber insulated and most likely bad, moving it around to try to check things may lead to a complete rewire which is possible. Can you tell us more about its symptoms?
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CK B16
Aug 28, 2018 23:12:33 GMT
Post by turbokinetic on Aug 28, 2018 23:12:33 GMT
I need help repairing my beloved CK B16. It started overheating and had to be turned off. Anyone know of someone in my area with expertise? Hi welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear that you're having problems with your CK. These old machines have become like a part of the family for some of us and it's really upsetting when they don't work properly.
You're fortunate to have Coldspaces; a really good guy; in your state who has taken care of many Monitor Tops and other antique fridges.
As he said, we need to know exactly what you mean by "overheating."
What "changed" from the way it used to be?
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ginny
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by ginny on Aug 30, 2018 15:28:36 GMT
Thanks for responding.
I've had my fridge for thirty years, defrosting once or twice a year. Moved it to three different houses and only ever replaced the door handle.
It quit cooling and became frighteningly hot so I've turned it off. Motor runs when turned on. Inside light works too!
An acquaintance--refrigeration professional said some non compressing air maybe needs to be released or maybe a float is stuck but he is not inclined to tackle the job. I'm a plumber by trade but shy about doing anything out of my skill set. Especially if it might make my house stink of sulphur.
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Post by turbokinetic on Aug 30, 2018 15:38:59 GMT
Thanks for responding. I've had my fridge for thirty years, defrosting once or twice a year. Moved it to three different houses and only ever replaced the door handle. It quit cooling and became frighteningly hot so I've turned it off. Motor runs when turned on. Inside light works too! An acquaintance--refrigeration professional said some non compressing air maybe needs to be released or maybe a float is stuck but he is not inclined to tackle the job. I'm a plumber by trade but shy about doing anything out of my skill set. Especially if it might make my house stink of sulphur. Hi. You did the correct thing to shut it down when this happened.
The CK machines use SO2 refrigerant gas. This gas is not likely to develop non-condensable gases in the system; so there is no need to purge the system.
The float sticking is quite possible, and this would be the first thing to address. The float chamber is on the top, where the service port is. If you stand in front of the unit and look behind and to the right if the compressor, you will see the float chamber. It's mounted in the deck that makes up the top cabinet cover.
You can tap it sharply with a block of wood, tapping from different directions. Do this while the unit has been stopped for a while; then again do it with the compressor running. You may hear some material flowing through the float valve once it begins to free up.
Often, this will be a one-time issue and it may never stick again.
Another possibility is that the refrigerant charge has slowly leaked away over time, and there is simply not enough remaining in the system to raise the float. You would likely have smelled SO2 if this were the case.
Let us know what the outcome of the float tapping is!
Sincerely,
David
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Post by elec573 on Aug 31, 2018 6:27:39 GMT
Hi Ginny
Welcom to the forum this is of special interest to me sense I have the same fridge . It’s worked flawlessly for over 3 years now.
Sense you’ve had it a number of years your a where of what it sounds like when it’s running. I know mine when running you can definitely here the refrigerant going through the
evaporator when door is open . If float is stuck closed you would not here that or maybe just faintly. So like Turbo said try tipping on the float housing . I would also
read some of the ck section there may be something there that compares to your situation. Keep us posted!
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ginny
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by ginny on Aug 31, 2018 13:42:37 GMT
Wow, maybe that did it! The outer compressor cover still got warm but I think it always did when the fridge was running. But the top crown piece had also gotten really hot when this problem started. After tapping and turning it back on, that top plate is staying cooler and the inside of the fridge is getting cold! There was a big thump that I assume was the float coming loose and now the sound is absolutely normal at least as I remember....haven't heard it for a month.
I have to leave for work so I hope it's okay to leave it running. I'll come home at lunch time to check.
If you see this post and think I should turn it off please call or text me at 3193302358 .
Thank you so very much!
Ginny Blair
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Post by Travis on Aug 31, 2018 14:29:34 GMT
Ginny,
It sounds like you had a stuck float. When they get stuck and then open, it sounds like a toilet flush or a big thump. I would think you're ok with letting it run until lunch. Keep an eye on it, but exercise might help it.
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Post by turbokinetic on Aug 31, 2018 15:30:26 GMT
Wow, maybe that did it! The outer compressor cover still got warm but I think it always did when the fridge was running. But the top crown piece had also gotten really hot when this problem started. After tapping and turning it back on, that top plate is staying cooler and the inside of the fridge is getting cold! There was a big thump that I assume was the float coming loose and now the sound is absolutely normal at least as I remember....haven't heard it for a month. I have to leave for work so I hope it's okay to leave it running. I'll come home at lunch time to check. If you see this post and think I should turn it off please call or text me at 3193302358 . Thank you so very much! Ginny Blair This is great news! Completely agree with Travis that the float was just stuck for some reason. It seems that the nature of SO2 refrigerant is that it creates some residue in the system. Once that pushes through the system it should be fine.
Hope to hear it's nicely frosted when you check it out at lunch!
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Post by turbokinetic on Aug 31, 2018 15:59:17 GMT
Ginny, I forgot to add....
The outer "sleeve" or "cover" that sits around the compressor is called the condenser. This is the part you see when you walk up to the refrigerator, giving it its characteristic shape on top. This condenser is supposed to get hot. It should get hot in a few seconds of starting the compressor. The refrigerator removes heat from the interior of the cabinet, and rejects the heat out of the system through the condenser. This part should get very warm as soon as the compressor is started; and should stay warm as long as it's running.
The central "dome" in the center is the compressor motor housing. It gradually gets warm as the compressor oil heats up. It should gradually warm up as the unit runs. If the center dome is getting very hot, while the condenser is not getting warm, then there's a problem.
It sounds like yours is working well now!
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Post by elec573 on Aug 31, 2018 18:45:06 GMT
Glad it’s working better. Mine runs a little over 2 mins and is off around 15 mins to give you some comparison. But mine sets in an air condition house around 70 degrees
all the time. The top of the motor never gets very warm . After it’s runs a day or two I’d check the frost line and see where it’s at. Mine sets all most half way up on
the evaporator header left side . Sometimes they get oil logged in the evaporator. To help with that you need to put a pan of very hot water in the evaporator to make
it work hard and push the oil back into the motor area. This may help work the float and flush it out also .
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ginny
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by ginny on Sept 1, 2018 0:11:42 GMT
I bet what happened is during July I was on vacation and my cat sitter only opened the fridge twice a day plus the a.c. was off and it was hotter than usual in the house. My cat prefers open windows to a.c.....
But now the fridge is even making ice cubes, which it never did before! I have been busy and have a second fridge in my basement so I've just coped and gotten extra exercise going up and down stairs. I'm really thrilled to have it up and running again. Will try to send a picture later, I'm a little challenged by this modern technology.
Thanks all, again.
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Post by turbokinetic on Sept 1, 2018 0:21:46 GMT
I bet what happened is during July I was on vacation and my cat sitter only opened the fridge twice a day plus the a.c. was off and it was hotter than usual in the house. My cat prefers open windows to a.c..... But now the fridge is even making ice cubes, which it never did before! I have been busy and have a second fridge in my basement so I've just coped and gotten extra exercise going up and down stairs. I'm really thrilled to have it up and running again. Will try to send a picture later, I'm a little challenged by this modern technology. Thanks all, again. This is great news again! Seems it may have had some slight restriction all along to make it have trouble making ice.
Again, thanks for joining and posting here. We love helping others out, in spite of the newfangled technology! 
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