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Post by allan on Aug 13, 2013 17:00:43 GMT
Everyone knows my love of the Monitor Top and I want one of each model they made! But I love anything mechanical and I have the following belt drive Crosley Shelvador on the way to me! Not sure of the age but the unit sets on top and it uses S02. Comments and opinions please!
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Post by allan on Aug 13, 2013 17:02:33 GMT
Here is the Crosley compressor. Box is wood with porcelain skins. Attachments:
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Post by coldspaces on Aug 13, 2013 17:46:57 GMT
Thats cool. Looks like it is small maybe 4-5 cu. ft. I wish I could buy all the old ones I am finding but don't have the money or room.
From the oil that looks to have leaked out at the shaft seal I bet it is out of so2. If you are planning a conversation to something new like 134a let me know. The 1935 repair manual I have has info about changing pulleys to convert belt drive units to R12. It could be very useful for anyone wanting to detune a belt drive unit. I have been wondering just how many type of shaft seals were used on some of these old open drive compressors. I bet some of them might still be matched up or made by a specialty seal shop.
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Post by cablehack on Aug 13, 2013 23:31:48 GMT
What intrigues me is how they can seal the shaft for so long. The metering device looks interesting; almost like a modern TXV, but of course it wouldn't be that, so will be interested to know what they use. For replacement seals, I wonder if something could be adapted from a car air conditioner? Keep us up to date on this one...this kind of stuff fascinates me.
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Post by coldspaces on Aug 14, 2013 0:34:28 GMT
Graingers and other such suppliers carry standard shaft seals for pumps and such who knows if they have similar dimensions and materials.
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Post by allan on Aug 14, 2013 0:44:13 GMT
For the belt drive Crosley it will get a new Bitzer belt drive compressor with an oil sight glass so I can closely watch oil levels while getting refrigerant flow correct. Like my GE's I want everything as original as possible but for reliability sake I think a new compressor is the only choice. We will have the motor completely rebuilt and use everything we can. The refrigerant flow control is actually a BRASS capillary tube and if you look closely you will see that is compression fitted to the strainer mounted on the bottom of the condenser. The strainer is a disc about 1-1/2 inch in diameter that is 1/4 inch female flare by capillary size nut and ferrule compression fitting. The evap is very strange steel with a suction dip tube to skim off oil
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Post by cablehack on Aug 14, 2013 23:19:40 GMT
The strainer is what I thought looked like a TXV. I'm curious why you'd want to replace the compressor. Apart from the seal, why would it be unreliable? If it's lasted this long in original condition, that would indicate there's probably nothing inherently wrong with the design. The motor being an induction type shouldn't have deteriorated except perhaps for bearings.
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Post by allan on Aug 15, 2013 2:10:24 GMT
The shaft seal is bad and as far as I can tell no longer available. In order to get many years of reliable service it will be necessary to have a tight compressor and although I am fully on board with you about keeping everything original I just want to enjoy it without having to work on it, especially a gas leak. It will get a full restoration and be put into full everyday use. I will send the motor to a motor shop and have them rework anything that looks like future trouble. I look forward to hearing this jewel start and run outside one of my offices! The thought of belt drive compression eases me
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Post by ChrisJ on Aug 15, 2013 2:24:43 GMT
Allan, how many refrigerators do you currently have running?
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Post by allan on Aug 15, 2013 2:37:25 GMT
Two are in full time every day use keeping soda at 31 degrees, a CK 2 C16 and a CA 2 B16 with cap tube conversion. Two are disassembled for cabinet foaming and repaint, a DR1 and CA2 form A. That leaves 4 in line to restore
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Post by ChrisJ on Aug 15, 2013 2:40:30 GMT
Are you going to have all of them going in the end?
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Post by allan on Aug 15, 2013 2:45:01 GMT
As long as my ambition holds up I hope to restore them all! I really do love them and enjoy seeing and hearing them work for me
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Post by cablehack on Aug 15, 2013 6:06:58 GMT
As long as my ambition holds up I hope to restore them all! I really do love them and enjoy seeing and hearing them work for me In one way it is probably a good thing that monitor tops are so rare in my part of the world, because I would easily follow your path and have many more. Lack of space is the limiting factor, although I've already worked out where the CG will go, if one turns up. I will never forget the first time I plugged in my CA-2 and heard its unique sound - completely hooked after that. Then, diagnosing its problems once I got it working. It is the most human like thing I've ever worked on; diagnosing by sound, pressure, and temperature - and in the case of the CA-2 was just as temperamental. To me there's much more to them than just keeping food cold.
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Post by jhigdon2 on Aug 19, 2013 4:20:51 GMT
Are you still going to use SO2 in the crosley?
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Post by allan on Aug 19, 2013 14:13:37 GMT
Until I read your post I had just assumed I would set up with a new modern refrigerant. But now I think I will research and see if the new Bitzer will work with SO2. What percent moisture content SO2 is available to provide trouble free operation?
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