1964 General Electric Spacemaker 15 Refrigerator Mod. TC474YD

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Formally "Mr Draper, your General Electric Frost Guard Refrigerator is here..."

 

Another rebuilt thread after a massive image loss. The following images I managed to salvage from the former thread. Most of the original images were lost unfortunately.

 

Originally started on 4/18/2014, this refrigerator was acquired in Pennsylvania after a heads up from our intrepid Phil (ovrphil). Thanks my friend!

 

GE Model TC474YD Serial # OY604471. Manufactured February, 1964

 



 

It was purchased working, and continued to work for a few years when it started to develop issues. The first one was the  evaporator coils in the refrigerator section started to frost up way above normal. To the point you could barely see the coils. It seemed like the the defrost cycle had failed to initiate. However, when I switched the thermostat to "Off", the hot gas defrost cycle would kick in and melt the frost. BUT, as long as I kept the refrigerator "Off", it would continue to heat the coils, to the point the refrigerator was getting extremely warm. However, a soon as I turned "On" the refrigerator, the defrost cycle would end and it started cooling normally again. After that "reset", the defrost  cycle would act normally again, keeping the frost in check for almost a year, then the coils over frosted yet again. This time I replaced the cold control with an NOS unit (Part # <strong><span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"><span class="UFICommentBody">WR9X403)</span></span></span></strong>. It continued to work fine for a few months when again, the over frosting. It wasn't the cold control.  So I did the old turn "Off" and "On" trick to get it going again. Only this time it didn't work. The defrost cycle engaged and disengaged once the refrigerator was turned on, the coils started to cool, then click, the compressor turned off, and it kept cycling on and off every few minutes. It seemed the the overload protector was being tripped. I know, this may be fatal, but I'd like to get a formal diagnosis before I decide what to do next. Currently the refrigerator is in New Jersey awaiting the final verdict.

 

[this post was last edited: 8/10/2019-07:00]

 

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Originally posted 4/18/2014

 

 

First images when it arrived in Brooklyn.

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

Compressor running:

 

 

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After the initial cleaning.

 



 



 



 

 

 

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Originally posted on 4/24/14 by Combo52

 

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Originally posted on 4/27/2014 by Combo52

 

[kuttercraig]

I have almost this exact refrigerator! I found it in an old warehouse on the farm I live on and decided to clean it up. It has been working perfectly for a year however I have wondered what the "water switch" on the left side of the freezer accomplishes. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[spacepig]

The water switch is for those refrigerators that have an ice maker. Turning that on allows the water to fill the ice tray.

 

[combo52]

Water Switch On GE Auto-Fill Ice Tray Refrigerators

Hi Kutter, Your ref was built with the auto-fill ice maker, Is it still present in your ref ?

 

John L.

 

[kuttercraig]

That was the logical thought I had, yet I wasn't sure if built-in ice makers were an option in the early '60s. After looking inside I notice some of the hardware is present however the icemaker itself isn't unfortunately. Thanks for your help guys, it's rather hard to find information on these old appliances.

 

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This refrigerator did not use the traditional ice maker. It had a shelf with ice trays that automatically filled with water. You still had to manually remove the ice cubes from the tray.

 

 

[kuttercraig]

I had no idea! That makes a lot more sense though for the time period. Mine has all of the hardware with the exception of the ice tray and holder. Where do you manage to find documentation on these ancient appliances nowadays?

 

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Kutter, recently a service manual for G.E. was uploaded to the Manuals & Literature section. For a small fee, you can download the entire manual.

 

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Update.

 

 

John (combo52) checked the G.E.. It started right up and started to cool normally. The issue may be that that the compressor is weak or it is low on Freon. The gauges needed to measure the charge were not available unfortunately. I am hoping it just needs a recharge. If it's just that. I will be looking into having it repainted before bringing it back into the kitchen.

 

[combo52]

Up Date

Hi Louie, It is not a low charge situation, it would not cool pretty well and then stop cooling after a few days and then repeat.

 

It is either a weak compressor or a mechanical or moisture restriction.

 

John L.

 

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Hi John

 

 

That's what it does. It starts cooling fine, frost on the coils and all.  Then after a few days the cycles get very short, thus not giving it time to cool. The compressor cycles on, then 20 seconds later cycles off. By that time, the coils just get cool, no frost forms. 

 

[gansky1]

Just stunning, your cleaning skills are commendable.  That's a beautiful GE.

 

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Thanks Gan!

 

 

Well another GE will be making a trip to Beltsville to be sorted out. When it returns I plan to have it repainted so it can take it's rightful place in the kitchen.

 

[spacepig]

That's great news!!

 

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While I was in Beltsville this past weekend, I learned the issue of this GE may be a bad air dryer. We'll know for sure when I make my next trip to bring it down.