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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 22, 2019 18:49:08 GMT
Hello! I did check the archives but keep coming up with nothing so I decided I'd ask what must be a common question... I am a new member to the forum and I have a CK-2-D16. When I got the GE, it seemed to run quietly and cooled very well. For several years it was stored in my garage which last year had a water intrusion issue. While the GE stayed dry, the garage was very humid and damp (welcome to Florida in the summer...) Since then, I moved it to a dry and air-conditioned location in my house where it has been for the last 8 months. When I plug it in now, the motor runs, but seems very noisy. I only ran it for a 10-15 seconds, so I can't tell if it is still cooling. As I don't want to damage something by running it when I shouldn't, I wanted to ask if there is some cleaning procedure or other service I should do before running it again. Thanks for any assistance. GE Type CK-2-D16 No. 42-334-910
Larry M.
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Post by turbokinetic on Apr 22, 2019 22:39:54 GMT
Hello! I did check the archives but keep coming up with nothing so I decided I'd ask what must be a common question... I am a new member to the forum and I have a CK-2-D16. When I got the GE, it seemed to run quietly and cooled very well. For several years it was stored in my garage which last year had a water intrusion issue. While the GE stayed dry, the garage was very humid and damp (welcome to Florida in the summer...) Since then, I moved it to a dry and air-conditioned location in my house where it has been for the last 8 months. When I plug it in now, the motor runs, but seems very noisy. I only ran it for a 10-15 seconds, so I can't tell if it is still cooling. As I don't want to damage something by running it when I shouldn't, I wanted to ask if there is some cleaning procedure or other service I should do before running it again. Thanks for any assistance. GE Type CK-2-D16 No. 42-334-910
Larry M. .
Hi Larry. Welcome to the forum and thanks for reaching out to us about your CK.
Normally a CK is the most durable and long lived of the Monitor Top fridges.
The humidity should not have caused any permanent damage to the compressor. At worst it could have caused some sticking parts in the control or motor start relay, due to rust but even that is unlikely.
The absolute best is for you to record a YouTube video of the compressor starting up. Normally the CK will start with a rushing sound which tapers off in about 15 seconds. It may pop and crackle a little as the refrigerant boils off in the compressor sump. After a few minutes it should be consistent and quiet.
The best way to prevent motor damage is to use a plug-in power meter such as a Kill-A-Watt meter. This is an inexpensive tool available from Harbor Freight and other places. It plugs into the wall outlet, and then the load is plugged into it. When that's done, you can see a display of the motor's amps and watts; which will tell a lot about the operation condition of the machine.
If the compressor is making a rattling mechanical sound, it's probably due to needing to run. If the sound is a loud electrical humming, then you may need to be more careful and measure the amp draw before allowing it to run for any extended period of time.
Hope to see a video from you soon! I'm sure the other folks here will have some good points to add as well.
Sincerely,
David
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Post by birkie on Apr 22, 2019 22:54:15 GMT
Agree on sending a video. Here's a video I took a few years ago of a CK-2 starting up, for comparison:
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Post by turbokinetic on Apr 22, 2019 23:01:39 GMT
Agree on sending a video. Here's a video I took a few years ago of a CK-2 starting up, for comparison:
Thanks Aaron. Here's another startup video. You'll have to click the link that takes you to the startup time in a rather long video:
youtu.be/FhNKStwTO-c?t=1187
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 23, 2019 1:54:57 GMT
Thanks for the input! I'll get a Kill-A-Watt meter this week. I should have one for working on my old GE fans anyway.
As soon as I do, I'll take a video and post it so you can hear the noises. By the way, what year is this model from?
Thanks again.
Larry M.
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Post by birkie on Apr 23, 2019 3:36:59 GMT
By the way, what year is this model from? 1938. It was a replacement machine, your cabinet likely had one of the later D-style DR units on it that failed. The serial number starts with a 42. I believe they made a huge batch of the CK-2-D16 units, which they used up until the new (last) batch of CK units was made in 1942. Since your serial number starts with a 42-, it's plausible the DR failed around 1942 and it was replaced with one of the last remaining units from the 1938 batch. |
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 23, 2019 13:07:46 GMT
Very interesting! So the cabinet was made in 38 but having a 42 at the beginning of the serial number indicates that the motor was built in 42 or was the serial number stamped on an existing CK unit at the time the mechanical portion was replaced?
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Post by birkie on Apr 23, 2019 13:22:16 GMT
Very interesting! So the cabinet was made in 38 but having a 42 at the beginning of the serial number indicates that the motor was built in 42 or was the serial number stamped on an existing CK unit at the time the mechanical portion was replaced? Sorry, wasn't clear. The top you have was manufactured in 1938. The cabinet was probably made in 1931 or 1932, as was its original DR top. I suspect the original top failed around 1942, and was replaced with one of these CK tops, which happened to be manufactured in 1938, but was issued 1942 serial number when it was put into service as a replacement. That's the most plausible scenario to me. Less likely was that the DR top failed some time after 1938 (but before 1942), was replaced with a CK top which itself failed in 1942 and was sent in for repair. They re-issued serial numbers on all rebuilt machines as well. |
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 23, 2019 16:37:53 GMT
Thank you for the clarification! I'm learning lots here already.
I'm finishing up a restoration on a 1914 GE Collar Oscillator desk fan this weekend, and once that is finished, I'll move on to figuring out what needs doing on the CK.
I imagine that the wiring is pretty crispy as everything is original. Even the original cord and plug! It is amazing how GE made things to last back then, but today, they fall apart after a year or two.
Again, thanks for all the really good input!
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Post by turbokinetic on Apr 23, 2019 17:00:42 GMT
Thank you for the clarification! I'm learning lots here already. I'm finishing up a restoration on a 1914 GE Collar Oscillator desk fan this weekend, and once that is finished, I'll move on to figuring out what needs doing on the CK. I imagine that the wiring is pretty crispy as everything is original. Even the original cord and plug! It is amazing how GE made things to last back then, but today, they fall apart after a year or two. Again, thanks for all the really good input! Wow, a Collar Oscillator! Those are very rare and valuable. Are you also an AFCA member? Those fans are well respected there.
Yes they definitely made things to last back then. The wiring is about all that goes wrong with the CK it seems.... aside from accident damage to the lines.
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 23, 2019 17:57:40 GMT
Yes, I've been a member of the AFCA since 2012. The fans are more of an obsession. The Monitor Top is just a really cool diversion (no pun intended!)
And I live in a 1925 bungalow so I really have to have a working Monitor Top to go along with my 1920's Gas Stove! Here is a picture of the fan. Not quite finished polishing the brass yet.
Don't know why the fan picture is sideways! (Fixed it!)
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 23, 2019 18:00:19 GMT
Would the 1931-32 cabinet a painted cabinet or porcelain?
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Post by ckfan on Apr 23, 2019 20:22:20 GMT
That’s neat stuff you’ve got there. To answer your question, the cabinets could be ordered as porcelain or painted.
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Post by turbokinetic on Apr 23, 2019 22:45:24 GMT
Yes, I've been a member of the AFCA since 2012. The fans are more of an obsession. The Monitor Top is just a really cool diversion (no pun intended!)
And I live in a 1925 bungalow so I really have to have a working Monitor Top to go along with my 1920's Gas Stove! Here is a picture of the fan. Not quite finished polishing the brass yet.
Don't know why the fan picture is sideways!
Very nice kitchen there! I am sure a MT will really round out that décor as well!
The reason the picture is sideways has to do with the way the picture file is encoded by the camera phone. If you edit the picture and save it with photo editing software, it will display as intended.
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Post by lgmtr6 on Apr 24, 2019 12:13:29 GMT
UPDATE! Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I went ahead and plugged the CK in last night to see what would happen. I guess being in the house A/C for the last 8 months really helped as this time the motor fired up right away, the coolant gurgled, whooshed, and it settled down to running absolutely as quiet as could be! The evaporator frosted over and it froze ice in the ice trays in less than 90 minutes! I tried to video it but my iPhone keeps dying anytime I try and use the camera after the last software update. So, I'll try again tonight and get a video posted. I know the wiring is still going to need to be replaced, but I'm really thrilled that this old thing works! Now my biggest challenge will be to get enough help to move it outside so I can sand and prep it for paint!
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