Re-gassing an old Astral gas fridge in Melbourne

[Flattop]

After cleaning, testing and running for some time the cooling is not working.

Any idea on price and someone in the Melbourne area to have a check/re-gas?

(I have posted in "wanted" for pricing for a replacement)

thanks,

Bruce

[minicamper]

Hey Bruce,

One more possible solution before you go "regassing"

Take it out of the van, stand it on its head overnight.

Turn the fridge back the right way up (by the way you should hear fluid movement when tipping upside down and back over again) then let it sit for an hour or so (this can include reinstallation time, assuming it stays upright)

Retry it. It may take up to at least 30 mins to do anything. Normally you would trial it before installation, because, if this upside down trick doesn't help, give the pipes that come from the heater box and collector (not the condenser one's with the fins) gentle taps with a piece of wood. If any rust has lodged and blocked things up, this will dislodge it, but you may have to install to try and then pull it out, tap the pipes and retry.

These are guidelines offered for Kerosene fridges that operate on the same system, just a different fuel/heat source. See how you go.

Cheers
Chris

[Flattop]

Thanks Chris (once again) , I will give this a go tonight...

cheers,


(If it works I make sure there is a cold beer in it for you! ;D)

[smut57]

Dead right, even take it for a drive upside down on a bumpy road. Shake the crap out of it. The ammonia (gas) settles and as a result efficiency isn't good.
Best of luck,

[firefighter]

G,Day Bruce

This mob fixed our fridge....you would just about pass there door on the way to moorabbin

Melbourne.... Caravan Refrigeration Services 24 Eileen rd Clayton South [phone] www.caravanrefrigeration.com.au contact Don or Len

Bruce ....I still have that marconi track that you wanted....if you don,t want it could you please let me know and I will see if any other member wants it

f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[greedy53]

it mite be the heating element thats buggered
sound strange but true there are usually 2 one for 240 and 1 for 12 gas don't need one good luck

[curtis]

Hi Flattop,

Just wondering how you went with your fridge.

Our old Halstrom is getting weaker (have to run it flat out now) so I rang Don at Caravan Refridgeration Services and he tells me that it can not be repaired

So he suggested I buy one of his reconditioned older Electrolux units for about $900. I am not keen to do this as it is expensive (cheaper than a new one, but still a lot of money) Also I like to have the original (spent ages cleaning it up) and I would have to modify the cabints to get the Electrolux unit in.

Will try the upside down thing and the tapping, but I did have it sitting upsiade down for a week or so when I first got it about a year ago....

Any other ideas?

Regards
Dave

[greedy53]

if it's a 3 way weather it's on any of the systems there should be heat if there is no heat at the back you mite require a new elament dead easy if thats the problem ,i would try gas first if gas works then it's elaments
good luck

[curtis]

Actually...........

I have learned that if the fridge is too close to the wall of the van, the air does not flow behind it and it does not cool down......


Sometimes it is the simplest solution that works best......

[greedy53]

good advice there should be heat at the back if there is and does not get cold than regas may be the fix so turn on the elaments 1 at a time giving about half an hour between each as for gas it should get hot and you should be able to see the gas jet burning through the eye hole that is there just for that purpose