Turquoise 1962 Frigidaire Repairs...

[turbokinetic]

This one came all the way from Maine to Alabama to get fixed. Sadly, it was a lot worse than originally surmised.

 

The narrative I was given is, that it was bought as part of a vintage caravan (travel trailer) and found to be non working. The fridge fits the decor and space in the caravan and so it is important to fix it as opposed to replacement.  The owner refurbishes caravans and delivers them across the country. Therefore he had an opportunity to bring it and drop it off, and pick it up later on another run, without incurring shipping cost. 

 

He had taken it to a local shop who installed a line-puncture tap valve, kept it for many weeks, and then charged him $50 to not fix it and tell him it was dead. 

 

While he was at my shop, we put nitrogen in the system and found two leaks due to rust holes in the condenser. After those were fixed, the compressor was tested and found to have a strange problem.

 

If you want to know how to check out a compressor and see if it is viable or not; and how to service and recommission a salvage yard compressor then these videos may interest you.

 

The video is in two parts. 
Part 1:  

 

Part 2:  

 

Sincerely,

David

 

[tennblondie78]

I found this very interesting to watch! Thank you for posting the videos.

 

[retro-man]

Another beautiful complete restoration of the mechanics on this unit. Customer is going to be so impressed at the new condition vs on what he dropped off to you. Always enjoyable to watch your videos.

Jon

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi Stephanie, and Jon.  Thanks for the kind words.  I am happy to be able to get this going again and in proper form!  As said, it is all in having a parts stash. I need to locate another spare 1/8 HP compressor now. I have used my stash of two in the recent months now.

 

[repairguy]

Great job as always David!

 

[cspetros]

Great post David!

This fridge is very similar to my 1959 Frigidaire D-13-59, and your videos are of high interest to me since mine is still running on its factory charge. I tore the whole thing down last year (didn’t touch the sealed system aside from moving the evaporator around), got rid of all the rust inside the shell, coated (POR15), primed, and painted it.. I experienced the same issue with rust on the condenser, but it was just surface rust and hadn’t penetrated yet.

The replacement compressor in your video is SUPER quiet. I have some questions about that, but I’ll PM you.

Thanks again for the awesome post! [this post was last edited: 3/13/2022-12:39]

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi Chris!  Thanks for the kind words, and the e-mail.  I really love the interior lighting effects you built into the cabinet. That looks like something you would see in something offered today, as opposed to a vintage model! Your pictures definitely show without a doubt that the example I am working on doesn't have the original shelves in it. 

 

I have a question for you... On the back of your fridge, there is a sheet metal surround cover around the compressor area. It's across the bottom of the cabinet, below the condenser. Did you make that? Or was it original? 

 

[cspetros]

The sheet metal surround…

Is original to the fridge. The whole assembly comes out, but I didn’t mess with it other than cleanup and paint. I figured the less movement it experienced, the better. I noticed it’s different from the tube mount setup on the one in your post. Probably also a bean counting thing! These later models have a lot of plastic in the interior compartment. Here’s a closer look from before the cleanup:

 

[combo52]

Compressor Shroud

Later, Bigger and better FD refs had this shroud design.

 

It is supposed to have a fiber board insert in the rectangular area, this design not only reduced noise but also acted as a chimney to cause better air flow over the compressor and up through the condenser.

 

Hi Christoper, great restoration you should make and add a thick piece of sound deadening material to the recessed area.

 

John L.

 

 

 

[turbokinetic]

Thanks for the info on the rear cover. 

 

Also, I did a teardown on the original compressor. Interesting! 

 

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?89836_ 

 

[cspetros]

Thanks John!

I still have the old fiberboard cover that came with the fridge but it is in terrible shape. I will definitely make up a replacement now that I know it helped with the airflow.