1955 Frigidaire Cycla-Matic Refrigidaire HELP!!!

[rustypatina]

Howdy Folks,
I've got a 1955 Frigidaire Cycla-Matic Fridge. I'm actually picking it up today and can't remember what the backside of it looks like. Has anyone got a picture of the backside of this fridge?
Thanks in advance
Will

 

[philr]

That's a CIV-150, don't have a picture of the back but here are pics of a similar 1954 model.

 

[rustypatina]

Wow CIV-150!!! Thanks PhilR! Refrigerant type???

Thanks Phil!!
Do you know what refrigerant it runs on? Hoping for R12 but won't be surprised if it's something else. Has an issue according to previous owner. Something about a narrow tube in the system being clogged? I know there's something called an Orifice Tube on a cars a/c, is that what he's talking about?
The first thing I'm going to do is replace the main electrical plug. There's evidence of one of those old Mallory booster or starter set ups as the 3 way wire was disconnected from the compressor long ago.

Yours is in stellar condition as well. Can't wait to get it going. Hopefully it won't need a compressor. If that's the case, I wonder about retrofitting it with a newer, more efficient compressor.
The door seals are definitely going to need replacing.

Any info on the CIV-150 would be greatly appreciated.
Will

 

[goatfarmer]

Capillary tube is probably what he's talking about. That 'fridge should be R12.

 

[philr]

The pictures I sent aren't of my fridge, I found them somewhere on the net (maybe on this site?!). 

 

 

 

[58limited]

Rustypatina

Judging from the picture you posted your fridge is a '54 Cycla-Matic, not a '55. I have one of each, just the regular single door models not the french door model like yours. It is pretty rare and looks complete. I may have some parts for it - My model has a utility tray that mounts under the freezer compartment. It is a small drawer for lunch meats, etc. I'm not sure if your model had one but if so I have one on ebay right now assuming it is the same size as yours was. You can see pics of mine on my website: http://home.roadrunner.com/~limited58/appliances.htm

The fridge uses R-12 refrigerant. If you need door gaskets you can find them for a very good price at McMaster-Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com/#bulb-seals/=sjwv5j

I can't tell from your picture, is yours painted or porcelain? My '54 is porcelain, the '55 is painted.

Would love to see more pics of yours.

 

[rustypatina]

Hello David!

Thanks for taking the time to email me. I wrote you back but of course, everything I asked you answered here!! Thanks again. Couldn't, for the life of me, get back to this post until today. It's now bookmarked.
I'm going to look at your accessory shelf on eBay. The original advertisement picture you have of the interior is super cool.
Do you know the size/rating of the original compressor ?
How much freon should it have in it's system?
I'll load a pic of the currently installed non-original compressor; any ID FOR IT?

Mine is white porcelain currently. I'm having a battle/discussion with my wife; she wants it painted black. I'm surprised she actually likes this particular relic I've brought home!
W.
Ps. I'm attempting to upload a few pics. One is sacrilegious, as the Kitchen Casket, is laying on its back. It's upright again and will be for a couple weeks before I begin to tinker with the system. I'll also be getting more pics at that time.

 

[goatfarmer]

That compressor is just kinda sitting there, eh?

 

[rustypatina]

Compressor location....

Yeah, it's wired I with bailing wire I think. Picked it up off of a farm south of San Antonio (note farm implements and cows in background of frontal picture). It's held in place by its weight and connections.

The original mounts where the original compressor are obvious as day.
W.
Ps. Here a pic of a secondary condensor(?). I'm guessing this is for the freezer/defroster?

 

[washer111]

The secondary condenser might actually be the first. Often, compressors use the cool temperature of the suction line to cool the compressor/oil (gas cools the oil through lines in the sump).

Then, the gas goes through the compression cycle, and into the regular condenser. Modern fridges don't have this feature; presumably due to gains in design and/or efficiency.

 

[philr]

It's a 1954 model. 

 

[58limited]

If yours is porcelain as opposed to paint, changing the color will be more difficult but could probably be done - I assume there are primers that will stick to the porcelain. However, unless the porcelain is damaged or chipped, I'd leave it white. The porcelain is a much more durable finish than paint.

I'm not sure of the compressor size/rating/R-12 charge, I'll have to look at the data plate but won't be able to do so for a day or so.

 

[philr]

The original compressors were 7/32 hp. You may want to get a 1/4hp as a replacement.

 

[rustypatina]

Corrosive 134a?

Found a compressor, AEA4430AXA, it's a 1/4 HP and it runs on R-12.
I found similar compressors that operate on 134a and thought that perhaps I should go that route as it's more easily obtained than R-12. I have seen folks offering R-12 on Craigslist for sale and the prices are high but not terribly high.
I'm leaning towards staying with R12 for longevity sake, as that's what's been running in this rig since the 50's.
So my questions are:

What's the best way to go as far as refrigerants in this machine, R-12, R-22, 134a or is there anything else?

Any experiences with 134a and it's supposed corrosive power?

W.

 

[eronie]

coolant

You'll have to stick with R12 because of the capillary tube / orface. The pressure difference is different with different gasses and wont cool properly.

 

[danemodsandy]

r-134a

I'm not convinced that r-134a has the corrosive properties some folks claim.

The reason? The auto industry switched over to r-134a in the mid-'90s. Before that, A/C failures were kind of the way it was on older cars. Nowadays, you'll see fifteen-year-old cars with factory charges still cooling just ducky.

That does not mean that I think your fridge could use r-134a successfully, it's just a comment on the "corrosiveness" issue.

 

[rustypatina]

R-12 it'll be again then. Any easy "Mods"?

So it'll be R-12 then with a more modern 1/4HP Compressor.

When I say "Mods" I'm referring to some updates that should be done to make the system easier to maintain and/or perhaps even make the beast more efficient.

Before purchasing the new compressor I'd like to test for leaks.
What's the best method to do this?

I have what looks like 2 condensors. With a more modern compressor, is this needed?
I've got no problem with keeping it the way it is.

I guess I'm asking this:
If you were going to replace the compressor with a slightly more powerful and theoretically more efficient compressor, what else would you do to system for longevity, ease of maintenance and/or efficiency?
W.

 

[washer111]

Maybe...

You might consider trying "drop-in" replacements often used for R-12 that can be found for cheaper/more easily than the old stuff. 

 

You might consider stuff like R-414a or some of the other "4xx" series, as many of them are compatible. 

 

Many people convert cars straight to R-134 without too many issues - although the molecules are much smaller, so adequately sealing the system is a MUST if you don't want a luke-warm refrigerator.