I've got a 10 year old GE 21 Cf and the freezer temp is about 40. The compressor runs hot enough to burn my finger. If I give the compressor a break for about a half hour that's been enough to get it working again for a few days (freezer temp below 0) then same thing.

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Sounds like a partially clogged capillary to me. An amp probe check of the compressor draw would confirm this.
A filter change with internal fine mesh sceen and capillary blowout would fix it.

Hey szm200,

Thanks for the reply. Does the fluid (freon?) get dirty inside the sealed system? Is there an internal filter?

When the problem started I cleaned the condenser tubing it was extremely dust clogged.

It's possible you have a low side leak . Under these conditions the freon level will get down low enough for the compressor to start sucking in air. Eventually the capillary line will clog up.