Chest cold 3 way fridge. Not working properly on gas.

[Mike678]

My fridge works fine on 240 volt , - 7 c. On gas it only gets cold . Flame is there . Not wanting to buy a new thermostat . Gunk in the gas could have blocked the thermostat up . Any body else had this problem ? And the fix ???

 

[RM Outback]

Sounds like carbon build up, turn it off remove the burner clean and refit. While you have it apart clean the flue/exhaust before putting it back together. It's not a difficult job but if you doubt yourself get it done by someone who knows what their doing. Is it permanently fitted or portable. If it's permanently fitted have a gas plumber/service agent do the job and get a certificate of compliance for insurance purposes.

 

[user 7268]

Turn upside down for awhile and give it a good shake side to side . Mix the gas up If it's inbuilt in ya van not a portable unit take van for a drive down a heavy corrugated road. Should be jake

 

[Simmo]

https://www.exploroz.com/forum/1011...-upside-down-for-20-minutes-to-get-it-to-work

 

[RM Outback]

https://www.exploroz.com/forum/1011...-upside-down-for-20-minutes-to-get-it-to-work

All good and well to lay them on the side or upside down, either way cleaning the build up of carbon is the 1st process. The amount of gas fridges I've seen on the side and upside down I can't recall, plenty, it's does help clear the odd blockage but if it doesn't burn efficiently you end up with the same problem time and time again.

How old is the fridge and what service has been done to it. Obviously being Chestcold it's got plenty of years under its belt. Given its age it could be a case of its completely knackered or in need of a well overdue service. They are/were a bloody ripper fridge so it's worth your time to give a decent clean/service and see if it still has life left in it

 

[Grey Panner]

All good and well to lay them on the side or upside down, either way cleaning the build up of carbon is the 1st process. The amount of gas fridges I've seen on the side and upside down I can't recall, plenty, it's does help clear the odd blockage but if it doesn't burn efficiently you end up with the same problem time and time again.

How old is the fridge and what service has been done to it. Obviously being Chestcold it's got plenty of years under its belt. Given its age it could be a case of its completely knackered or in need of a well overdue service. They are/were a bloody ripper fridge so it's worth your time to give a decent clean/service and see if it still has life left in it

A gas frig needs to be perfectly level.Have you checked it with a spirit level?

 

[grubstake]

Here's a page from the Dometic 3-way fridge instructions, dealing with flue and burner cleaning and fault-finding. I think all gas/electrics are pretty similar, so hopefully this provides some authoritative guidance:

 

[Mike678]

Turn upside down for awhile and give it a good shake side to side . Mix the gas up If it's inbuilt in ya van not a portable unit take van for a drive down a heavy corrugated road. Should be jake

It is working well on 240 volt , so I do not think it is gas problem .[ ammonia ] I am thinking of a " gunk " problem . Gas condensate has part blocked the line and thermostat . Remove the burner and blow back with an air line ? Putting metho in the line to dissolve the "gunk " and then blowing it out ??? Has any body done this and got a good result ?

It is a portable camping fridge .

 

[Mike678]

Going to give the flue / chimney a good clean out . It is set level and works well on 240 volt . The flame looks good and strong . Maybe not a good heat transfer due to soot and rust ?

 

[Pro-oz]

The last time I cleaned the flue. in the caravan fridge pushed a bent-up bit of wire down and a hornet's mud nest fell out the bottom. Must have got in when the van was parked up out of season. Then had trouble with the regulator last time out, there was even bits of mud nest in the regulator buggers got in when the hose was disconnected from the bottle, the bottle is out of the weather in the front storage, so found their way in their as well.

 

[David-Karratha]

The last time I cleaned the flue. in the caravan fridge pushed a bent-up bit of wire down and a hornet's mud nest fell out the bottom. Must have got in when the van was parked up out of season. Then had trouble with the regulator last time out, there was even bits of mud nest in the regulator buggers got in when the hose was disconnected from the bottle, the bottle is out of the weather in the front storage, so found their way in their as well.

I work in the Rail industry, where we have “wasp excluders” fitted to critical vent holes on a lot of our brake equipment. They’re basically, just a screw-in plug with a rubber flap that covers the hole. It lets the air out, but won’t allow wasps to get in. I believe the Airline industry does something similar.

Moral of the story, if there’s a hole somewhere, it’s not unusual to get wasps, spiders or other creatures decide it’s a nice-looking spot for a home. Not sure if something Similar would work in this situation.

 

[Mike678]

The last time I cleaned the flue. in the caravan fridge pushed a bent-up bit of wire down and a hornet's mud nest fell out the bottom. Must have got in when the van was parked up out of season. Then had trouble with the regulator last time out, there was even bits of mud nest in the regulator buggers got in when the hose was disconnected from the bottle, the bottle is out of the weather in the front storage, so found their way in their as well.

Could be mud wasps , signs that they have been around . In storage before I got it . If you remove the hose , put a plastic cap on or tape the hole .

 

[Mike678]

Could be mud wasps , signs that they have been around . In storage before I got it . If you remove the hose , put a plastic cap on or tape the hole .

Store the regulator and hose inside the fridge . Gives you a better chance of finding it .... Spray the back of the fridge with surface insect spray . If the pipes on the back are slightly rusty , sand and spray with good zinc undercoat . If they rust through and the ammonia leaks , buy a new fridge .

 

[Mike678]

Store the regulator and hose inside the fridge . Gives you a better chance of finding it .... Spray the back of the fridge with surface insect spray . If the pipes on the back are slightly rusty , sand and spray with good zinc undercoat . If they rust through and the ammonia leaks , buy a new fridge .

Nobody in Australia can regas an ammonia system . Very expensive set up . O.K . if you are going to make 500,000 units ....

 

[Mike678]

This fridge is a Chestcold Explorer .It has been stuffed up by a mud wasp . I took the burner out and cleaned it . Also cleaned the chimney , no dirt in it . I had blown mud wasp dirt out before with an air line . It had a flame but not strong enough . So I poured metho down the pipe until it dripped out the bottom . I then blew it out again with the air line . I have been away with this fridge for 3 weeks . On the first night it got down to 1 c. but after that it got worse . Not forming any ice . On 240 v. it was freezing well .
My conclusion is , that the thermostat is blocked up with wasp material or the bellows or diaphram are no longer working properly . It has a good strong flame but maybe not enough . Expensive to get the thermostat replaced .

 

[grubstake]

Where are you located, Mike? If it's Perth, I've got a couple of old but working gas/electric fridges that you're welcome to.

 

[Mike678]

Where are you located, Mike? If it's Perth, I've got a couple of old but working gas/electric fridges that you're welcome to.

Thanks , but I am in Sydney .

 

[Mike678]

Just as general information , the number stamped on the gas jet is the size of the orifice or hole . So if it is stamped 30 then the orifice is 0.30 m.m. diameter etc . Got an idea of how to get more gas through the orifice . When they make and sell fridges they will always put the smallest one in that will work when the unit is new . Selling point is the amount of gas it uses .