Advice on my 1939 Westy Fridge

[rp2813]

Hey Guys,
I will probably contact member Travis directly about this once I have pictures but thought I'd fish for some input here in the meantime.

My 1939 Westinghouse fridge has been dead for several months and I took a stab at diagnosing it yesterday. I thought it was the control box but I pulled the front and rear panels on it and with a tester I found that current is making its way from the controls to the compressor. Access to the compressor is difficult but I was able to make contact with the terminals and I know that the cold control is calling for the compressor to kick in and that it's sending power to it, but there is no hum, no nothing, no sound of it trying to kick in. Wires are pretty crispy under there but regardless, they are still delivering the power to the compressor.

Any suggestions on what else could be the problem? It has been purring along for nearly 70 years and didn't sound any different before it conked out. Could there be a relay that's to blame? Also, it has a fan behind the condenser coil up front. Could it be that things are wired so the current must pass through the fan before it will allow the compressor to kick in, and maybe the fan is dead?

Thanks for any suggestions. I have left everything apart so I can take pix later today. Providing I can find my camera. Our home is staged for sale and we have forgotten where we've put some things, but I will snap pix as soon as I can.

Ralph

 

[goatfarmer]

There should be a relay that feeds power to the compressor. If you have power at the compressor terminals, then the relay is probably not at fault. I'm thinking compressor.

 

[rp2813]

Kenny, I hope you're wrong but if it's time to dump this fridge, that's what I'll do. It will be fun locating a replacement for it, although it's such a cute size and so perfect for the patio/bar area where it's been located for many years, it will be a shame to see it go.

If there's any way an amateur like me can check the compressor, I'd love to hear about it. I've done all I can by confirming it's getting power.

 

[travis]

Questions...

Ralph,

I thought your original thought was that the compressor would run at times and not run at other times. Because of the erratic operation, I suggested either the control or relay.

Now I understand that is doesn't run at all? That would be the relay or the compressor. I wonder if you're checking power at the relay or the actual compressor? Pics are very necessary as I am not old enough to remember that year, only 35 here!

If you like the fridge keep it. Is it in decent shape? A relay is cheap. I usually use a generic replacement for $12. Not sure if that would last seventy years, but I'll replace it again if need be.

 

[goatfarmer]

If it is the relay, like Travis said, generic's can be found. Brittle wiring at the compressor could mean a break in the wiring inside the cabinet somewhere.

 

[rp2813]

Travis, yes, when it was first starting to fail, it would run intermittently, but now it's completely dead.

I checked terminals mounted on top of the compressor that matched the colors of the wires coming out of the control box. I got a positive signal from the current tester, so I presumed that current was making it from the box to the compressor. I can't see anything that looks like a relay. There's a flat oval-ish shaped surface flush mounted into the compressor housing and a white wire from the box is terminated there. If it's the relay, it would be impossible for me to reach without removing the compressor from the cabinet, and that is for sure beyond my capabilities.

As soon as I locate my digital camera (things disappear when you're moving) I'll post/send some pix. The fridge remains apart as far as I'm comfortable taking it and will keep it that way until I get some photos snapped.

Thanks for the input.

Ralph

 

[Cybrvanr]

How hard is it to install a new compressor in a vintage fridge? I helped a neighbor friend install a new compressor in an 80's vintage coke cooler he got from a grocery store. That was a pretty easy task really, since I had experience working on auto air conditioner systems.

He installed a line tap that pierces the line and then sucked out the r12 freon. He then cut that piece of line out and the lines to the compressor. He ran a "system flush" fluid through the system to remove any debris, and the old mineral oil from R12. He then installed the new compressor and brazed it in, along with replacing the pierced line. He also brazed a high and low side fitting onto the compressor to install & check the refrigerant levels.

The new compressor was pre-oiled, so all he had to do was pull a vacuum on the system, and then add the R134 freon till the gauges matched the stamp on the back

The little cooler works great, and has been running for about 2 or 3 years now in his den!

I know on the old refrigerators, they used all sorts of different refrigerant chemicals back then. Would R134 work in any of these refrigerators with a modern-style compressor?

There's gotta be away to save the little guy I'm thinking, even if his guts aren't "authentic"

 

[rp2813]

I think that might be somebody else's job to do, as I don't have the equipment or knowledge around refrigeration components. I'm wondering if the compressor is OK but there's something else wrong in the relay or wiring.

Since we staged our house for sale we put lots of things in boxes or out of sight and I've been unable to locate the digital camera. I'm thinking I might just put things back together and let the fridge go at the estate sale to someone who will know how to change out the compressor if that's what's needed. Should the camera turn up in the next few days I'll take some pix to post here and send directly to Travis.

I'd love to see this fridge continue to keep drinks cold on the patio but it may not be feasible for me to make the required repairs.

 

[rp2813]

I gave it one more try with the front and rear panels off and control box opened up and couldn't get the fridge to kick in, so I'm letting it go at the estate sale. It had a good run, nearly 70 years, and maybe someone who can pull it apart further can replace whatever component is faulty. I still don't think it's the compressor, but I've taken this as far as I can. It will be a nice little unit for someone else to enjoy, and now I can legitimately look for a nice old fridge to replace it.

Still no digital camera. It's hopelessly buried in the moving mess, but thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

Ralph