Formally "Mr Draper, your General Electric Frost Guard Refrigerator is here..."

Another rebuilt thread after a massive image loss. The following images I managed to salvage from the former thread. Most of the original images were lost unfortunately.

Originally started on 4/18/2014, this refrigerator was acquired in Pennsylvania after a heads up from our intrepid Phil (ovrphil). Thanks my friend!

GE Model TC474YD Serial # OY604471. Manufactured February, 1964

It was purchased working, and continued to work for a few years when it started to develop issues. The first one was the  evaporator coils in the refrigerator section started to frost up way above normal. To the point you could barely see the coils. It seemed like the the defrost cycle had failed to initiate. However, when I switched the thermostat to "Off", the hot gas defrost cycle would kick in and melt the frost. BUT, as long as I kept the refrigerator "Off", it would continue to heat the coils, to the point the refrigerator was getting extremely warm. However, a soon as I turned "On" the refrigerator, the defrost cycle would end and it started cooling normally again. After that "reset", the defrost  cycle would act normally again, keeping the frost in check for almost a year, then the coils over frosted yet again. This time I replaced the cold control with an NOS unit (Part # WR9X403). It continued to work fine for a few months when again, the over frosting. It wasn't the cold control.  So I did the old turn "Off" and "On" trick to get it going again. Only this time it didn't work. The defrost cycle engaged and disengaged once the refrigerator was turned on, the coils started to cool, then click, the compressor turned off, and it kept cycling on and off every few minutes. It seemed the the overload protector was being tripped. I know, this may be fatal, but I'd like to get a formal diagnosis before I decide what to do next. Currently the refrigerator is in New Jersey awaiting the final verdict.

First images when it arrived in Brooklyn.

Compressor running:

After the initial cleaning.

Hi Kutter, Your ref was built with the auto-fill ice maker, Is it still present in your ref ?

John L.

This refrigerator did not use the traditional ice maker. It had a shelf with ice trays that automatically filled with water. You still had to manually remove the ice cubes from the tray.

Kutter, recently a service manual for G.E. was uploaded to the Manuals & Literature section. For a small fee, you can download the entire manual.

John (combo52) checked the G.E.. It started right up and started to cool normally. The issue may be that that the compressor is weak or it is low on Freon. The gauges needed to measure the charge were not available unfortunately. I am hoping it just needs a recharge. If it's just that. I will be looking into having it repainted before bringing it back into the kitchen.

Hi Louie, It is not a low charge situation, it would not cool pretty well and then stop cooling after a few days and then repeat.

It is either a weak compressor or a mechanical or moisture restriction.

John L.

That's what it does. It starts cooling fine, frost on the coils and all.  Then after a few days the cycles get very short, thus not giving it time to cool. The compressor cycles on, then 20 seconds later cycles off. By that time, the coils just get cool, no frost forms. 

Just stunning, your cleaning skills are commendable.  That's a beautiful GE.

Well another GE will be making a trip to Beltsville to be sorted out. When it returns I plan to have it repainted so it can take it's rightful place in the kitchen.

While I was in Beltsville this past weekend, I learned the issue of this GE may be a bad air dryer. We'll know for sure when I make my next trip to bring it down.

It should not be that hard to find a coil that works as David mentioned.

If the ref was stuck in defrost you also have a timer problem.

John L.

Well the GE has finally arrived at Beltsville. Hopefully it can be repaired without too much of a fuss.

Off to Maryland!

Arrived at Emerald City, looking a bit dusty and scuffed after years of storage.

Waiting for the Wizard.

I forgot to mention, before I left, it was plugged in and started right up cooling. Jeff mentioned it may be a filter dryer clog.

John, (Combo52) told me the GE continues to cool. Jeff believes it may have a moisture restriction and wants to put a new filter dryer and give it a recharge. So this is really good news. A compressor failure would had been catastrophic and spelled the end for the GE.

The filter-dryer has been installed. Next is a recharge and test. Fingers crossed.

I spoke with John (Combo52) and it turns out the GE has a weak compressor. It gets cold, but not cold enough. Because of space limitations in the GE, it would be exceedingly difficult to replace the compressor, so I guess this is it for the GE. Breaks my heart but it can't be helped.

Hi David. Yeah, a compressor could be found I suppose, but if I went that route, it would have to something NOS. There's also a time constraint.

I went that route with my other GE. If I could do it myself, it would be viable. Otherwise, it would be too prohibitive at this point.

A bittersweet update. John (Combo52) informed me that he sold the GE to a Disney production company to be used as a prop in an upcoming project being filmed in Baltimore. While I am still sad the GE is gone, at least it avoided being recycled.