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Post by atlalan on Jan 12, 2021 14:12:32 GMT
Hello all,
This is my first post here so hopefully I'm working within the rules of the forum.
I've owned a Monitor Top for about 20 years that was basically a very early cabinet (metal trim around the edges and corner caps, wood inside the door) with a CK top that had been added later. My top stopped working and my repair person who specializes in Monitor Tops and antique appliances says it can't be fixed.
So, I'm trying to find a CK top that is the correct size that works. The dimensions of the top that went south are 20” X 25 3/8”, which is smaller than other CK tops that I've seen.
Can anyone point me towards someone who might have something I can use?
Many thanks!
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Post by ChrisJ on Jan 12, 2021 15:09:03 GMT
What did they say is wrong with the top? It may be far easier for a member on the forum to assist you with repairing the unit you have than trying to find another of that type.
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Post by Travis on Jan 12, 2021 16:19:45 GMT
I suspect you’re looking for the CK26 variant. It would help if we know where you’re at and what the symptoms of your unit are.
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Post by atlalan on Jan 12, 2021 17:03:22 GMT
I'm clueless on refrigeration so I took my top back to a guy who has been restoring/repairing Monitor Tops for 25 years. He tried to fix it and said he couldn't; for what it's worth, he said he's only had 3 Monitor Tops in all his years that couldn't be fixed.
As far as symptoms go, the unit ran perfectly for 20+ years after I bought it. Then I had it movers move it when I relocated about 3 miles away; the movers didn't take the top off, they wrapped it all as one unit and moved it. After it was moved, I turned it on and it made a lot of noise which it didn't used to do and wouldn't cool. I contacted the Monitor Top guy that I bought the refrigerator from in 2000 and told him what was going on; he told me that maybe the refrigerator had been tipped or turned on its side and to put a very hot light into the freezer compartment and said that usually melted any obstructions in the refrigerant line. I tried that with various very high wattage bulbs and nothing changed.
So then I packed up the top and took it to him and he tried to get it to run but called back after a month and said the unit was not repairable.
I'm in Atlanta and he's the only one I've found that knows anything about these at all. If there are other experts within some reasonable geography, I can take it to them.
I have an early Monitor Top that has metal banding and wood inside the door; whatever version of the CK top that fits it is apparently smaller than normal. I thought they were all the same until I started trying to find one and most are larger and have a rolled edge that completely covers the top of the refrigerator. On mine, you can see an edge of the top of the refrigerator all the way around.
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Post by Travis on Jan 12, 2021 20:53:41 GMT
Is this John Jowers?
Yes, a CK26 is a variant of a CK2. The only difference is the size and shape of the deck.
I would suggest you make a little video of it running and send that to me or upload to YouTube and share the link here. I won’t say that you’re previous technician is incorrect, but a second opinion might not hurt.
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Post by atlalan on Jan 12, 2021 21:27:17 GMT
John Jowers is working on it and provided the death certificate.
I can ask him to make a video of it running so you can see/hear what is going on. The last time I heard it the compressor was very loud. Prior to the move you could barely hear it.
Thanks for clarifying what a "CK26" is!
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Post by Travis on Jan 12, 2021 21:33:48 GMT
Does John have the unit? I wasn’t aware John would work on a unit with so2. I’m not questioning John, but am interested to know the cause of failure.
I can watch for another unit, though that version is difficult to find.
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Post by atlalan on Jan 12, 2021 21:59:18 GMT
Yes, John has the unit. I don't think it's a sulfur dioxide unit because he asked me a lot of questions about it before I took it up there and he determined it was a CK (with the dimple on the top of the unit). He said there was someone in St. Simons Island who worked on the sulfur dioxide units. But again, I'm so clueless about all the technicalities of this so I could be wrong. Would an earlier version that originally went on the cabinet work since it should be the right size? Like I said, my cabinet is very early according to him so it probably had a different style top (a DR?) Are they easier to find? My refrigerator has the body shown in this picture.
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Post by Travis on Jan 12, 2021 22:21:39 GMT
A healthy DR is rare, that’s why you have a CK. It highly likely that it was an so2 unit. It’s impossible to know what refrigerant was in it as people try different ones.
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Post by turbokinetic on Jan 13, 2021 3:33:04 GMT
I'm clueless on refrigeration so I took my top back to a guy who has been restoring/repairing Monitor Tops for 25 years. He tried to fix it and said he couldn't; for what it's worth, he said he's only had 3 Monitor Tops in all his years that couldn't be fixed. As far as symptoms go, the unit ran perfectly for 20+ years after I bought it. Then I had it movers move it when I relocated about 3 miles away; the movers didn't take the top off, they wrapped it all as one unit and moved it. After it was moved, I turned it on and it made a lot of noise which it didn't used to do and wouldn't cool. I contacted the Monitor Top guy that I bought the refrigerator from in 2000 and told him what was going on; he told me that maybe the refrigerator had been tipped or turned on its side and to put a very hot light into the freezer compartment and said that usually melted any obstructions in the refrigerant line. I tried that with various very high wattage bulbs and nothing changed. So then I packed up the top and took it to him and he tried to get it to run but called back after a month and said the unit was not repairable. I'm in Atlanta and he's the only one I've found that knows anything about these at all. If there are other experts within some reasonable geography, I can take it to them. I have an early Monitor Top that has metal banding and wood inside the door; whatever version of the CK top that fits it is apparently smaller than normal. I thought they were all the same until I started trying to find one and most are larger and have a rolled edge that completely covers the top of the refrigerator. On mine, you can see an edge of the top of the refrigerator all the way around. Hi Alan. Your CK26 is a sulphur dioxide unit. They have a pin-point small metering valve orifice which often gets some rust or other deposits in it. The heating treatment is the correct first step to remedy this; however if it doesn't resolve it easily, there is no alternative but opening up the system and making repairs to the valve. I live within a couple hours of you and sent you a PM about it so please check your messages.
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Post by elec573 on Jan 13, 2021 7:01:59 GMT
Very interesting guys please keep us posted on results!
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Post by atlalan on Jan 13, 2021 10:59:36 GMT
Thanks to all for your assistance. I have reached out to turbokinetic and will keep everyone posted on how all this plays out.
Again, many thanks! I've learned a lot in my short time on the forum.
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Post by turbokinetic on Feb 1, 2021 2:30:56 GMT
Thanks to all for your assistance. I have reached out to turbokinetic and will keep everyone posted on how all this plays out. Again, many thanks! I've learned a lot in my short time on the forum. monitortop.freeforums.net/thread/2069
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Post by atlalan on Feb 14, 2021 18:44:52 GMT
Wanted to give everyone a final update on the CK-26. Turbokinetic fixed the machine in about 2 days and then let it run for about a week before I picked it up at his shop. I've had it running for about a week and it runs like a champ; consistent temperature and very quiet. It's more quiet than it was before; the only time you hear it is when the compressor cycles on. It now has new weatherstripping around the inside of the cabinet and turbokinetic added weatherstipping around the base of the CK-26, which it never had as long as I've owned it. I added bondo to fill the places where the other "repair" shop took a hammer to the deck and service port and sanded the top (see Turbokinetic's YouTube videos for a view of the damage). There was also a ding on the upper piece of metal that surrounds the compressor, so I filled, sanded and re-painted that as well. I'm attaching a couple of pictures so people can see the final condition. My "man cave" has Edison bulbs and wood on the walls and ceiling, so the color of the pictures has that vintage feel. My hat is off to Turbokinetic for a job quickly and extremely well done! He's saved this from an almost certain fate in either a landfill or metal salvage yard. Attachments:
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Post by turbokinetic on Feb 14, 2021 22:09:55 GMT
Wanted to give everyone a final update on the CK-26. Turbokinetic fixed the machine in about 2 days and then let it run for about a week before I picked it up at his shop. I've had it running for about a week and it runs like a champ; consistent temperature and very quiet. It's more quiet than it was before; the only time you hear it is when the compressor cycles on. It now has new weatherstripping around the inside of the cabinet and turbokinetic added weatherstipping around the base of the CK-26, which it never had as long as I've owned it. I added bondo to fill the places where the other "repair" shop took a hammer to the deck and service port and sanded the top (see Turbokinetic's YouTube videos for a view of the damage). There was also a ding on the upper piece of metal that surrounds the compressor, so I filled, sanded and re-painted that as well. I'm attaching a couple of pictures so people can see the final condition. My "man cave" has Edison bulbs and wood on the walls and ceiling, so the color of the pictures has that vintage feel. My hat is off to Turbokinetic for a job quickly and extremely well done! He's saved this from an almost certain fate in either a landfill or metal salvage yard. Wow that looks amazing there on the rear of the top. Like it never happened! Thanks for the follow-up and it was a pleasure visiting and getting this unit up and going for you. Make sure and send the other shop a "bill" for the materials and your time to repair it. Sincerely, David Ps - if someone happened to miss the video, it is here: Part 1: https://youtu.be/2RFuSFzDCak
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