Magic Chef Fridge Questions

[maytagmark]

I've wanted a garage fridge for a while and I ran across this one at the curb that had a sign on it "I work,take me" It's 21 CF ond spotless on the inside, and nice on the outside, Who makes Magic Chef? When I unloaded it I looked at the condenser coils and it looks like a good design,no fins,just flat metal in a coil,very easy to clean,It's almond and looks to be early 90's,I plugged it in and it got cold fast but I noticed it is trying to cycle on and off too fast,the fan shuts off and comes back on before the compressor can equalize it's pressure to restart, does this sound like a relay or the cold control,also what is recomended to clean the ouside of the door gaskets,will bleach harm them? Thanks, Mark

 

[maytagmark]

The cold control knob is broken but can be put in place to see what setting it is on,anyone know of a source for this part?

 

[danemodsandy]

Bleach:

Bleach won't hurt modern gaskets, which are vinyl. It was the natural rubber used back in the day that reacted so badly to almost everything, including the natural oils in your fingerprints.

I've made some very nasty-looking gaskets look new again with bleach. Some Armor-All or silicone applied afterwards helps the gaskets regain that new look and feel.

 

[maytagmark]

Thanks Sandy, I'll use the bleach,I always have that on hand,can't wash whites without it(bleachaholic),and living in the south, just have to have Armar-All on hand to keep the 240 from drying out. Thanks, mark

 

[goatfarmer]

Magic Chef

Nice 'fridge! Magic Chef was a Maytag brand, which means your refrigerator is an Admiral/Norge design. Should have a build date on the model tag.

When you say it's trying to cycle too fast, is the compressor starting, and running? Or is it trying to start several times, before starting?

kennyGF

 

[maytagmark]

Hi Kenny, The compressor starts and runs perfectly when you plug it in and it gets cold but it shuts off like the temperature control setting has been met,then the fan in the freezer comes back on right away and the compressor can't restart that fast,after a minute or so after equilizing it will start again, I'll test it more today,I'll fill some containers with water and place them in the freezer. Thanks, Mark

 

[danemodsandy]

Mark:

"...living in the south, just have to have Armor-All on hand to keep the 240 from drying out."

A 240? What year? I have a 1988 245 wagon- dark blue clearcoat, automatic, roof rack, blue vinyl inside.

 

[maytagmark]

Hi Sandy, My 240 is a '89 sedan, White with navy cloth int. automatic, It replaced my '88 240 sedan that I purchased in '94 with a little over 100,000 miles,it was like showroom new,dealer maintained,I drove it to 300,000 miles with no problems,just normal wear items,rust killed it,mainly the door hinges were rusting off on the driver door so I had to retire it,that was the best car I ever had, My first Volvo was a '71 145 wagon in'80 and my last wagon was a '81 245,I like to find another wagon,you can fit almost anything in there,I have hauled a washer or dryer in the trunk of my sedans. Mark

 

[goatfarmer]

Does your 'fridge have a condensor fan, down by the compressor? It sounds like the compressor is getting hot, and shutting down. Make sure the fan is running, and the condensor is clean.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Hit us with the model and serial number and the part numbers will appear...

GF's idea is spot on. I've also seen the condensor fan motor turn but not fast enough. A quick spin by hand should give you a idea of the bearing conditions.

RCD

 

[maytagmark]

I started with the cold control because the fan in freezer was going on and off,when I took the housing off there were a couple of small pieces that fell out of the control, I took the two wires off and put them together and it was freezing ice when I went back to check on it and was working great, I'll go downstairs and get the model # and post it. Thanks, Mark

 

[toggleswitch]

Maytag owned Dixie-Narco brand, a leader in refrigerated sof

~I looked at the condenser coils and it looks like a good design,no fins,just flat metal in a coil,very easy to clean.

This design is from Maytag's commercial refrigeration products. Let's see if Whirpool continues this style of condenser or kills it off.

Maytag - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org