1964 General Electric Spacemaker 15 Refrigerator Mod. TC474YD

[turbokinetic]

Defrost solenoid

I recently replaced of these. Used a Ranco defrost solenoid which was for another application. The inner metal housing of the solenoid had two metal sleeves that fit inside the coil. They were not equal length. The valve would only function when the long sleeve was in one certain position. I don't remember which way it was; but if the metal sleeves are missing, or in the wrong position it won't work.

 

[carolinacat]

I read thru all the post of late on these things. What made me check the solenoid first. We had a hurricane come thru few months back. Lost current for most part of a day. I went and go my generator out to run the lights and the fridge. Tried to turn some stereo stuff on in the house as well and it blew the fuses in the amps. Didn't think anything about it about another month goes by and my fridge temp is warmer than normal. Freezer nice and cold. So I realize the defrost isn't working. Thaw everything out and food for about another month. In that month I read all the old Post about the defrost timmer and the associated stuff. Decided to check the solenoid first. Had no continuity thru it. So I ran over to old junk appliance shop and grabbed a washer solenoid. I drilled the metal bushing out of the washer solenoid to fit the stem. And gave it a go. I came home last night and it was stuck on the defrost cycle the compressor running but no fans anywhere running. The compressor get hot and trip out. Ahhh... So I advance the timer ever so slightly and it and everything goes back working again. Im gonna unplug the coil and see if it will run like that until I can get another coil to try.

 

[combo52]

Hot Gas Defrost Coil

It should not be that hard to find a coil that works as David mentioned.

 

If the ref was stuck in defrost you also have a timer problem.

 

John L.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Well the GE has finally arrived at Beltsville. Hopefully it can be repaired without too much of a fuss.

 

Off to Maryland!



 

Arrived at Emerald City, looking a bit dusty and scuffed after years of storage.



 

Waiting for the Wizard.



 

 

 

 

 

[turbokinetic]

Yay!

Glad to see it's in the right place for a resurrection!

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I forgot to mention, before I left, it was plugged in and started right up cooling. Jeff mentioned it may be a filter dryer clog.

 

[Ultramatic]

Latest update...

 

 

John, (Combo52) told me the GE continues to cool. Jeff believes it may have a moisture restriction and wants to put a new filter dryer and give it a recharge. So this is really good news. A compressor failure would had been catastrophic and spelled the end for the GE.

 

[turbokinetic]

Louis, it seems most of the GE's of this era are reaching a common failure point with the filter-drier and cap tube. So many have the same symptoms.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

The filter-dryer has been installed. Next is a recharge and test. Fingers crossed.

 

[dermacie]

I remember our next door neighbor had one. I wish I knew if it had the self filling ice trays. I was fascinated by it, she had it for over 40 years.

 

[Ultramatic]

Some bad news.

 

 

I spoke with John (Combo52) and it turns out the GE has a weak compressor. It gets cold, but not cold enough. Because of space limitations in the GE, it would be exceedingly difficult to replace the compressor, so I guess this is it for the GE. Breaks my heart but it can't be helped.

 

[turbokinetic]

Awe,  so sorry to hear this. 

 

However - no need to give up. Compressors turn up. As some encouragement; see the picture. This is a group of used units I just acquired and will be picking up soon. No GE in this group, but many Tecumseh and a Kelvinator and Frigidaire. Could very well have been a GE in there.

What HP is your compressor?

 

 

[cadman]

While this may be a step further than you want to go, on a suggestion from John, I was able to retrofit a late model WP compressor into my '65 GE. It does add an inch or so of depth to the back, but that wasn't an issue for our fridge space. That was almost 2 years ago and it still works great.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Hi David. Yeah, a compressor could be found I suppose, but if I went that route, it would have to something NOS. There's also a time constraint.

 

[Ultramatic]

Hi Cory...

 

 

I went that route with my other GE. If I could do it myself, it would be viable. Otherwise, it would be too prohibitive at this point.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

A bittersweet update. John (Combo52) informed me that he sold the GE to a Disney production company to be used as a prop in an upcoming project being filmed in Baltimore. While I am still sad the GE is gone, at least it avoided being recycled.

 

[mmvkap]

Retrofit late model WP Compressor

Dear cadman,
Hello, I just joined the forum because I have nearly the identical refrigerator and the compressor finally died. May I please know which model of compressor you retrofitted into yours?
A local shop may be able to replace it for me if they know which model they need to order.
Thank you so much,
Matthew