Replacing Refrigerator Gaskets

[spacepig]

I've looked through some old threads on this topic, and decided to go ahead and start a new one. It looks like I need to replace the gaskets on both the '65 GE Americana and the '56 GE combination with bottom freezer. I'll be contacting Antique Appliances in Clayton, GA later today to see if they can help, but I'm also curious as to what others have done for replacement.

I've attached some pictures of the existing GE Americana gaskets, and can take more if needed. It looks like they've been "repaired" at some point with some clear silicone that was put inside a torn section of the gasket (I'm guessing to plump it back up), and along an edge where it receded to make a seal.

The first photo is an exterior shot of the freezer gasket, and the last shot is an external view of the refrigerator gasket.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[turbokinetic]

Hopefully Antique Appliances will be able to source those gaskets. It seems that, as refrigerator design progressed, the gaskets got more model-specific and harder to reproduce.

 

Having said that, they have quite a selection of styles!

 

[ken]

Ive found websites that sell replacement gaskets through a simple online search. As I remember there were many pages of different style gaskets available.

 

[rp2813]

What Ken said.  I recall someone posting a link to a site that had all types of gaskets.  Your '56 uses a "bubble" type of gasket (non-magnetic).  What you have to do is expose the liner to see how the gasket attaches.  I recall seeing a gasket on that site that appeared would work on my '57 Combination, but I already had GemLine replacements so had no reason to place an order.

 

Your '65 may also use the bubble type, but I'm not 100% sure.  I know GE used the alnico magnets for many years, but don't know if they ever paired them with magnetic gaskets.

 

Also, I think the gaskets are sold by length and you would have to cut them to size and miter the corners.

 

[spacepig]

Dave, I've sent an e-mail to Antique Appliances so we'll see if they respond. I tried Repair Clinic and they said they could not recommend any since "there were no substitutes."

Ken, I have looked quite a bit online, but I'm overwhelmed by all of the choices. Also, since they're quite pricey, I'm trying to avoid buying something and having to pay a restock fee each time it has to be returned for non fit. I was hoping someone here has already gone through this with this particular model to help me narrow the focus. Fingers crossed that Antique Appliances will be able to suggest something.

 

[spacepig]

Ralph, I didn't see your post before my last reply. I did watch the video on Antique Appliances website, and it does look like they'll have a good alternative for the '56 which appears to be the "bubble" type that you describe.

As for the Americana, I contacted a local appliance company that's been in business for 50+ years and was told that the original gasket part numbers for the Americana were WR24x201 for the refrigerator, and WR24x202 for the freezer. I'm ok with cutting and mitering the gaskets, I just want to make sure I get the right depth. I've read that some of the replacement gaskets that people used turned out to be "too fat" and therefore the doors wouldn't close properly.

 

[spacepig]

So, to update this thread, I did hear back from John at Antique Appliances who said that he believed the gaskets to be magnetic, so he referred me to Refrigeration Hardware Supply Co.(www.rhsparts.com) since he doesn't carry magnetic gaskets.

I contacted them and supplied them with cross sections of the gaskets in question (attached pix here), and the person I spoke with said that they don't appear to be magnetic so she doesn't know if what they have will work. I've attached a picture of what she says is the closest in size.

I am going to contact John again, and send him the pictures of the cross section piece and see what he says. I'll also look online again to see what I can find. Any other advice or suggestions welcome.

 

[goatfarmer]

Does yours have a separate magnet, by the handle, to keep the door closed?

 

[rp2813]

I'm pretty sure the GEs from this period were all still using the alnico magnets paired with "bubble" type gaskets.

 

Here's a picture of a fridge with this system.  The two magnets are in the door, and the metal strip they stick to is on the cabinet.

 

Jeannine, does this resemble the arrangement on your fridge?

 

 

 

[ken]

GE's were still using the magnetic latch with plain gaskets well into the 70s as evidenced by our 75 model at home.

I've often wondered if it would be possible to install magnetic gaskets on an older unit that didn't originally have them? There would certainly be a benefit from doing so. Especially on older units that used a mechanical latch. Not that they didn't do the job but why not take advantage of knowing for sure the gasket was sealed as well as possible to the cabinet all around the door perimeter.

Only potential problem I can see would be from the additional thickness created by the strip magnet on the gasket surface. If it did create a problem could probably be compensated for by adding a shim or two under the hinge.

 

[spacepig]

Thanks for the replies.

There is no real handle on the refrigerator. You put your hand under the door and pull. Each door has a magnet at the bottom, which corresponds to another magnet on the cabinet (picture 1). When the doors close, the sides that face each other have a silver metal strip (picture 2). The other sides of the doors have a gold colored piece of metal (picture 3). Picture 4 shows the view of the gasket in between the doors when they are closed. You can see the silicone that was used to try and repair. Picture 5 shows the top right hand corner of the gasket on the right hand door. The gasket that's on the right (which faces the other door when closed), looks to be different than the gasket on the other 3 sides. It looks like is has more ribbing, but it's hard to tell. The cross section posted in the other post is from the gasket at the top. I may end up taking a cross section of the gasket on the right to see if it is different.

I do have a '55 and 2 '56 GE combinations with the freezer on the bottom. The '55 has the lever handle, and the 2 '56 have the magnetic pull handle. All three have the lazy susan shelves, and their gaskets appear to be the bubble type. I would like to get those replaced, too, but the Americana is my priority right now.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[ken]

1956 was the year GE switched to a magnetic latch. No more mechanical latch with moving parts. Handle was simply a hand hold.

I've read here the Americana double door utilized a special gasket on one of the upper doors which had an extra lip along the inner edge to seal against the edge of the gasket on the other door. Maybe that's the extra ribbing you're describing in pic 5?

The silver and gold colored metal strips are the retaining strips which hold the gasket and door liner to the door via metal screw shown in pic 3.

 

[combo52]

GE Americana Door Gaskets

GE did not use magnetic gaskets of these refs, John at Antique Appliances has no idea what he's talking about.

 

On these Americana's the right ref door has an electric heater wire inside the gasket where the two door gaskets meet in the middle to prevent condensation and mold.

 

I would really try to clean up and repair the existing door seals, both of our Americana's have the orignal door seals and are working well.

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

John, how would you go about repairing the issues shown in picture #4 above?  It looks hopeless to me.

 

[spacepig]

John, could you take a picture of the gaskets in your Americanas, especially the ones that meet in the middle?

On my fridge, the other gaskets appear to look ok, it's just the middle ones that are in bad shape. They are super compressed, especially on the bottom, thus the silicone to build them back up. There is also a strip along the very outer edge that is torn. As Ralph suggested, I'm not sure if they can be repaired, other than rigging it with some new silicone.

Also, thanks for mentioning the heating wire in the gasket. I had no idea that existed. Is it connected to the butter warmer somehow?

 

[spacepig]

In my search for gaskets, I found this place that will send you a "ring" of sample gaskets that they carry to compare to what you have. It was only $1 with free shipping!

https://www.coolergaskets.com/sample-gasket-ring-help/