1957(?) GE fridge fan not working

[mom11]

My cute little pink old GE fridge stopped cooling we about a week ago. It is a combo with a defrost fridge compartment and a Non frost free freezer. It was still cooling but not cool enough. When I pulled it out I noticed the fan was not spinning. Both the compressor and the fan motor were hot hot hot. What can I do? If they are both hot is it the fan or the compressor that is not working. The fridge still buzzes when it's plugged in. Any help? I adore my little pink beauty and don't want to give up on her with a fight. Thanks to all.

 

[turquoisedude]

Hmmmm....  When the fridge buzzes, is this as soon as you plug it back in?  Is it a buzz that seems to start then stops after about 10 or 15 seconds?   Does it sound anything like this?

 



 

 

Would you be able to post a picture of the compressor here?  

 

 

 

[mom11]

thanks turquoise dude

I'm going to go check and see if I can post a pic. It does sound like that video, I think. Brb

 

[mom11]

plot twist...

So I go to plug it back in to see what kind of sound it makes and...nearly amputated my hand! So now the fan is working fine. ???? My 7th grade son thinks something was obstructing the fan blades and it couldn't spin so it "shorted out". Now that I cooled the compressor with a room fan it started up again. Pics follow

 

[turquoisedude]

Blocked fan blade

That makes a great deal of sense - the fan motor would definitely overheat and because it wasn't flowing air over the condensor, this could, in turn, stall the compressor.   Let it cool down for a few hours and try again.  I hope it will start up again and start cooling again for you!!

 

[mom11]

clarifying

I believe my son was using imprecise language when he said "shorted out". I think he meant it set something off when it got too hot. It was so hot that there is a large burned patch on the linoleum under the compressor.

 

[epixstar128]

Watch that very close heat of that excess will turn your refrigerant acidic and detroy your compressor.

 

[rickr]

.

You might want to remove the fan motor and oil it. The fan motor was working only intermitantly on my 1948 GE combo, when I got it. The previous owner thought the compressor was going out. All the problem was that the fan motor needed oiled. I punched a small hole in the rear of the motor and soaked it with motor assembly oil. I sealed the hole with furnace tape. It has been running perfectly for almost 5 years now.

Shut the fridge down, and spin the blade by hand. It should turn with no resistance and "free wheel" If it does not, it needs oil.

 

[mom11]

All's well...or so it seems

Well thank you all. After it was all cool I plugged it in and it has been purring away ever since. Nice and frosty fridge coils in the lower compartment and solid ice in the freezer department. I'll have to get some ice cream so I can do the ice cream test tomorrow. Before this my ice cream was ROCK hard. I think that when we moved it (a few weeks ago) the "clump of stuff with all the wires on it" (o.k. so you can laugh now. I have no idea what it's officially called)Got stuck in the fan blades. I'm actually surprised the thing was as cold as it was given how hot the compressor and fan were.

Oh, Epixstar128, could you explain what you mean a little for me? I'm not really very experienced with appliance repair except always trying to keep my vintage things running.

Rickr, I love your fridge! Personally, I love the more rounded curvy profile of the early to mid 50's machines. Mine is, I believe, the 1st year of the ge "sheer" look. And I have the same Amana Radarange as you. Well, mine's a Touchmatic with the touch pad but other than that it looks exactly the same. Great taste.

Thanks, all, and pray that Flossie is frosty in the morning.