Moving a monitor top refrigerator

Without knowing what kind of model you are talking about we can’t really say how heavy or large it is. They made 3 different sizes of CKs that went on various cabinets. Sometimes they even got put onto older heavier cabinets if an older unit died. I have one like that.

You don’t have to take the unit off of the top but it will help. They are usually pretty top heavy if left on. Remember that the only thing holding on the unit is gravity. So if you tip the unit over or when moving it in general, strap the unit to the cabinet well.

A heavy duty hand truck will suffice. Just load it into the trailer and strap it down a few different ways to make sure it doesn’t slide.

Taking the unit off can be done by two strong people if you lay the whole cabinet down. On its back or side. This obviously is a precarious situation though which could result in property...or human damage. I’ve helped other guys lay them down and carefully pull the unit out sideways. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE LINES GOING TO AND FROM THE FREEZER BOX (evaporator). If one of these delicate lines is damaged, Sulfur Dioxide will leak out and ruin your day. Good luck!

The forum is out of space for pictures. You can upload to another site and share the link here.

It’s advisable to move them in two parts. You’ll need two people to do so. Many of us have built open crates to support the unit during transport.

Here's a picture:

ibb.co/WkZNRfc

Damn that's really nice. I suggest a pallet for the top section myself but strapping the whole thing down really well, as suggested, would work.

Going by the 1934 product manual from the reference section and mention of CK-30, this could be a "Model T-9 with CK-30B Refrigerating Machine."

The cooling unit weighs 179 pounds and the refrigerant is sulphur dioxide.

I would strap the unit to the cabinet first. Then, strap the whole thing to an appliance dolly. Now, with two good men, maybe three, lay it on the side. Put two men on the dolly side and a third on the back side.

Once laid down, undo the unit strap while holding onto the condenser band. Position one man on the front and rear side and pull it off and set it on the crate. Watch the rear side refrigeration lines.

Please help. Who has "been there, done that"? I'm moving it this Saturday. I don't want to damage anything nor injure ourselves.

Can two guys handle this? Maybe there'll be a third person (smaller female) to help some.

Can two guys safely tip it over and lay it on a side (with the refrigeration unit in place and strapped down)? About how much does the cabinet weigh?

----

Or, can two guys safely remove (and maneuver) the refrigeration unit with it upright? That's 180 pounds- that's how much I weigh. I don't see two guys lifting that off the top and setting it down, especially with the fragile evaporator lines. It seems we would need to be standing on chairs and be able to set it down into a crate that's on the counter.

----

Any other ideas? It might be tough to get a third or fourth male, unless I hire day workers. But we might not want strangers at this vacant house.

----

Should I rent an appliance hand truck versus using a regular hand truck (to help tip it over, and we probably have to wheel it down outside concrete stairs)?

----

Or: If we can manage to move it without too much trouble, why not leave the refrigeration unit on (strapped down) for transport?


Thanks,

Kurt

Note: I do see Travis's post with a few upvotes, but there's the two versus three guys part, and I could use some assurance.