Help! a few problems with "new" '53 Hotpoint fridge :(

[mom11]

Sooo...I picked up my "new" to me 1953 Hotpoint combo fridge yesterday. Seller said it "worked great", of course. It took me hours and hours to defrost it and clean it up. Didn't plug it in til just now so any juices would have a chance to settle.

So now I have discovered 2 problems so far and I need help because I don't know what to do. The 1st one is relatively simple: There are 4 hairline cracks in the plastic removable drain pan. So, of course, it leaks. Can't imagine finding a replacement in better shape so I want to patch it. My 1st thought was bathtub caulk. Would that work if i ran a bead and smeared it on both sides of the pan? Any other ideas?

2nd problem (if it is one): I finally plugged it in today after it's settled for about 30 hours. It sounds like a percolator. Is it supposed to do that? It honestly sounds like water is bubbling in there. I only had it on for about 3 minutes and I could already feel the freezer section getting quite cold. But I am afraid to run it anymore until I know that it's supposed to sound that way and nothing is wrong.

I don't have any experience fixing fridges except cleaning and tinkering with my fully functioning '57 GE combo. It looks very different in the back than the '57. The '53's coils are exposed and run up the back. The '57's coils are underneath.
I am afraid to touch it until I know what's normal and what's not.

Does anyone have pix of what the back of a early 50s Hotpoint is supposed to look like? Like the compressor, motor, fan. Thanks so much. I can't wait to get this beautiful girl up and running.

 

[mom11]

the pics

The 2 pics are from the craigslist ad from the seller's garage before I had cleaned or defrosted it. Sorry I don;t know how to rotate them.

 

[rp2813]

The percolating sounds are normal.  My '57 GE combination makes perking -- almost popping -- sounds in the freezer when it's cycling.  Doesn't your '57 do likewise?  Is the sound your '53 is making different?  Even if it is, I'm betting it's normal. 

 

Are you referring to the drain pan that catches the defrost water?  I'd say any sort of caulking or silicone sealer would work.

 

The back of your '53 is where the condenser coils are located.  On your '57, these coils are tucked underneath the fridge behind the front grille, and there's a fan that draws air across them for cooling purposes and blows it out the left front of the grille over the drain pan to help that water evaporate.  This is called a "forced draft" system and allows for this type of fridge to be built into a snug cabinet surround if desired.

 

Your '53 has a passive system for cooling the condenser coils, which is very common even on modern day refrigerators that have the coils on the back, and there is no condenser fan involved (which is why your '53 has a solid toe kick plate at the bottom up front instead of a grille).  This passive system requires extra room behind (and to a certain degree, above) the refrigerator, so your '53 is going to stick out more than your '57 currently does.

 

[goatfarmer]

The noise is probably normal.

 

 I used to fix cracked drain pans with gray tape on the outside, caulk, or silicone on the inside.

 

[mom11]

percolating fridge

Thank you so much for the explanation on how this old gal works. I feel pretty silly now under there looking everywhere for a fan and not finding one. I learn something or many somethings every time I come on here.

As for my '57, it doesn't make the gurgling sounds at all. As a matter of fact, it is almost silent. You literally have to walk up to it to even be able to tell it is on. When I 1st got it I kept running up to it thinking it wasn't working. It was cooling great, like a dream. It just doesn't make any sound except a very soft hum when it cycles on.

So I'm glad to know this is normal. I'm going to plug it back in today and see how she does. And I'm going to pick up a tube of caulk. Thanks do much, guys, for the help.

 

[rp2813]

My '57 varies in noise level, but it's generally very quiet.  It seems to run even quieter when ambient temperatures are warm, like on hot days (we have no A/C).  The perking sounds it makes are only heard inside the freezer while its cycling.  They aren't audible with the freezer door closed.

 

Regardless, your '53 might be making noise as a result of having been moved and defrosted.  It will likely run quietly -- even more quiet than your '57 because there's no fan running -- after it has been operating for a while.

 

Keep us posted!

 

[mom11]

uh, oh...this doesn't look good pix

So I peek inside the back lower panel below the coils and see the compressor(is it) with the baffles. It doesn;t look good. Something black is crusting it up. To take this picture I had to pull out a piece of insulation. Was that supposed to be there? I tried chipping away at the black crust with a putty knife but it is solid, not soft. I thought it was oil but can oil get hard? I hope I didn;t just pay for a broken fridge. I didn;t think it was possible for a fridge that looked to be in good shape and was full of ice in the freezer when i bought it would be broken.

I just plugged it in for the 1st time today and it is humming and the freezer section is getting cold. I put bowls of water in the freezer and in the fridge part.
I'll take tempts in half an hour.

 

[rp2813]

The compressor was likely painted black to begin with.  The crust could just be deteriorated paint.

 

The insulation probably served a purpose, so I'd put it back.  As long as the fridge is cooling and not making any strange noises, let it run and see how it does.  Put a glass of water in the fridge and stick a thermometer in it.  Check the temp after 24 hours.

 

[jamman_98]

Drain Pan Suggestion

If look are not as important as function, that spray on stuff that seals leaks actually works. I saw a couple reviews and it says it's good stuff. Flex Seal.

 

jamman_98

joe

 

[goatfarmer]

That compressor looks pretty normal, for 60+ years old.

 

[rickr]

.

The gurgle sound is the refrigerant circulating, and is no problem. The rust on the compressor looks as if the fridge may have been used in a damp basement or something, nothing to worry about. The fins on the back will get warm, and that is normal too.
We have the same model of Hotpoint in our basement, as a second fridge. Great fridge! Our power bills went down, after we got rid of the self defrosting refrigerators, and the food stays fresh longer too!

 

[swestoyz]

Beautiful Hotpoint!

Your fridge is fine. Leave it running with temperature guages in both compartments for at least 12 hours. Check then and report the temps. Depending on where the thermostat is set, you should see the freezer between -10 to 10 degrees, and the fridge compartment should run at 34-40 degrees.

Ben

 

[rickr]

I forgot something that is very important, Mom11. The power cord should be replaced with a three wire, grounded cord. That is a very important thing to do with any vintage appliance, to prevent the possibility of electrical shock.

 

[mom11]

convert to grounded plug

Thank you rickr for reminding me of the need to change the cord to a 3 wire cord. Are there instructions on how to do that on this site? I don't want to mess it up. I'm not sure where to put the grounded wire. Thanks

Oh, and an update on the temps: It took awhile to get down to ice in the fridge but that may have something to do with me being impatient and opening it too often to check to see if there was ice. So this morning there was ice in both bowls in the fridge and the freezer. So I turned the control down a bit. The fridge ice is melting but I think my thermometer is broken because it measures 40 degrees in both compartments. I'll have to run out later today to get both a new thermometer and a 3 wire cord.

I also noticed that it is leaking out the front. I have temporarily replaced the drip pan with a corningware baker until I can fix the original one. I also think that the black metal platform on which the drip pan sits is very very hot. Is that normal for a fridge without a fan?

 

[g3bill]

NICE FRIGE

Usually theres an exsisting screw on the frame pretty close to attach the ground or might need a short piece of electrical wire to reach with wirenut? I use those eyelet crimp on connectors or solder it to attach with screw if the power cord ground is bare wire at end.

Fixing cracks, not sure what this plastic looks like? pics? I usually make sure its dry then place tape about 1/8" on either side of crack then flex the plastic just enough to open the crack if possible to force slow cure epoxy in the crack. But if you do it this way you will need a thin plastic piece (maybe 1/16") to bond over crack repair to insure it wont leak. Silicone is easiest or tape like mentioned but not my way if it shows. Plasic solvent works great but havent tried it on a repair, just on new clean cut plastics like when i made my freezer tray to catch defrost.

 

[goatfarmer]

Where the drain pan sits should be warm. They put the drain pan there to help evaporate any water that ends up there.

 

Just noticed, your 'fridge is almost the twin to Ricks, except they're hinged on different sides.