1964 Coldspot Auto Defrost - Please Help

[jukeman]

Hello All,

My prized copper tone Coldspot refrigerator is not auto defrosting. I pulled the freezer floor panel out and it’s a solid mass of ice. The time switch appears to be working properly but when I ohm out this thing (while it’s encased in ice) it is open. Is this my defrost thermostat? Is there any hope in finding a replacement?

Thanks a million.

 

[combo52]

Non-defrosting cold spot refrigerator

It’s likely either the defrost thermostat that you have pictured or the heating element itself, the defrost thermostat was a very popular 70° thermostat. It’s still available from Whirlpool although a little expensive.

Cut the leads on the thermostat about 6 inches from it. you can either test for continuity of the thermostat. It should show continuity if it’s frozen and ice, you can also twist the two leads together coming from the refrigerator and put it in defrost and see if it starts defrosting that will test the Heating element, Don’t leave the defrost thermostat bypassed as it will get too hot during defrost cycles.

 

[jukeman]

Thank You

Thanks. Checked the thermostat with my meter while encased in frost and it was open. Found a new old stock one at an appliance service shop in my area that’s been around forever. It was an exact replacement, very easy job and she works like new again.

Thank you!!

 

[rp2813]

Great news!

I love repair stories like this one!

 

[jukeman]

Another Question Please

My Coldspot is very, very quiet except for a split second when it first starts up. I wouldn’t say the sound is loud, but you can hear it if you are close enough. It’s just a fraction of a second when it starts up where it’s normal sound is louder. Kind of like the meter misers were when they would start up.

Can anyone comment on that?

Thank you.

 

[qsd-dan]

Would need a video for accurate diag.

 

[goatfarmer]

We had a WCI Frigidaire from the mid 80's in our basement at the old house. It would rattle when it shut down. I was told an internal compressor mount had failed.

 

I picked that 'fridge up in about 1992, and it was still going strong when we sold the house in 2022. Maybe something similar?

 

 

[jukeman]

Can’t figure it out…

Can’t get you a video. Phone is too old. It sounds exactly like the old meter misers did on start up only it’s much shorter. Basically lasts about as long as the start winding is in the circuit then smooth and quiet after that. No noise at all on shutdown.

 

[jukeman]

John and David?

Any opinions? I think this might be a Seeger rotary compressor. I even wondered if I’m just hearing a variation from the magnetic field when the start winding and run winding are briefly energized at the same time during start up.

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool Seeger Rotary compressor startup sound

This refrigerator would definitely have the rotary compressor, if you look at the way, the compressors made it has two little vanes that fly out from centrifugal force and they make a little sound as it starts as they get into position. I think that’s what you’re hearing it’s impossible to tell without a, recording of it However.

It should be a very brief sound as it gets going, this was the only refrigeration compressor that was almost completely balanced, so it was very quiet in operation, and because of the design of it, you can unplug it when it’s running and plug it back in and it will restart instantly Without having to wait for pressures to equalize from the high and low side.

These were much better designed compressors than the Frigidaire meter miser compressors that always rattled in vibrated because there rotor was Off center.

John

 

[jukeman]

Thank you John

It is indeed a very brief sound. And yes, it’s the quietest and smoothest compressor I’ve ever heard. I feel much, much better!!Thank you sir.

I keep changing the subject in the same post and I know I’m not supposed to do that but I read somewhere that Coppertone was the shortest lived color between Avocado Green and Harvest Gold. As a child of the seventies I remember all 3 but there seemed to be a lot more Harvest Gold than anything else to my recollection.

Thanks again.
Brian

 

[combo52]

Shaded brown Coppertone

Was actually probably the longest lived color. It started about 1960 in several brands and was still going in 1976 when it was changed to coffee an unshaded Brown.

Probably only almond which was changed to bisque after a while was more popular other than white of course.

And now by far the most popular finish is stainless steel, although almost nothing that looks like stainless steel today is actually stainless steel. It’s mostly just a film applied over a steel panel.

John