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Rodknock Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 516 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:26 am Post subject: Fridge Removal, Repair & Replace |
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Got my fridge out this past weekend. Bently does a good job of describing removal, but there are a few helpful things to note:
There are more screws under the outer flue plate that have to come out in order to get this whole thing off the side of the van...
Both of these connectors, and the 120v plug, have to be undone...
This gas line goes to the burners, it is NOT the one you have to unhook...
The gas line you need to unhook is further back around the corner, got to stick you head in the cabinet to see it....
In order to get the door & outer frame off, it helps to take this little screw out too...
Here is the offending little fan that was making a racket, turns out it was the yellow wire hitting the blades, but I replaced the fan anyway sine I am in there...
Here is the replacement fan I got from GoWesty, but no bracket is included so you have to make your own. I made two brackets, one L-bracket to the back of the fridge, and one lower support brace. Also, the when doing the electrical hook-up the Blue wire from your Westy goes to the Black wire on the GoWesty fan, orient the fan as shown so air blows upward...
I also did the air pump upgrade, an o-ring goes onto the shaft to prevent backflow leaks and allow more air to be pumped, and a new check valve goes into the air line....
I cleaned the burner and igniter, got it all back together, and that dang fridge will still not light. Probably should have checked the igniter. Who knows what's still wrong with it, will have to tackle it another day. |
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Mulcheese Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 548 Location: Maple Grove, Mn
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Mine turned out to be the jet. It is the end of the gas line. It is between the burner and the copperline. Mine was 100% clogged. Pull it out and hold it up to a light bulb. If you cant see through it it is clogged. The manual says not to use an object, you might enlarge the hole. I used brake cleaner and TB cleaner.
I just lit mine on sat, 5 pumps and it lit first try. _________________ 82 Westy: Air is cool! |
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Rodknock Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 516 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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I took the jet out and looked at it and it was very clean. I did not hold it up to the light. Someday I'll tear into it again. |
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SlowLane Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1044 Location: Livermore, CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the illuminating photos, Rodknock. I just fired up my fridge yesterday for the first time this year. To my surprise, it lit and stayed lit.
Unfortunately, it also now emits a strong ammonia odour, so I think it's hosed, even though it did work well enough to make ice in those little ice cube trays.
Anyone have any information on whether an ammonia leak rings a death knell for the fridge, or if it's repairable? Somehow I doubt it can be repaired. _________________ Present:
'81 Westfalia: 2L, manual. Originally Canadian, now Californiated
Back in the day:
'72 Super Beetle
'69 Camper Van - Corvair powered
'71 Window Van - Transferred Corvair from '69
"With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine." - Internet RFC 1925
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." - Sir Terry Pratchett |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:40 am Post subject: |
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I understand the repair of the coolent loop to be VERY expensive. Call and find out. You never know. I saw a few reefers for sale. You could get lucky....
This could be a blessing in disguise. I recently saw a post with a different reefer installed....hint, hint.... _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:44 am Post subject: |
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Check this thread for an alternate frig in the same hole:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=175254
Plus others I have in the stickies, too..... _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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tsombrero1 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2006 Posts: 288 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Has anybody considered replacing it with the Dometic RM4180M?
http://www.dometic.com/templates/Product,424,2689.aspx
The dimensions are kinda close. HWD 617x401x451mm instead of the stock RM182B's 596x431x438mm.
It looks like it would only stick out 13mm in front, but you might have to cut the cabinet to fit the extra 19mm height. But then you would have a spanky new fridge. |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003 Posts: 1839 Location: Englewood, FL
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:08 am Post subject: |
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SlowLane wrote: |
Thanks for the illuminating photos, Rodknock. I just fired up my fridge yesterday for the first time this year. To my surprise, it lit and stayed lit.
Unfortunately, it also now emits a strong ammonia odour, so I think it's hosed, even though it did work well enough to make ice in those little ice cube trays.
Anyone have any information on whether an ammonia leak rings a death knell for the fridge, or if it's repairable? Somehow I doubt it can be repaired. |
A fellow Full moon bus club member up in Canada just sent me some parts off a fridge he had. He MAY still have the cabinet/cooling system off it! PM me your email and I'll try and get you to connected if you are intersted. _________________ Markus |
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EXITSTRATEGY Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2006 Posts: 450 Location: rolling thunder river company, nantahalla gorge. NC
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:20 am Post subject: |
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yes great pictures. let us know when you chase the gremlins out. |
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msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject: One thought, Rod... |
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Both you and I are at altitude, and both of us are having touble getting the fridges to light. I wish there were some adjustments possible besides just replacing that jet! I should look into that, though, and give you a report.
You're quite right about the little screws the Bentley folks forgot to tell us about. In the course of going back and forth with Winston's fridge, I also had to replace the intricately bent copper tubing the Bavarians had used to connect to the gas with modern high-pressure neoprene hoses. That's good in that it makes it easier to pull the fridge, and also offers some protection against vibration.
Thank you for a very good illustrated post on a subject that's very important!
Best! |
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pdeschen Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2012 Posts: 1 Location: Montreal
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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FYI. OP photos available from the Internet archive way back machine.
Moderator note: Thanks to the above time machine, photos have been restored in original post (saved to The Samba gallery). |
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an86carrera Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007 Posts: 293 Location: Bradenton, FL
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:31 am Post subject: |
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I just removed a working one that I am willing to sell. _________________ Len
Current Vehicles
'84 Westy '95 2.2 Subaru
'08 Dodge 2500 diesel
'75 914 |
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