Calling all Radarange experts!

[veg-o-matic]

On Sunday, I opened the door of my Radarange and was greeted by a loud "kapoing!" sound from inside. Turns out the door spring on the left side snapped.
It looks to be a simple repair, but there are a couple of problems. First, I have no idea what model Radarange I have! I looked all over it and there's nothing with a model number. I took a picture of the control panel in case someone recognizes it.
The second problem may be the part itself. I looked a repairclinic.com and they showed what looks like the correct spring. Unfortunately, the part was labeled with their famous "this has been discontinued, we don't have it, and we don't know where to get it so don't ask."
If anyone here has a spring, I'd love to buy it from you. Or if you know of a source, that'd be a big help, too. I was thinking of going to Lowes and see if they had any "generic" springs that might be suitable.
Thanks for your help!
veg

 

[everythingold]

A good ace hardware will have a large selection of springs.

 

[cadman]

Common Problem and an Easy Fix

Veg, the left side is the easiest to fix. Don't run it prior to spring replacement as the left switch may not seat and trip the safety fuse.

This one's a little newer than I'm use to but you should still be able to gain access by removing the cover screws, drilling out the "tamper proof" rivet (if it hasn't been done before) and now you're inside.

I'm betting you'll find the break is at one end of the spring where the steel forms a hook. Take a good strong needle-nose, bend a new hook and reattach. Should last another 20 years!

 

[petek]

Are you sure it was a kapoing and not a kaboing? There's a slight difference you know.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

**sniff** .. Such memories.

Wow!

If that's the Radarange I sent you, which was my family's microwave for the better part of 20 years, that's the first thing that has ever gone wrong with it!
((I remember when we got it in 1985)) I used the HUGE box it came in as a 'fort' for many years.

Glad to see it's still giving you good service.

Well, except for the loud "kapoing!"

~F

 

[jeffg]

Hey Fred, your new profile pic is too funny. Where'd you get it?

Beau's aubergine mittens go so well with his blue hair.. LOL

 

[scott55405]

Veg, I hope you're able to work out a repair! Looks like a great oven. As with many things, I didn't realize or appreciate how cool these were until much later when you'd compare them to what we have now.

I like Fred's pic too, and Pete needs to fix his! I miss that little girl, whoever the heck she is! LOL

 

[veg-o-matic]

Fred, it is the Radarange you sent me! I love it to pieces and since it's only 24 years old, I'm not ready to get rid of it yet!

Cory, I already tried to make a new hook in then end of the spring but the metal is brittle enough that it just kept snapping on me.

And I did try to run it without the spring. Nothing happened, of course, though the timer counted down and I had to unplug it to turn off the light. Did I eff something up?

Definitely a kapoing, Pete.

veg

 

[48bencix]

They have parts

Go to appliancepartspros.com, they have parts for my rr-700, spring may be the same.

Whirlpool C8893501 Door Spring (AP4128349) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Door spring C8893501 / AP4128349 made by Whirlpool

www.appliancepartspros.com

 

[48bencix]

Does power decrease

My rr-700 says 1500 watts on the back panel. However, my partner says that new microwaves pop the popcorn faster and leave fewer unpopped kernels. So, does the oven wear out, is it the magnetron? I love my Anana, but will a new one work more effectively?

Martin

 

[jeffg]

Is it the magnetron?

Others have said that magnetrons do, or at least can, lose power as they age. But we haven't seen any sign of that in our 20 year-old Panasonic.

Also, I believe new microwave ovens are more efficient. Ours pulls 12A (about 1400W) but outputs only 800W, while newer models output 1100 or 1200W with the same amount of draw.

 

[veg-o-matic]

It's back!

Went to Home Depot today and bought the Family Pack of springs. Hooked 'er up (had to use a different hole, as I couldn't get the old spring out), put it back together, and we once more have vintage microwave goodness.

Hopefully, it'll last another 24 years!

veg

 

[cadman]

Congrats veg! By the time it needs another I expect my parts machines might be _somewhat_ accessible : ) -Cory

 

[hooverwheelaway]

YAY!

So glad you could fix it, Veg!

Keep that Radarange going!