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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 1:13:50 GMT
This is a 1935 Crosley Tri-Shelvador Refrigerator with a Crosley Refrigeration Unit on top. I purchased this off of Craigslist. It was located in Skokie, IL in a warehouse. The guy told me a bit of history about the unit. It was purchase from Mandel Brothers of Chichago for $185 in 1934. It was then loaded up and made its way to Milwaukee. With The Great Depression going on the family was forced to crate up all their belongings including this refrigerator. It was loaded onto a truck and made it way to Skokie. The gentleman who owned the warehouse at that time was a storage facility. He built a wall around the family's belongings in hope they would return to get them. They never returned. The business was sold to a new owner and he found this wall built in the middle of his warehouse and became curious. Cut a door in the wall and found a house full of furniture. He began to go through it some of which he put in his own home and some he sold. Them he finally got to back and there she was in a crate. He removed the crate and behold a brand new 1935 Crosley Tri-Shelvador Regrigerator still wrapped. It had never been used. The shelves still wrapped and all the ice trays still in the freezer. He was going to scrap the unit and I told him NO WAY! I made the 2hr drive in pouring down rain and brought her here to Wisconsin. Found a broken wire in the junction box. Repaired it and opened up both low side and high side by the way which was still sealed off from the factory. The I got a horrible burning smell of Sulphur Dioxide. I have let it run now for 2-weeks straight. Today it has decided to stop leaking for some reason??? I am a little nervous. I want to keep it orginal as the leak is around the front seal of the shaft. My next question where can I get parts for it? After that the unit will have to evacuated to removed the refrigerant. Then someone told me to purge the system and change the oil in the compressor and put Hot-Shot which is replacement for R-12. Some have told me I could use R134. Some said to replace the compressor with a Bitzer Compressor?  ? IDK what to do so can someone out there help and tell me what I need to do to restore this unit and keep her alive and cooling? |
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Post by Travis on Jun 1, 2015 1:25:11 GMT
It would be normal for this to leak a little bit right after opening the service valves. Is it still leaking in operation?
That's exciting I would've made a drive for that.
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 1:30:20 GMT
It has stopped leaking today. I have out in the garage at this momemt and have put water in it to give it something to cool. At this time it is not leaking. Is it safe to put in the house? I want this in my kitchen. I live in a French Victorian home that was built in 1885. It would look awesome in my kitchen.
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Post by coldspaces on Jun 1, 2015 1:32:41 GMT
I still think you should give it to me lol. What a story to have to tell to everyone. So glad he didn't get to scrap it. Be patient and we will help if we can. Just remembered I bought an old catalog that might have some seal info in it I will have to check.
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 1:37:24 GMT
LLLOOOLLL!!! Thanks you are awesome and to talk to. I have hope that you will find something for me :-)
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Post by allan on Jun 1, 2015 1:44:56 GMT
That is an amazing find! I have 2 of the belt drive Crosleys which are slightly different. I have 3 of the belt drive compressors and have not been able to locate any replacement parts for the compressors. I have disassembled one and found that the shaft seal is very different from anything I've ever seen. I have Bitzer and Dorin compressors that I have tried in these machines. I have tried 134a and r22 which cools very well. Noise and vibration has been an issue so far. With the spring mounting system the Bitzer compressor really shakes a lot. When using 134 a it is difficult to get a really cold cabinet without having the low side in a vacuum, which is very bad with an open type compressor. I would strongly suggest to not run this unit low on refrigerant as it will draw in moisture via the leaky shaft seal. I guess it is possible for the seal to mate itself and stop leaking. Good luck with that great machine.
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Post by cablehack on Jun 1, 2015 1:53:41 GMT
What an amazing find! The fact that it has held the refrigerant all these years makes me think the seal can't be too bad. My guess is that it's just needed to be run in and lubricated for it to seal properly - well that's been my experience with seals used in other things. On that basis it might improve with use.
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Post by allan on Jun 1, 2015 1:55:13 GMT
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 2:00:26 GMT
What an amazing find! The fact that it has held the refrigerant all these years makes me think the seal can't be too bad. My guess is that it's just needed to be run in and lubricated for it to seal properly - well that's been my experience with seals used in other things. On that basis it might improve with use. Thanks I am so excited!!! I go out and sit in the garage and just look at it and watch it cycle off and on. Again thanks!! |
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 2:02:19 GMT
Here is my unit with a Dorin compressor on 134A I saw your pictures online when I done a google search. You had to do a lot of stuff to it looks like. Awesome frost pattern BTW |
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Post by coldspaces on Jun 1, 2015 2:08:12 GMT
This will excite you even more. 14th one down is a 1934, 5 & 6 - 5 bolt Crosley replacement seal in this old catalog I bought. First # is probably theirs but the #297 is an industry standard # and may lead you to a new seal if needed. Not sure if anyone sells it still or not but I am searching.  |
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 2:17:51 GMT
OMG you are the bomb!!! I hope so I will search too and ask tomorrow when I get to work if this or a replacemnt for it is avai. I know part number come and go and change. Again thanks!!!!!!
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Post by coldspaces on Jun 1, 2015 2:22:08 GMT
Yes #s can change and I am not finding the 297 so far. If you can just find the specs on it with dimensions and material types you could then try to match a modern seal.
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Post by dgray134 on Jun 1, 2015 2:58:10 GMT
What an amazing find! The fact that it has held the refrigerant all these years makes me think the seal can't be too bad. My guess is that it's just needed to be run in and lubricated for it to seal properly - well that's been my experience with seals used in other things. On that basis it might improve with use. Me too and thanks for the comment |
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Post by allan on Jun 1, 2015 3:03:02 GMT
I will search for the seal I removed from my Crosley pump. The stationary disc of the seal is actually soldered to a thin plate of metal that is the same size as the sealing plate gasket. And on these compressors the spring is on the opposite side of the crank. Hopefully the existing seal will mate up with a little running and be fine
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