3 Ways Fridges - Gas not cooling

[n_dorphin]

Hey Guys,

I have 2 Older Chescold 3 way fridges (just bought them second hand)
They both freeze up a bottle of water when tested on 240Volt.
Just running on gas and neither is cooling....

Please Help

Jason

[Kruzeruzer]

Jason make sure the gas jet is clean you may have a small flame but not enough to heat the refrigerant check the aeration holes as well, also the flue may be sooted up, it acts as a heat exchanger and wont work if dirty. this has worked for me on a couple of chescolds I have.
Boris

[n_dorphin]

Great thanks, I can see the flame it it looks like its going strong.
I'll try and clean the Flue, What did you use?

Has anyone tried the turning over thing to move air bubble? (Read on net)

Jason

[pcman]

only 3 way ive used had to be perfectly level for it t work on gas, i used to take a small spirit level with me camping to level it up

[Kruzeruzer]

I use a piece of softer type wire (copper) and rattle that in the flue and then give it a blow out with the air compressor, but do this outside can be messy. If it works on mains power it must work on gas, the thermostat control regulates temp on 240v mains and gas not on 12v.
Boris

[BundyRumandCoke]

Inverting your fridge does work, if its not cooling at all. Sometimes, a bit of crap can get caught in the coolant, and this can dislodge it. I have got quite a few 3 ways going doing this. Give it a really good shakeup for 5 minutes or so, then leave it upside down for 24 hrs or so, then put it right way up and leave for another 24 hrs or so before trying again. You problem seems a bit strange, if you have a good flame.

[Kruzeruzer]

I have heard it said either propane or is it butane one of them burns hotter than the other and is better suited for 3 way fridges perhaps a gas fitter may be able to shed some light.
Boris

[purplebus]

have fixed 2 by turning them upside down and just driving on a dirt rough road for a few minutes. mate used to work at a caravan shop and that is how they get them to go as well.

[n_dorphin]

I've tested and done as suggested...
Gas lights and seems to burn fine, Hot air coming out of top of Flue. Cleaned but nothing came out!

Turned upside down etc...

Gas still didn't chill fridge. Turned on 240Volt and fridge chilled nicely...

How does the gas heat the coolant? Is these an exchanger or something that might need checking?

Cheers Jason

[Pesky Pete]

Try leaving it turned upside down for a few hours. Dont just flip it over for a few minutes. I used to leave mine upside down for about an hour before I was going to use it on gas.

[purplebus]

dont forget they take longer to get cold with gas than elec.

[n_dorphin]

I tried the upside down trick with no luck fixing the gas..
I have 2 fridges, 1 cooled down on gas and this one I have left for about 3 hours with no cooling on gas at all.

I'm wondering how 240Volt can cool but gas wont. Anything else I can check?
I have noticed the top of the flue has a metal flap, wondering if this is to open and allowing gas/heat to escape before transferring?


Jason

[Foo on patrol]

I can't help you with getting it going on gas, but I take mine to a bloke at Strathpine/Lawnton.
You turn right at Bob Janes then take the first on the left and he is up there on the left about 100mtrs.
Cost me $150 last time I had my Chestcold servied. (brown model)

[Dunaruna]

Jason, these fridges need heat to activate the ammonia, the ammonia in turn circulates and removes heat from inside the cabinet.

The 240v element is just a heating element.
The 12v element is just a heating element.
The LPG flue is just a heating element.

They all do the same job BUT the LPG is (by far) the most efficient heater. If you have flame, it is working. If it is cooling the cabinet on 240v, the ammonia is circulating O/K.

Clean the flue, make sure the unit is level. It should work.

[n_dorphin]

Thanks Chaps,
Really starting to get frustrated with this thing!!!!
Checked Flue again - All Clear
Confirmed Unit is Level

Gas on and burning....

Still no cold... Doh!

Thanks for your effort and input

Jason

[n_dorphin]

Just had a thought, mounted to the top of the Flue if a metal flap like thingy....lol
I assume this contains some heat in the Flue without choking the flame.
Wondering if this has moved / been moved by previous owner and is to open?

Has anyone got one of these they could check measurement?

Thanks Jason

[fnqcairns]

that metal flap thingy is there to redirect anything from falling all the way down to the flame. What colour is the flame?? if it has any yellow that area needs a clean, should be solidly blue...this caught me out a year ago after 10 years and literally hundreds of hours of of reliable service this is all it actually needed. The flu was still dead clean.

IMO if the flame is blue run the unit on gas for an entire night with a cup of water inside, you can be sure then, they do take a little getting used to when one is used to convenience of modern appliances,I own 2 engels and the chescold is indispensable in it's own right but gosh darn it's slow, i find 240 works best then gas then 12V, the gas is the important one.

[love ke70]

how long are you leaving running it on gas with no cooling?
my old man did the same thing with his 3 way , and they told him to be sure its not actually cooling, that he needs to leave it for atleast 12 hours, turned out it was working...just took ages to drop temps

[n_dorphin]

Cool thanks guys.

I left it for about 6 Hours on Gas and no cooler inside. Will try overnight now.
(On 240 it chilled and frosted inside element with a couple of hours).

Flame is all blue. Thanks for that idea, wouldn't have known. How do you clean the jets anyway?

Thanks Again, Jason

[n_dorphin]

Fridge left on for 12 Hours on gas... No Cooling.
Pulled it apart, Flue 100% Clean, Flame strong and blue, I noticed a sensor prob of some kind near flame.
Whats this sensor? Could it be faulty I wonder?

Jason

[Dunaruna]

That is the therno coupler, it cuts off the gas supply if it flames out.