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Post by Travis on Aug 1, 2016 21:48:46 GMT
I appreciate your optimism about an easy fix. I wonder if it ever worked after they charged it with whatever? I am guessing that it was some hillbillies project that never worked. It seems that most think that all refrigerants are freon and they're all the same. We know from Gill experimenting that R12 will not work in a DR.
Gill will tell you to install a filter dryer. That can go between the dome and float, likely in place of the tubing with the tap valve.
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Post by cablehack on Aug 3, 2016 0:09:23 GMT
Seriously, I'm going to be attempting some things that I've always been curious but too scared to do. Sounds like when I started with the CA-2. I had never worked on a fridge before. I had no manuals, except for the AK sulphur dioxide model and my Turnquist & Althouse book. I had no idea what to expect when I first opened the system (would it blow up? would it stink the place out?). At least you're in the fortunate position that much more is known about the machines now, and there's a lot more help. Remember, all Monitor Tops follow the text book description of refrigeration and the principles are the same. If you have soft soldered using a blowtorch before, you'll find brazing just as easy, if not slightly easier.
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Post by ckfan on Aug 3, 2016 13:48:22 GMT
I have never soft soldered before but I think that once I read up on it and practice a bit I should be ready to braze. I know that I am very lucky to be a part of this forum which I love. There is such a vast wealth of information here from all of our seasoned members!
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Post by timeswelding on Aug 3, 2016 14:12:09 GMT
Be sure to have lots of trial joints available for learning. Not enough can be said for having a seasoned vet demonstrate how to create a sound joint.
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Post by elec573 on Oct 19, 2016 1:14:13 GMT
Just wondering how you made out with your dra2 ? And also how are you coming along with the ref. learning ? Sense it's something I was thinking about doing myself .
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Post by ckfan on Oct 19, 2016 2:10:59 GMT
The DRA is on the back burner for now until I can prepare myself mentally and get the proper tools for the job. Right now I'm focused on getting my DR1 going since it has less issues to deal with. Don't worry, in due time I will come back to this little gem of a unit. It is going to need a LOT of work though. I don't want to say it is a basket case but...nothing is impossible
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Post by ckfan on Apr 5, 2017 14:40:35 GMT
Well, the time has finally come. I am taking my little DRA up to Gill this weekend to begin the healing process. I hope that I can gain some experience before it is all said and done. I lifted the unit off of its cabinet with my engine hoist last night and put it on a furniture dolly. Then I moved it outside with the help of my good friend Drew. He then helped me heave it into the front seat of my Civic. It fits so nicely! I've got it strapped down with the seat belt and two ratchet straps. I'm sure that when my co workers see it in my car they will give me grief about it... drive.google.com/open?id=0B8_jm7K-ahMaVlA3QXhMblA4OGs
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Post by elec573 on Apr 6, 2017 3:19:35 GMT
Hope you are able to get it going again Ray . It looks pretty nice all ready on the outside.
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Post by ckfan on Apr 6, 2017 13:24:28 GMT
Hope you are able to get it going again Ray . It looks pretty nice all ready on the outside. Don't worry, with the tremendous help of Gill it will live to cool again. It really needs a respray though. It is pretty crusty as is.
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Post by allan on Apr 6, 2017 22:59:23 GMT
Nice one! Take some time and carefully inspect the steel to copper connection on the bottom of the float tank. Any corrosion here needs to be addressed. Also both copper line connections to the evaporator.
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Post by ckfan on Apr 6, 2017 23:53:17 GMT
Thank you Allan. I will make sure to check those connections out. The suction line coming from the evaporator looks pretty crusty. Do you think the method of treatment that I used on my DR1 is sufficient? I took athletic tape and soaked it in epoxy. I then wrapped the tape around the lines and let it dry hard. I then painted the tape with epoxy white paint.
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Post by allan on Apr 7, 2017 1:16:30 GMT
Thank you Allan. I will make sure to check those connections out. The suction line coming from the evaporator looks pretty crusty. Do you think the method of treatment that I used on my DR1 is sufficient? I took athletic tape and soaked it in epoxy. I then wrapped the tape around the lines and let it dry hard. I then painted the tape with epoxy white paint. That repair sounds good and the trick is a good bond so the water doesn't get back in. On the red DR1 I did over two years ago I sandblasted the fittings down to rust free metal and encapsulated the entire joints with Supco red epoxy which is an epoxy made to seal holes in aluminum evaporators. It has to be heat cured onto the metal and I lapped it over to the porcelain. Almost three years later now and it is rock solid. And that DR has an electronic controller that brings the evap on at 18 degrees and off at 6 degrees keeping a 33 degree cabinet. That keeps the drinks like I like em
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Post by ckfan on Apr 7, 2017 4:42:25 GMT
Sounds like I need to get my hands on some of that Supco epoxy! That sounds great.
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Post by ckfan on Apr 11, 2017 15:09:56 GMT
Well, time for another update on my basket case DRA. This weekend Travis and I visited Gill and Doug. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing everybody. Watching Gill and Doug do their magic was amazing. I also got some great footage of work being done and got some footage of Doug's pretty machines. Don't worry Gill, next time I visit your machines are going to be filmed! Anyways, the time came for Gill and I to take a look at my abused DRA. This thing is in much worse shape than I thought...
For starters, Gill kindly took the line tap off of the high side tube coming from the dome. He then brazed the hole shut. It looks so much better. Thank you Gill! He then put some nitrogen inside to see if we could get some gas to flow through the float valve. I am not positive but it seems like the float is plugged up. That is not surprising. What is surprising is that we heard hissing coming from the evaporator suction line. Uh oh. Turns out the tin worm must have been hungry and destroyed the suction connection at some point. Now the evaporator is going to have to come off and the area is going to have to be cleaned and repaired. So much for being an easy fix. I thought that fixing the line tap hole would be hard but Gill fixed it in 5 minutes. The hard part has just started. The unit is now sitting at Travis's house under a tarp next to the garage. Hopefully it can be fixed without an ungodly amount of effort...
Again, thank you Gill and Doug for all of the work that you did this weekend. You were both great. It was amazing to watch the masters at work. I'm sure that Travis will tell a story about his DRF4 that people will find amusing soon enough.
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Post by csulaguy on Sept 23, 2018 9:40:16 GMT
I know this is an old thread Ray, but any luck? Funny that it's been almost a year that I've been into this hobby. Never thought I'd get past the CK; don't get me wrong, I love my CK, but I think I really got interested when I got my 2 DR1a. Now I want a DRA as well.
Also, the vacuum that your friend got - what are the details on it? I'm wondering now if I need to evacuate my DR1 that has a restriction, so I can get that squared away.
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