New fridge!

[philr]

I just got a new fridge, it will replace one that's still working but with a tired refrigerating system and runs longer than it should.

New one on the left...
I bet most guests won't notice the change!
[this post was last edited: 4/20/2012-11:02]

 

[philr]

And it came with a few extras which I also needed!

 

[kevin313]

Frigidaire twins! Beautiful...congrats on finding a match!

 

[philr]

I found this because of my new Rollermatic washer! I was looking for a few parts for and the store owner told me he didn't have the parts I needed but he said he had something else for me! He also gave me the set of bellow pliers!

 

[philr]

I guess I was lucky because in 1964, there were two models that looked identical from outside but one was a 14 cu.ft. and the other one was a 16 cu.ft. and they were completely different inside (that's because the 16 cubic feet model was insulated with foam instead of fiberglass and it had thinner walls)
Mine are both 16 cu.ft.

The Canadian FPI-16BC-64 is the same as the US FPI-16B-64. The only differences I could find between the Canadian and US models are these: Roberston screws instead of Philipps screws, "Made in Canada" stamped on the Meter-Miser compressor and a different ID tag (and ID tag location) and nameplate on the door...


See these ads for the two different (US) models, mine are the "Sweet Sixteen" at the right and you can see the pink 14 cu.ft. Imperial model in the center.

 

[swestoyz]

Wow, I'm surprised the store owner had this fridge sitting around. What a cool find, and a great extra score in the hydrator drawer.

Ben

 

[philr]

He's the one who sold me the other fridge too! He knew the compressor was tired in the other one but I didn't want him to replace it with a generic piston compressor! I had this one for a few years and it's condition didn't worsen but it's compressor was running too long and has trouble maintaining 0°F in the freezer during summer when the A/C is turned off...

The one I just got is in much better shape and the temp drops quickly below -10°F in the freezer if you turn the cold control to the coldest setting (I tested that before I bought it!) but it lacked a few pieces inside, the freezer baskets and a shelf were gone and the porcelain inside the hydrator was chipped (that's the one with the bellow pliers in!) so I took the good parts from my other fridge to transfer in the new one!

He told me it's been years since he last serviced a GM washer and he didn't keep parts for them (and here in Canada, not too many 1-18 were sold as the Canadian factory stopped appliance production in 1970 and apparently during some years in the seventies, US models weren't even imported) but he still services a few GM refrigerators and ranges. He currently has a 1957 Custom Imperial range with french doors for service.

This is the previous fridge back in 2009. Note the GM sticker on the door!
[this post was last edited: 4/20/2012-14:14]

 

[pdub]

Beautiful refrigerator. I wish I could find one like that. It looks so clean.

Great score on the bellows pliers too, you'll be so happy to have those.

Patrick

 

[franksdad]

Beautiful!  Congratulations.

 

[firedome]

Looking forward to seeing it

in person one of these days.. time to renew my passport!

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice 'fridge!

 

[philr]

Thanks for your comments!

 

[washer111]

Could it be that the insulation in the replaced Frigidaire was somehow degraded? They say that having a refrigerator that runs longer cycles is better for the motor - like in cars (where lots of stop and start on the engine increases wear due to the oil having to start moving around etc).

Our older freezer runs practically flat out in summer, and runs at around 0 cold, but in winter, I turn it down a little more, to keep it running.

The old freezer we had whose relay went POP! ran practically non-stop for around 8-9 years. I turned it down much warmer in the end, as it never got colder than around 4-5/10 (rusted really bad underneath).

 

[philr]

The styrofoam insulation in old fridges often gets damp but I never bothered removing or replacing it in a bottom freezer refrigerator. I did it in a 1965 top freezer model as water was dripping in the refrigerator section and it wasn't that easy!

I don't know the exact cause of the problem in my fridge but I'm thinking either the compressor was low pump or something else was bad in the refrigerating system. I know it had lost some oil from the electrical terminals which were tightned after (a relatively common problem on these) probably after it ran with the defrost elements on for a while and things started to melt in the freezer and the compressor overheated... Even the compressor rubber supports were dry and the plastic guides inside them had melted so this thing did get hot at some point!
It didn't seem low on refrigerant and it had an even frost pattern on the condenser and good door seals but the freezer temp couldn't drop below 0°F, even if working all the time. It also took a bit longer to get back there after the defrost cycles. Because it ran all the time, I had to adjust the temp in the refrigerator as it got too cold. In hot weather, the freezer didn't get lower than 10°F. It didn't seem to hurt it to run almost continuously as it did for a few years and it's condition didn't get worse but it certainly did use even more energy than it should in this condition...

I know I have a 1963 fridge that did run the first 46 years of it's life with it's condenser enclosed in cabinets (and when I removed it, it was HOT behind it, see picture...). I thought this installation should have put extra load on the compressor but it's still running fine today...

 

[washer111]

I 'spose that the Frigidaire just had a tired refrigeration system then.. I believe in normal systems with pistons the valves etc wear out and lead to issues. Maybe the compressor has just lost some power or was even the wrong one from the factory (I'm sure that has happened in many a fridge!)

 

[washer111]

Just a quick question,

Were you intending on keeping the replaced refrigerator (no, I don't want it, I was just curious). Maybe keep it as a drinks fridge?

 

[philr]

I'd like to keep it for parts, or maybe I'll part it out... I don't know. It still works but the "new" one works so much better and I don't really need a second one, except for parts... I just wish I had more storage space!

 

[gansky1]

I wish I had more storage space - a common mantra around here!

Beautiful new Imperial there, a very lucky score. Congrats!!