Vintage Frigidaire Refrigerator

[turbokinetic]

That's really interesting about the thermostat knob having a push-pull action. Mine is a little different and that knob is just a simple rotating knob. I would bet it has to do with Defrost, though. Mine has a dedicated Defrost lever which interacts with the mechanism of the control. Yours doesn't seem to have that so it makes sense that the control knob would have this function built in.

As for the gasket; I have found some really effective gaskets at Lowe's. I'm scanning over a ridiculous amount of messages from being sort of offline for about 3 months; so forgive me if you already mentioned this.

They have white, brown, and black in different styles. https://www.lowes.com/pd/M-D-17-ft-x-5-16-in-White-Window-Seal-Rubber-Window-Weatherstrip/1010041

The square style white looks pretty "factory" on the 30's belt-drive Frigidaires, I must say. The "D" section ones work great on the GE Monitor Top cabinets too.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks David!  I do think the push/pull has something to do with defrosting.  Your explanation seems to confirm it.

 

The gasket you linked to is the type I bought at my local ACE, but I had to try three sizes before I got it right.  In my case, the extra large size did the trick. 

 

The fridge seems to run an awful lot.  I'm keeping an eye on it, but since plugging it in night before last, every time I've gone to check on it, it's running.  My '39 Westinghouse barely ran at all.  I think it's a refrigerant issue, as the evaporator frosts only about halfway up the sides, but some tubing behind it is seriously frosted over.  I recall a similar situation on one of the projects you posted here, but I know the solution is too complex for me to pursue.  It seems that boiling hot water in a tray laid on the evaporator helps even things out, at least temporarily.

 

This is why I'm running the fridge before I start anything cosmetic.  It may run itself to death if I keep it in continuous service.

 

Meanwhile, that GE compressor is still on ebay.  I've put out a request on Nextdoor for someone familiar with refrigeration who might be interested in a side job.  Fixing the Combination is still the ideal scenario.

 

[turbokinetic]

Cooling performance...

I sort of figured that might have been the type of stripping you had used!

As for the cooling; I can tell what's wrong. The charge is low. I hadn't seen the compressor pictures with the oil soaked wiring connections before. That and the low frost line are pretty well confirmations of each other.

Looking at the compressor pictures, this one is actually NOT the first generation Meter-Miser. It is the second one. That's good because the terminal seals can be installed from the outside, without involving welding or removal of the compressor from the refrigerator.

They used to sell a kit with some seals which went on over the terminal studs, but this has been discontinued. I was able to borrow a kit and inspect it. It seems that the kit is little more than some drilled core plugs (freeze plugs) for an automotive engine; and rubber faucet washers. I am fairly sure you could fabricate something to do this job. The machine will need to have the refrigerant removed and then recharged after this repair.

With the proper equipment it would be an easy job; but you'll need a hermetic service kit, gauges, vacuum pump etc. to do it.

I am sorry and probably that's not what you wanted to hear. If it were here, I could take care of it - but that would be a long drive.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks David. 

 

I was kind of worried that the charge could be low.  This seems to be my luck with vintage Frigidaires, so it's not like I was shocked by your assessment.

 

Someone on Nextdoor suggested I contact some local vocational centers/schools about swapping out the compressor on the '57 Combination.  I think that might be worth following up on.