Refreshing a vintage Frigidaire fridge?

[micahmcdowell]

Back in 2014, I posted this thread about purchasing a vintage Cycla-Matic fridge; http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?55184_4

I ended up buying it, and we've been enjoying it in our retro kitchen since doing some minor refurbishment (cleanup and a new door seal). However, it's starting to develop some quirks, and there's not much information out there applicable to older fridges.

Currently, it seems to like to stick "on". It will kick on, start running, and not ever cycle off. The temperature will start to dip down under freezing. If the thermostat is manually rotated to off, then turned back on, the fridge will not come on again until it's at the correct temperature to do so, but then, it will not cycle off again. So, the thermostat seems to come on at the proper time, but never kicks off. Is this a bad thermostat, or is it a start relay or other issue? I figured that if the thermostat had lost its charge, it would come back on immediately when turned back to on. If it is a thermostat, does anyone have leads on a proper replacement? It's a type "YR-2", for reference.

Also, the compressor is getting progressively louder. When the fridge first kicks on, it's usually pretty quiet, but it gets louder as it runs. Is there any reason it would vary in loudness/vibration? If the compressor is on its way out, are there any good replacements that can be cross-referenced to a 1950s Frigidaire?

Thanks for any leads or tips!

 

[goatfarmer]

Thermostat is sticking. There may be a replacement on EBay, or there may be a universal type thermos that will work.

As to compressor noise, it may be a rubber mount has deteriorated.

 

[eronie]

Not bad thermostat, bad compressor. Evaporator is not getting cold enough to kick thermostat off. Compressor is getting weak.
Remember it's a Cycla-Magic.

 

[rp2813]

If the temperature is dropping to near freezing, that seems to indicate that the compressor is OK for now.   I agree with Kenny's suggestion that you have a thermostat/cold control issue.  The same thing was happening on my '57 GE and a replacement "universal" cold control fixed the problem.

 

I've only had experience with one vintage Frigidaire of late 1930s vintage.  The compressor got louder and eventually gave up.  I hope Kenny is onto something regarding a deteriorated rubber component.  While the compressor is running, you might check to see if applying pressure to or otherwise manipulating the areas where it attaches to the frame diminishes the noise.

 

[panthera]

First,

Cold controls are still available.
I bought one on eBay.
If not, the universals can be made to work.
I doubt a compressor which is failing would bring things down that cold. The capacitor and starting stuff could be going, also repairable.

 

[combo52]

Most Likely A failing Compressor Or a Low Refrigerant Charge

On cycle defrost refs like this the thromostat is clamped to the evaporator in the Fresh Food section, in order to cycle off the FFE must get down to somewhere between 3F and maybe 10F, if the Sealed System [ compressor, refrigerant charge or restricted system ] is having problems the ref will almost never cycle off, but since the FFE is say maybe 15-20F it will start to freeze some foods in the FFS.

 

The best way to tell if this is a thermostat or SS problem is to check the average freezer temperature, IF the freezer is 10-20 degrees below zero you have a bad thermostat, if the freezer seems about normal or a little warm you have major problems, Good ice cream is about the best guide to freezer temperature.

 

John L.