Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: on June 29, 2005, 11:02:05 am
I am really pushing it to get my new vmc56 squaretop together in time for the 4th of July. I got the insides cleaned up and painted... now I'm working on the refrigerator assembly. I have it out of the machine, with all the shrouding removed. As long as I have it this far, I want to go ahead and replace the wiring. HOWEVER....
I am reluctant to open up the fans and compressor to expose the wiring connections, since everything is currently working. I am imagining springs popping out, magnets coming unseated, bearings falling out, etc. What horrors await me when I open them up?
Bryan.. help me out! :^)
thanks...
-matt
ps - yes, I am taking pics of the whole process... just don't have them developed yet. My camera is from the 60's too.
I am reluctant to open up the fans and compressor to expose the wiring connections, since everything is currently working. I am imagining springs popping out, magnets coming unseated, bearings falling out, etc. What horrors await me when I open them up?
Bryan.. help me out! :^)
thanks...
-matt
ps - yes, I am taking pics of the whole process... just don't have them developed yet. My camera is from the 60's too.
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: Kevin C on June 29, 2005, 11:11:37 am
Hey
Order a new wiring harness from the Soda Jerk & then buy new fan motors & t-stat at your local AC suply store. When everything arrives replace them all at one time. Very easy process & while you have it out clean the two coils. Look at my Vendo 63 topic to see a few steps.
If its working let it run. If it still works after 40 years another two weeks wont matter
Good luck
Kevin
Order a new wiring harness from the Soda Jerk & then buy new fan motors & t-stat at your local AC suply store. When everything arrives replace them all at one time. Very easy process & while you have it out clean the two coils. Look at my Vendo 63 topic to see a few steps.
If its working let it run. If it still works after 40 years another two weeks wont matter
Good luck
Kevin
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: BryanH on June 29, 2005, 11:27:38 am
Matt - I would second Kevin's advice, but given that you want it working for the weekend I'd see if you can get the fans from a local supply house. Then order the wiring harness. Put the machine back together with the new fans and original harness for the weekend. Once the harness arrives it's pretty easy to replace even with the compressor, condensor and evap back in the machine.
PS - buy a cheap digital camera. Your developed pics are going to cost you more than the machine and camera
especially when you move to your next machine!
PS - buy a cheap digital camera. Your developed pics are going to cost you more than the machine and camera
especially when you move to your next machine!Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: Kevin C on June 29, 2005, 11:33:40 am
Hey
I am Kevin not Glenn but thats fine.
Kevin
I am Kevin not Glenn but thats fine.
Kevin
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: MoonDawg on June 29, 2005, 12:06:46 pm
Mat, I agree with Kevin. Here's what I would do. Clean and paint everything (wires and all) and re-install it in the machine. You said it is charged and running fine. Check for bad wires, then put it to test for this weekend.
Then... order a new wiring harness and fan motors. You already know how easy it will be to remove it again next week when the parts come in.
Then... order a new wiring harness and fan motors. You already know how easy it will be to remove it again next week when the parts come in.
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: on June 29, 2005, 01:01:11 pm
Well, it sure looks like a consensus is forming. I never like to argue with good advice (thanks everyone!), but I would like to ask a question for my own education:
Why replace the fan motors? I am partial to leaving things original where possible, and I have verified that both motors are working fine. If one or both were to fail would there be a possibility of damage to the compressor, etc? That would certainly override my wanting to keep the motors original.
If not, and replacing the motors is more for convenience, I think I'd like to take a shot at simply replacing the wiring, which is cracked in some places and poorly spliced in others.
thanks...
-matt
Why replace the fan motors? I am partial to leaving things original where possible, and I have verified that both motors are working fine. If one or both were to fail would there be a possibility of damage to the compressor, etc? That would certainly override my wanting to keep the motors original.
If not, and replacing the motors is more for convenience, I think I'd like to take a shot at simply replacing the wiring, which is cracked in some places and poorly spliced in others.
thanks...
-matt
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: sodaworks on June 29, 2005, 01:25:21 pm
Hello banjoman,
Replacing the fan motors will make your machine run more energy efficient. Replacing the 40 year old wiring harness is cheap insurance. This is very easy to do.
Replacing the fan motors will make your machine run more energy efficient. Replacing the 40 year old wiring harness is cheap insurance. This is very easy to do.
Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: BryanH on June 29, 2005, 01:32:58 pm
Matt - the rationale for fans is that they are relatively cheap (around $10) to buy new, BUT a pain in the 
to replace when the system is inside the machine. So if you have the refrigeration system out and apart it's certainly worth considering swapping them out for new.
to replace when the system is inside the machine. So if you have the refrigeration system out and apart it's certainly worth considering swapping them out for new.Title: Vmc56 wiring
Post by: MoonDawg on June 29, 2005, 02:36:51 pm
| Quote (banjoman @ June 29 2005,9:02) |
| HOWEVER.... I am reluctant to open up the fans and compressor to expose the wiring connections, since everything is currently working. I am imagining springs popping out, magnets coming unseated, bearings falling out, etc. What horrors await me when I open them up? -matt |
To answer your queston. You don't open a fan motor to change the wires, you replace it. They are old, wires are brittle, bearings are worn and will become noisy, and eventually they fail completely. So much easier to do when changing wiring.
Don't hesitate to take the compressor cover off though.