Club 80-90 Forums

Down to 3.9c so it is slowly working which I reckon means you're right OBG in suggesting a blockage.I was looking to see if they can get recharged and found the following which is useful.

If it is a standard Ammonia gas absorbtion fridge there is no repairing the gas system as it is highly expensive. I worked for various manufacturers/retail, all had a policy of scrapping the fridge, replacing or refund if the gas escaped. Electrolux were the only ones that offered such repairs some years ago.

The fridge has no motor and the gas simply is moved around by heat making it ideal for multi fuel variations. 240/12 v operate a simple electric heating element, gas simply a small burner system that can be adjusted by flame height to allow limited control, plus flame safety and ignition. Electric elements are available as well as most gas components,

The following rule applies only to gas absorbtion fridges, they can get silted up over time, for a few of them, turning them upside down can shift some silt and they will function again. If this is tried on an ordinary fridge it destroys the whole system as oil in the motor/compresser will travel through the system blocking it. Thermostats are only normally fitted to standard fridges, unless you have the large domestic absorbtion fridge and are not normally fitted to common camping 3 way type.

I can send you information on absorbtion fridges if you want to read more. Theory and Dometic service.
These fridges should be easier and cheaper than compressor ones to re-charge as it is only ammonia and water, the problem is this throwaway society killing the knowledge and will to repair.

Thanks OBG but I think I've serviced all that I can, I can't see myself recharging with ammonia. Fridge had started warming up even though I hadn't moved the van. . Taken it out again and putting it upside down for the next 24 hours.

Give it a little jerjerjiggle ( as Ronnie Barker would have said ) whilst upside down to help dislodge the crystals.

Fridge just jerjerjigled. For any one who's interested, this is a good description of how these fridges work

http://www.solarmirror.com/www_jul01/fridge.html

What I offered earlier is far better than that - it gives the full history of the development of them.

Depends whatyou mean by better OBG

5 days of rotating and shaking fridge. Hasn't made a jot's difference

Have you cleaned the burner/injector yet?

Yes. Bought a fridge being sold as spares which had a much better burner which I swapped over. I think there's a stubborn blockage. The flame is about 3mm nice and blue.

E D I T

It's been freezing for 72 hours with the fridge level. This suggests to me that it's not crystals causing the problems because the coolant takes the same path whatever way the fridge it tilted. It won't work with the van parked with the fridge facing slightly down towards the camber but will work the other way round with the fridge slightly tilted up. This way round the heat is hitting the spot and cooling. How to fix it who knows!