1949 GE Refrigerator Line Freezing

[reedflores]

Model Number

NF-6-G6

Model Number: NF-6-G6
Brand: GE
Age: More than 10 years

*EDIT* I totally didn't see that there was a vintage appliance section. I'm sorry!

Hello! I'm new here. Nice to meet 'ya.

I recently purchased a 1949 GE fridge. There doesn't seem to be an issue with it getting cold, as it gets cold enough to keep our food from spoiling. However, the freezer does not get cold enough, and the it frosts up pretty quickly. I'm aware that I need to defrost it every two to three weeks. However, it's only been a few days since I last defrosted it and it's already frosted over. I talked to an antique appliance specialist who gave me this advice:

Your frost pattern indicates either a low refrigerant charge or a restriction in the system. Restrictions are the more likely! They form when small droplets of oil from the compressor are picked up and transported with the refrigerant thru the refrigerant lines. When the oil reaches the freezer section and hits the cold it coagulates like jello and sticks to the refrigerant tube walls. More droplets stick and create a restriction so that the refrigerant can't flow properly. To remove the restriction, apply heat to liquefy the gelled oil!

Turn the refrigerator off and completely defrost, noting where your frost pattern stops before hand! Once the system has defrosted, place a 100 watt utility lamp, turned on, on the bottom of the freezer floor! Turn the refrigerator on and close the door! Leave the light and the refrigerator on for2-3 hours! The heat transfer from the light will prevent the freezer from cooling, keeping the oil droplets in a liquid state! The pressure from the compressor will push it all through the system depositing the oil back in the compressor where it belongs! After the time has passed! Turn everything off and allow the system pressures to equalize, approx 1 he. Turn the refrigerator back on and allow several hours to circulate and cool! Check your frost pattern! If it persist, repeat the process! The pattern may move or pas thru depending on the severity of the restriction!

I tried this trick, and it didn't seem to help. Maybe I need to do it again, for longer? Any advice would be appreciated.

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with.

 

[rickgburton]

The antique appliance specialist was correct. The problem is in the sealed system and you can try that again but I believe you're at the point where a set of refrigeration gauges needs to be connected to the system. It's most likely a refrigeration leak. R12 is no longer available so be prepared. This could get very expensive, very fast.

 

[Jake]

*EDIT* I totally didn't see that there was a vintage appliance section. I'm sorry!

I moved your thread to our vintage appliance section.

Jake

 

[AleCorriente]

Im having the same problem on the same fridge…. Did the procedure got to work?