[VAC] Re: Refrigerator

[RJ Dial <rj.dial@xxxxxxx>]

         Reply to:   RE: [VAC] Refrigerator


To replace or repair a fridge is a difficult common decision.  From my 
experiences, I'd recommend trying to save/repair the existing refer at 
all costs for the following reasons:

• The new ones don't fit the old openings without rebuilding the 
cabinets.  Changes in insulation technologies & design evolution 
drove the size changes over the years.

• Newer fridges are designed with planned obsolescence - plastics, 
electronic circuit boards, thinner metals, nylon hinge points, etc. You 
will not get 30 years out of a new fridge.

• Beige plastic is boring. Nothing beats the coolness factor of the 
enameled metals, aluminum frames, and the colorful clear plastics of the 
old units.


What to do if yours doesn't work?  That's the easy fix.  Replacement 
burners and coil packs are available.  Most time it is a plugged or 
rusted burner.  For the pilot/valve assys, modern units will work just 
fine.  


New gasket seals can be adapted to fit, you just have to get one bigger 
and cut it down. If the damage is structural to the box or the door, 
then you're into trouble.  Epoxy repairs might fix some small ones, but 
best bet is an older established RV shop that specializes in Fridge 
repair (yellow pages).  Not only do they have the expertise, but often 
older carcasses and parts (shelves, racks, doors, hardware to fix up the 
cosmetic problems too.


Summary?  A new fridge at $800 vs $300 for repair is false economy when 
you factor in the cabinet rework required to fit a new fridge too.  Old 
fridges can be fixed, but you ain't going to be able to do it on the 
Internet.  It will require finding, and traveling to an RV shop that 
will fix older fridges. This question comes up quite often, so I'll 
start capturing names of Appliance Repair places on the refer page of my 
website.


http://www.vintageairstream.com/rr_topics_refer.html


If anyone out there has used the services of a shop to successfully 
repair an older unit, please let me know the details.  I'll start of the 
list later this weekend with the one here in San Leandro.


RJ

'65 Caravel