1941 GE refrigerator trouble

[jbellafesta]

I have a 1941 GE Fridge. Type CF2J16. Uses Sulphur dioxide. Relay type is G5.
I usually defrost every 1-2 weeks in the summer. First thing that seemed strange was when I put the fridge in defrost mode 2 weeks ago, it didn't defrost. Instead the compressor came on occasionally and it maintained a temp of about 50 degrees for about 6 hours. At that point i manually turned on the fridge (because I didn't want my food to spoil)and set it to my normal setting (5.5) and all seemed ok. Last weekend i defrosted the fridge as usual. Several days later, when putting some groceries away i noticed the temp was 45 degrees. Normally i like to keep it about 35. I turned down the temp to 6.5 The next day i checked and temp was still 45 but i noticed the compressor was running, which seemed odd to me that it would be on and temp would be too warm. I noticed that the compressor would turn on, run for about ten seconds, shut off, and then repeat. It must have been doing this all week. The compressor was hot on top. I've attached some pics if that's helpful. The fridge is cosmetically in nearly perfect condition, so i hate to part with it. Any ideas on how this can be repaired. Anyone know if there are vintage parts available or are there new parts that are suitable to repair it with? This system looks similar to my monitor top, so i fear that if the compressor is bad it may be similarly difficult to service. I had bought this as a "backup" unit in case the monitor top needed to be sent away for repair, but then I got Costco membership and that required me to use both fridges full time because of all the crap I'm buying now.
Thanks
Jesse

 

[stan]

Hi Jessie

It's a beautiful machine
Try contacting David here in the forum. He is Turbokinectic and has a thread # 769050 running now...titled
"antique hunting expedition "
You can contact him there or click to see if his email is listed.
He'l know what's probably wrong.. Float valve ect.
I have heard that sometime you can shut fridge off, put hot pans/trays of water in and around the evaporator to warm heat up evaporator, then turn on. This sometimes dislodges a oil plug. But I wouldn't try that til you check with him.
He's also a member..as Travis is..on the Monitor top forum. You can find them both there as well.
Both have a weath of info.
HTH
Keep me posted, as I'll be interested to know the outcome

 

[rp2813]

Oh, The Irony

It's a real shame when a beautiful, well maintained refrigerator conks out, yet an old mistreated beater that's missing a bunch of parts keeps running in spite of itself.

 

I've also heard of the hot trays of water trick that Stan mentioned.  How effective it really is, I don't know.

 

Stan has referred you to a true expert for guidance.  David is the only person I know of who successfully revived a +/- 1930 Frigidaire's mechanical system and got it running good as new.  Those machines, while beautiful, are widely considered lost causes.  He's a real miracle worker. 

 

I have a feeling that since your fridge is a close relative to the monitor top, the problem may lie with another component besides the compressor.  GE's from this period are tough to kill.  There are 1928 monitor tops out there that are still purring along after 90 years.  I don't even think GE's engineers expected them to last that long.

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi Jesse.  Thanks for looking me up!

 

It sounds like your compressor is running for a few moments and then cycling off as the overload protector trips. This is going to be (most likely) an easy and inexpensive fix.

 

The motor's relay can be replaced with a modern one such as the Supco RO81.

 

How handy are you with electrical repairs?

 

I realize this forum may have a limitation on posting by new members. Feel free to e-mail me if this limitation becomes an inconvenience. My e-mail should be in my profile.

 

[turbokinetic]

I got your e-mail - if you can't see the response check your SPAM folder!

 

 

[stan]

Hey

What happend with this?
Jessie David what the good news?