Vintage GE refrigerator H-E-L-P needed

[thirtyater]

Hey all,

I have a GE bottom freezer refrigerator, I believe from the early 70's. It is self defrosting. Today I noticed the frig part was not cooling. The freezer coil was frozen solid. This frig has an unusual defrost cycle. "I THINK it works like a heat pump." I have always noticed that when it goes into defrost the compresser changes pitch and the fans shut off.

I turned it off defrosted the coil and advanced the timer to the defrost cycle. When I turned it on, the compressor sounded like it usually does in defrost and the fans were not running but the coil under the frig got hot and the coil in the freezer got cold.

Now what do I need to check next? Can anyone explain how this unusual defrost cycle works? Anyone have a schematic of one like it? The schematic on the back is gone. Any advice from you techy guys would be greatly appreciated. I know that no repair shop would be willing to help on a unit this old and I am not ready to give it up.

Thanks!

 

[redcarpetdrew]

It sounds like you are describing a hot gas defrost system. This is where the timer activates a solenoid that changes refrigerant flow and uses hot coolant to defrost the evaporator instead of the traditional defrost heater. I don't have too much experience with this system but I'm sure others here will explain better than I can... Didn't Frigidaire have something like this?

RCD

 

[thor]

Reverse cycle valve

A reverse valve is fitted in the refrigeration circuit which (when activated) reverses (switches) the roles of the condenser (hot) with that of the evaporator (cold). The valve looks like a cylinder with four tubes comining in and out of it, with an electrical connection also.

The problem you are citing is probably due to faulty reverse valve. If the vale is not reversing when energized, the roles are not interchanged as needed. Condenser remains as a condenser (hot) and evaporator remains as an evaporator (cold).

I hope this helps.
Emilio

 

[coldspot66]

Sounds like the timer might be faulty.....not advancing fast enough or at all to initiate a hot gas defrost cycle. I think the defrost cycle is short...maybe 10/15 min as opposed to an electric system, which is usually 25-35 min. I think it is stictly run by time only...no defrost thermostat in the circuit.