Kelvinator fridge compressor very strange symptom!

[turbokinetic]

This one had me baffled. Talked to the owner on several occasions and he finally brought it in for checking out. 

As the thermostat became worn, it started glitching and interrupting power for a split second toward the end of the cycle. This glitching would cause the compressor to start banging and knocking and jumping; and using about 3x normal power.

 

 

[customline]

Great job David.......

Will there be a follow up to this ? I would love to see the thermostat repair.

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi  Kevin, thanks. The original thermostat is a Ranco which is still available new. We're just replacing it with a new one. I am going to rewire the whole thing, however. 

 

Things are ridiculously busy for me these days and it has cut into my video making time. Just got to get things done and out the door, so to speak. 

 

[customline]

Understood.....

It's imperative that these older appliances get a re wire. I can't stress it enough to all the oven and stove people I've given advice to over the years. Modernize on the inside but keep it vintage on the outside. We'll be waiting patiently for the next project. Keep up the good work.

 

[supersuds]

Thanks for taking the time, David! Seeing that unit, including bottle opener, brought back some fond memories of country stores.

Is this the same compressor Kelvinator used in their domestic fridges and advertised as the Polarsphere?

 

[rp2813]

Expert troubleshooting as always, David!

 

I saw one of those yellow/red coolers on CL a while back, but I couldn't justify nabbing it.  IIRC, it had the logo for Double Cola, which I think was a regional brand.  I remember Double Cola being my favorite when I was a kid.  That likely means that I'd find it way too sweet these days if they were still making it.  DC had a small bottling plant in a Quanset hut a few blocks from the house I grew up in.  We'd ride bikes over there on the outside chance we could snag a free bottle.

 

I like the yellow and red color scheme on that RC/Nehi cooler, and I'm glad you and your client saved it.  It reminds me of the railroad passenger cars that were used from of the '30s until well into the Amtrak era.  I made several round trips in those cars between Oakland and Chicago in my younger days on family trips to visit relatives.

 

[circlew]

Double Cola

Ralph, it's still made. In the Cincinnati area I've recently seen it at Jungle Jim's and Cracker Barrel. It comes in glass bottles, and sweetened with cane sugar. The can version has high fructose corn syrup, and probably tastes sweeter.

 

[supersuds]

Double Cola is headquartered in Chattanooga, and got its name because you could get 12 oz. for the price of a 6 oz. Coca-Cola. My dad joked that it was because it caused twice as many burps as Coke. Anyway, it’s a niche product these days, although you can buy it in grocery stores around here.