Inside the RR-2

[cadman]

I was fortunate to be contacted recently by a couple looking to part with their RR-2. While I alredy had one in the collection (an early 2, pre-buzzer), this one turned out to be a late 2 (date code of 1970 on the lower timer) so now I've got both covered! It came complete with the cooking guide and the flat glass 'tray'.

One thing about the 2's is that they vent out the top rear rather than the control panel and because the door has no plastic or glass, the airflow is "sealed" above the splash shield. I assume the RR-1 shares this shield, so if you're an owner of a 2, be careful, as nothing else will interchange.

 

[cadman]

This example is amazingly clean inside. The transformer differs from the RR-3H despite both having the early magnetron. This machine needed very little- the power cord had crumbled so that got replaced with a later RR cord. And the foam seal 2/3 up the side got replaced to restore proper airflow. Here's a pic pre-repair.

 

[cadman]

Early style glass. These have a light texture embossed and do nothing for spills, but they get the food up off the bottom of the oven. It probably cost Amana a small fortune to tool up for the drip tray we all know.

 

[cadman]

The controls are pretty clean, too. Just a hairline crack in the lower knob. The upper will need a new bulb. These ovens also stop by opening the door, which pops out the Start button.

And it WORKS! Performance is on par with my newer RR's so it must not have seen heavy use. Another one saved! -C

 

[cfz2882]

always love "underhood"pics externally,that is really close to my '68 radar range if not the same,but the transformer is different-in the '68 the transformer is a twin coil style.Does the 1970 have electromagnet magnetron field?-looks like it does from the pics.Sometime I might peek under the hood of my '70 Westinghouse RR rebadge and see if it resembles the pics you have posted of a 1970.

 

[rp2813]

If I ever own a RR, it will have knobs and dials instead of a red LED readout and touchpad.

 

I almost owned a 1980 model.  My parents gave my sister and me Panasonic microwaves for Xmas that year.  They were big, had rotating glass trays, automatic cooking via temperature probe, and knobs and dials instead of a touchpad.

 

I really wanted a RR and went back to the store to inquire about an exchange (my parents didn't care one way or the other).  The sales guy talked me out of the RR, saying the Panasonic was the better machine for any number of reasons, so I kept it.

 

I have to say, that Panasonic was still performing fabulously when we left it behind in its kitchen cubicle at the house we sold in 2008.  It was too big to fit anywhere in the kitchen we have now, otherwise it would have come with us.

 

I'm pretty sure a RR with dials would be an OK size here, so if I ever see one locally, I'll probably grab it.

 

[norgeway]

One thing for sure..

Like everything else made years ago, the old microwaves are worlds ahead of the plasticrap today.

 

[philr]

There's also someone who contacted me who has a defective RR-2 with the original glass tray. I hope to get it later next spring or next summer as I need this type of glass tray for mine. The serial number on the defective RR-2 is close to mine (mine has probably been built a few weeks later with less than 1500 units being built between both). 

 

Here are some pictures of it. 

 

[philr]

And here's a link to pictures I did of mine when I replaced the power cord.

 

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=rr-2 &w=33723086@N02
 

Note that there are a few differences inside, not just the lack of a buzzer and switch...

 



 



 



 



 

 

[tolivac]

Basler Electric transformer--find these in transmitters.Remember those older microwave cookers were DESIGNED to be easily serviced.Todays machines-they go bad--you toss it.Even if the magnetron in a newer machine goes weak or bad-you have to replace the whole oven.And--Don't think oven makers want folks poking around in microwave ovens-obvious hazards.

 

[cadman]

Phil, thanks for posting those pics. That is certainly an earlier magnetron version than my 'late' RR-2. I assume the sheetmetal with warning label on yours is the fan housing? Does the blower motor mount from the top on yours?

If you don't mind, I'll add that serial number to the 'RR-2 Registry'. I suspect my early 2 is built like yours but I've never had the cover off. What's really surprising me is the cooking evenness of the 2 I just picked up. It blows away the late 70's models with nary a hotspot. -C

 

[combo52]

Amana RR-2 MWOs

Cory and Phil thanks for sharing all the great pictures of these cool early Amana MWOs, I have two RR-2s I should write down the serial#s for you Cory.

 

Hi Rex, it is FAR easier to install a new Magnetron in any modern MWO than replacing one in these RR-2s, we probably install at least 6 Mag tubes a week and repair another 1/2 dozen or more modern MWs per week. That said I do think that the Mag tubes don't last as long today because they are pushing them harder by making them put out a 1000 watts or more, this and the fact that people use a MWO much more that they did when these early models were sold, New MWOs also have the advantage of using a lot less power that these earlier MWOs did.

 

[philr]

John, I remember we looked at one of yours when I visited you. 

 

And as you said, today's microwave ovens are easier to service, and in many cases, when they fail, they would be very fixable but their owners who often paid less than $100 for them figure there's no way to have it serviced for such a price so they just buy a new one which comes with a warranty...

 

I have a co-worker who uses her $79 GE 1100 watt microwave oven on full power for something like 12 minutes to cook "sucre à la crème" (I don't know how to translate that, see the link!)  and that tripped the and the thermal protection twice... She brought it to me as it wouldn't reset by itself.

Both times, I had to remove the thermal breaker and put it in the freezer overnight to reset it but most people don't bother doing that (or don't know what to do with that!), they just throw it away and buy another one! I guess if she had a chest freezer, she could just put the whole microwave oven in it for the night let it sit for a few hours at room temperature and it would probably work again!  I don't get why they install a thermal breaker that resets at such low temperatures! If I remember well, it's supposed to reset at 32° but, the first time I tried, I did leave it in the freezer for two hours at temps below 0°F and it didn't reset, so I returned it to the freezer and went to sleep! Leaving it overnight did it! I think the high limit was something around 220°F. Maybe both the low and high limit were off which would explain why it tripped. I told her not to use it for extended periods and she should be fine.

http://foodieprints.com/2008/02/the-many-languages-of-sucre-a-la-creme/

 

[cadman]

Wow John, a dozen microwave jobs a week? Color me surprised. Around here the hourly rate is pretty much the purchase price of a new machine, and that's BEFORE parts. And it's a 1-hr minimum, of course.

Phil, I've never had to change a tube in the electro-magnet models so I can't speak to those, but the Raytheon-equipped units up to '78 or so use a clever 4-pin retention system. There's a locking slide-lever that releases the magnetron and for clearance, the power chassis comes right out with a socket wrench. Making the panel removable from the outside on the 3H's was a good move.

When Amana switched to the Toshiba/Hitachi magnetrons similar to today's units, they redesigned the sheetmetal and mounting as these require retaining nuts. This is when the 9T and 10 became the 9TA and 10A. They dropped around 10 lbs, too. -C

 

[combo52]

A Dozen Or More MWO Repairs A Week.

90% of them are Over The Range Models, or MWOs that are built into cabinetry, MWOs like these are still in the $400-600 dollar range to replace. Yes we seldom repair a $125 MWO.

 

[philr]

Cory, I have never replaced a tube in any of my microwave ovens but just removing the side cover on a RR-2 requires to remove a rivet... By the time I had removed the side cover on the Amana, I had already had removed the whole cabinet top and side on the almost new GE and I also had removed the thermal breaker... 

 

To answer your question about the fan motor, here's a picture. I'd think your other RR-2 should be like that too as if I remember well, it has an earlier serial number than mine. 

 

 

 

 

[tolivac]

In the area where I live NO ONE repairs microwave ovens.They are simply replaced.At how cheap they have become I have done this myself.when the old one dies-just go to Best Buy,Sears,or Wal Mart and get a new one.Didn't realize someone still fixed microwaves.Thought at this point they were a disposable machine.I do use mine a lot-sometimes a couple times a day.Its a GE Advantium-still holding up after 14 yrs.When it dies-will just get another.Agree on the tubes-they are pushed more than before.And surprized the ceramic metal magnetrons aren't rebuilt like ceramic metal transmitter tubes.But guess it goes back to who has their microwave fixed?Many occasions have seen dead microwaves waiting on the curb for their pressing fate in The EZ-Pak Boss or the Pak-Mor.-The trash trucks that service my neighborhood.often the drivers do a few pack cycles for me!

 

[cadman]

John, makes sense.

Phil, thanks for the pic, that's definitely the old school approach right there. Like you say, I'm sure my other RR-2 is set up that way, I've just never had the cover off.

The rivet has never bothered me, it only takes a few seconds to drill out. And if I'm doing a repair for someone else, a new one goes right back in. Maybe I should have some reproduction 'Warranty Void' labels made : )

 

[combo52]

Repairing MWOs

Hi Rex, when I checked on line Sears, GE and Whirlpool will all schedule service calls in Greenville NC.

 

A GE Advantium MWO is approximately a $600 unit unless you have the faster 240 volt model and then you are looking at almost twice that amount to buy and replace one.

 

I can not imagine many people would not repair such an appliance, with our average total repair visit cost of around $110-150 to get it working again. But maybe the residents of Greenville NC are doing much better financially than people in the DC area.

 

[classiccaprice]

I love the look of those early RR. Congrats on the rescue!

 

[philr]

John, they could also be poorer and mostly buy microwaves that are worth $150 or less like what I see around here!

 

The only expensive microwave ovens I see are those over-the-range units that not many people have!

A friend of mine (who's rather poor!) had a $400 Panasonic Inverter which he bought to replace another large microwave oven from the late eighties that was built-in with a white trim kit. He never bothered to replace the trim kit so there was a 2" gap above the microwave oven! It died after less than two years and he just replaced it with another cheaper one that still works!

Another friend also has a Panasonic OTR unit that he paid $700 about 10 years ago when he built his new house.  2-3 years after he got it, he did pay to have it repaired. If I remember well, it did cost him about $270. But of course, that's Canadian money and almost everything costs more in Canada! As far as I can remember, he's the only one I know of who paid to have his microwave oven repaired in the last 10 years!  My coworker who has the $80 GE wanted to pay me after I fixed her's but I couldn't live with what she offered! I even gave her a spare microwave oven that I got from my grandmother when she died (a tiny low-power Magnasonic). That allowed space for one more Amana here!!

 

[tolivac]

John-My Advantium is the 240V one.It did cost over $1000 when I first bought it.Most folks here buy the low cost Wal-Mart,Target,Best Buy ovens that are under $150.In fact around here-the only ones offered.Its far easier to just buy a new one than fight with the WP,GE,and Sears service out here.You call one of these and the first thing you get is the frustrating phone tree jazz.AS I repaeted there isn't any really good repair places here.This is a MUCH smaller town than the DC area.I bought my Advantium in like 2000 so far 15 yrs is a pretty good time.It's still working fine.I enjoy the machine a lot.My main cooking machine.Broils my steaks to just how I like them and takes less time then firing up the grill and waiting for it to heat.
Phil is right-the low cost microwaves are what sells here.Not many Advantiums or other expensive cookers sell here.But--You offer a high priced GRILL and it sells quickly.A $3000 Eletrolux oven is just gathering dust here at the Lowes store.Bet it will NEVER sell!Same with high dollar washers and dryers.
Microwave rivets-yes,just drill them out.And easy enough to replace with a new pop rivet when the repair is done.

 

[circlew]

My neighbor down the street got a Frigidaire countertop micro-convection oven about 3 years ago. It stopped working about a year ago, so she looked into having it repaired, but the cost was as much as a new one. She ended up buying a cheap GE, which so far still works. The Frigidaire replaced an Amana RR that they got as a gift sometime in the late 70's. Needless to say she was disappointed that the Frigidaire quit so soon.

 

[combo52]

FD Counter-Top Micro Convection MWO

Hi Tom, so what was wrong after just three years, Micro-convection ovens are still pretty expensive, was the repair really even 1/2 half the cost of a new MCO?

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Due to age, I would think it would be a good idea to replace that electrolytic capacitor I see in there.

 

[philr]

Can anyone tell me what's the weight a RR-2? I'm sure Cory has an idea about that!

 

[cadman]

Phil, I want to say it's around 90 lbs...

 

[philr]

Thanks Cory!

Have a look at this video.



It shows a RR-4D from 1975 that has an air-driven stirrer. You can see the model number tag briefly in the video and there is no "W" there. I posted a link to your website on the video page too!

 

[swestoyz]

Oh that music!

 

[cadman]

Yikes! Keep that guy away from my machines, lol. Did you see that chisel!

According to the Amana service lit, this should have the motorized stirrer...in fact I think I see the wire pair heading north when he has the side cover off. But the way it spins when he pulls the shield makes me wonder if it's a retrofit.

Good thing this wasn't a straight-up RR4 or I might have some words.... ; )