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Hi Guys,,,,this may sound silly but can someone please confirm for me...if the large copper pipe that runs between the compressor and evaporator had at one time been slightly pinched, then starightened, could it impact refrigeration performance?

It also sounds like water moving through the pipe after the compressor ahs been running for a while....any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Glen

If when you straighten out the tubing and it isn't leaking it should be ok.  On some systems that running water sound is the refrigerant boiling off, if it is cooling ok this should not be a problem.

Thanks Bob,

I do not believe it is leaking....the machine gets very cold,,,,but after a day or so the small tube on the side of the evaporator gets a couple cm of snow on it and it appears not to stay as cold...at this point the compressor keeps running.

Does this sound like it needs a recharge? Fans worl properly and I doubt it has ever had a recharge.

Glen

        The slightest amount of moisture in the freon will turn into an ice crystal and flow through the large tube until it reaches the small tube. That blocks further flow and freezes only forward of that spot. When you unplug the machine for a while the ice melts, but after running it again the same thing will happen.
        If this is the problem the system must be evacuated, freon filtered and recharged.
        

Glen - thank you,,,,,you have been a great help to me (and others) in our quest to get our machines fully functional.

I live in the Raleigh,NC area.....any suggestions on refrigeration pro's...since refrigeration is an area I am new to and it is so important, I would like it done correctly.

Glen

Here are a couple of pics of the frosting (unfortunately defrosted a bit by the time I got the camera)...

Glen

Only person I can think of in NC is Alan Huffman

        It may just be undrecharged. Remove the compressor deck and take it in to a shop that can analyze the problem. Ask them to please weld in a charge tube, not a saddle fitting.

I will do that...thanks to all for the help.

Glen

Also be aware that it's acceptable to use a saddle valve to diagnosis a trouble in the system, then they ( the repair-shop) can determine if the system has ( and in your case as I see it too, from the picture you've shown) a leak that has left it under charged. then they can let you make a decision as to which way you want to proceed from there ( and once they located the source of the leak/undercharge, then they can braze in a suction line service valve and while they're at it, also install a new high-side filer/dryer with a service-port)

I'm splitting hairs here, but what's the point of discharging the system & brazing in a new service tap before you've located the trouble, just a thought.

Thanks as always for the valuable input....just when you think you get close....the fun of vending

Glen

Success.....talked to Alan at Antique (was going to take him my deck)....he suggested the thermostat - temp stays constant at 37 degrees,,,very minimal cycling

Thanks to Alan and all those who provide input

With the NEW thermostat set to three, I got the internal temp to staying 39-42 degrees...unfortunately, after 24-36 hours of what seems to be good cycling, I get the same frost/snow as shown in the picture.....I defrosted and tried the thermostat at two - 24-36 hours of very little cycling with the temp staying at 49-51 degrees...then bam....frost/snow and slowly rising temps...also could hear the freon "boiling".....

The frost/snow is double what is shown in the pic since this pic show frost/snow after it has melted

Any and all suggestions are welcome.....

Glen

Sounds like it's light on it's charge. (low freon)

Thanks johnnieG...confirmed what I had hoped not to have,,,,but given the age and that it can still run at 52 degrees (in an 85-90 degree garage) is not so bad.....I think I will take it up to Alan Huffman later this fall...Alan said he could also fabricate the Low Bottle Lever if I could not find one.

Hope this thread and the feedback from members helps others troubleshoot cooling issues.

Glen

            If you get that other V-80 that is on e-bay right now, you will also get the compressor.
A spare cooling unit is always nice to have and in this case it is exactly the same as the Vendo 81.