Salvaging a dead refrigerator?

[athanasius80]

Hey guys,
My "other" machine finally burnt the compressor and my friend needs the carcass out of his garage. I'm planning on salvagaing the hardware, Textolite strips, cold control, switches, and of course everything that says GE on it.

Any other ideas for parts that I'll kick myself for throwing away?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[panthera]

Everything which can't be bought or easily found

is my motto. Except the case, of course, no space.

Seriously, even a "burnt out compressor" (seldom really happens) can be replaced.

 

[Cybrvanr]

anybody that works on commercial refrigeration equipment can probably get it back going again for you. (like the guy that repairs the coolers in grocery stores) Compressors are relatively inexpensive...well, to say inexpensive, I mean around $100-$150. The expensive part is the labor to put it in. The compressor will need to be brazed in, then refrigerant fittings installed, the lines vacuumed down, and then refrigerant put back in. I suspect too that it will need to be converted to R134. Expect about another $200-$300 for the labor of installation.

Really, I'd blow the $400 to get a fridge running as good as new, especially if you're attached to it. It will be built better than anything out there these days, and be much more stylish, at only half the cost! With a new compressor, it ought to be more efficient than the old compressor too!

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Commercial VS Residential

Back when I made my living repairing household refrigerators, I ran across a few that were serviced by commercial refrigeration guys. Let's just say there is a difference in procedure. One of them had 3 pounds of R22 in it, it was supposed to have 4.6 ounces of R12.

I wouldn't ask a Kenworth truck mechanic to tune up a VW beetle either.

Ken

 

[douglasdc6]

The good news is you can buy refrigeration compressors off e-bay .

Refrigerant 12 is still out there & drop in replacements for R-12 is available as well .

The key to making a new compressor last is to install a liquid line drier , purging & pulling a good system vacuum & monitoring operation , 24 hour prefered.

Alot of guys have a tendency to overcharge the system without allowing for proper box cool down leading to flooded starts & premature failures.

 

[athanasius80]

Well, this one was laid to rest. I had two (both 1936's) and this was the worst of the two.

 

[athanasius80]

My head mechanic at work...

 

[athanasius80]

During...

 

[athanasius80]

After...

 

[douglasdc6]

Its hard to tell judging from the pictures - But this looks like a sulphur dioxide unit that was restorable -A new condensing unit & freon line set with cap tube would have done the trick - However not cheap & not feasable when you take into account how plentiful these refrigerators are.

 

[athanasius80]

And it was missing the panel under the door. Was gonna keep it til I found another one from the same year, only bigger and in better condition!