Norcold 3way fridge

J

jim d.

New member
Dec 23, 2017
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Question for anyone with experience on the Norcold model #N641.3. Its a 3way fridge and is no longer getting cold. We were parked over the weekend in
a families driveway on a hill and thats when the fridge officially went kapput. We arent currently parked on said hill any longer. The fridge will
turn on with all power sources. Meaning the light will come on and the front display lights up. It also sounds like the compressor does kick on it
does get hot like i think it should. I unplugged the thermostat overnight in hopes that maybe that was the culprit but woke up to no difference in the
fridge. Im hoping the fridge isnt junk especially since weve been hemorrhaging money lately on this old gal(new tranny, motor) Any suggestions or
ideas would be greatly appreciated thanks a bunch
Jim and Jen
--
Jim DeMellia and Jen Radefeld and our cat Ickis
NH natives
1975 GMC “Palm Beach” ,455, her names Linda
Full time RVers exploring the beautiful and unusual parts of the country.
 
As a last ditch, you can pull the fridge and turn it upside down. Stand it on its head for a few minutes and then turn it back over. If the ammonia
has not all escaped this sometimes helps get it all back down in the tubes where it belongs. There have been mixed reviews on success, but thats a
last ditch effort.
--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
 
First of all there is no compressor in your Norcold 3 way fridge. I don’t know what you are hearing but its not a compressor. It has gas or a 12 volt DC heater or a 120 volt AC heater.

You have now learned that you cannot operate it parked off level on a hill. The refrigerator operates by boiling an ammonia/ water solution. The vapors go up to the freezer compartment as a gas and condense and picks up heat and the liquid flows back down to the bottom to be heated again to epeat the cycle. If operated off level some of the ammonia will not be able to run back down and the heat creates solid crystals that clog the tubes. Once the crystals form they will not redissolve and so the tubes become clogged forever.
If that is what has happened to you then the only solution is to replace the refrigerator or to have someone replace the whole cooling unit in your refrigerator box.

There is no problem driving up and down hills because the motorhome moving keeps the liquid in the refrigerator from getting trapped. When you are parked be sure to be somewhat level. There is usually a small round level with a bubble that comes with the new refrigerator. The bubble shows in the center when its level. You should try to keep at least half of the bubble within the lines at the center.

If I park on a hill (such as going into a restaurant or a store) I always check the level and if I am slanted too much I shut off the refrigerator until I return and begin to drive.

There are several sites on the Internet that explain this in detail. Here is the first one I found in a search: http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2015/02/rv-refrigerators-how-level-should-they/ http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2015/02/rv-refrigerators-how-level-should-they/

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Question for anyone with experience on the Norcold model #N641.3. Its a 3way fridge and is no longer getting cold. We were parked over the weekend in
> a families driveway on a hill and thats when the fridge officially went kapput. We arent currently parked on said hill any longer. The fridge will
> turn on with all power sources. Meaning the light will come on and the front display lights up. It also sounds like the compressor does kick on it
> does get hot like i think it should. I unplugged the thermostat overnight in hopes that maybe that was the culprit but woke up to no difference in the
> fridge. Im hoping the fridge isnt junk especially since weve been hemorrhaging money lately on this old gal(new tranny, motor) Any suggestions or
> ideas would be greatly appreciated thanks a bunch
> Jim and Jen
> --
> Jim DeMellia and Jen Radefeld and our cat Ickis
> NH natives
> 1975 GMC “Palm Beach” ,455, her names Linda
> Full time RVers exploring the beautiful and unusual parts of the country.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
There's also the guy in Amish territory of Illinois or Indiana who repairs these units. Good option if you aren't too far away from him. I'm sure somebody here has his contact info.

D C "Mac" Macdonald​
Amateur Radio K2GKK​
Since 30 November '53​
USAF and FAA, Retired​
Member GMCMI & Classics​
Oklahoma City, OK​
"The Money Pit"​
TZE166V101966​
'76 ex-Palm Beach​
k2gkk + hotmail dot com​

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Wayne Rogewski
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 09:45
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Norcold 3way fridge

As a last ditch, you can pull the fridge and turn it upside down. Stand it on its head for a few minutes and then turn it back over. If the ammonia
has not all escaped this sometimes helps get it all back down in the tubes where it belongs. There have been mixed reviews on success, but thats a
last ditch effort.
--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
 
The repair expert D C Mac refers to is National Refridgeration in Shipshewana, Ind. His name is Leon and his phone No. is
260-768-7059.
A real expert w/ fair prices and good knowledge of GMC's.
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> There's also the guy in Amish territory of Illinois or Indiana who repairs these units. Good option if you aren't too far away from him. I'm sure somebody here has his contact info.
>
> D C "Mac" Macdonald​
> Amateur Radio K2GKK​
> Since 30 November '53​
> USAF and FAA, Retired​
> Member GMCMI & Classics​
> Oklahoma City, OK​
> "The Money Pit"​
> TZE166V101966​
> '76 ex-Palm Beach​
> k2gkk + hotmail dot com​
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf of Wayne Rogewski
> Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 09:45
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Norcold 3way fridge
>
> As a last ditch, you can pull the fridge and turn it upside down. Stand it on its head for a few minutes and then turn it back over. If the ammonia
> has not all escaped this sometimes helps get it all back down in the tubes where it belongs. There have been mixed reviews on success, but thats a
> last ditch effort.
> --
> 77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
> Mid Michigan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
The new units we sell automatically shuts down the flame when tilted.?

> First of all there is no compressor in your Norcold 3 way fridge. I don’t
> know what you are hearing but its not a compressor. It has gas or a 12
> volt DC heater or a 120 volt AC heater.
>
> You have now learned that you cannot operate it parked off level on a
> hill. The refrigerator operates by boiling an ammonia/ water solution.
> The vapors go up to the freezer compartment as a gas and condense and picks
> up heat and the liquid flows back down to the bottom to be heated again to
> epeat the cycle. If operated off level some of the ammonia will not be
> able to run back down and the heat creates solid crystals that clog the
> tubes. Once the crystals form they will not redissolve and so the tubes
> become clogged forever.
> If that is what has happened to you then the only solution is to replace
> the refrigerator or to have someone replace the whole cooling unit in your
> refrigerator box.
>
> There is no problem driving up and down hills because the motorhome moving
> keeps the liquid in the refrigerator from getting trapped. When you are
> parked be sure to be somewhat level. There is usually a small round level
> with a bubble that comes with the new refrigerator. The bubble shows in
> the center when its level. You should try to keep at least half of the
> bubble within the lines at the center.
>
> If I park on a hill (such as going into a restaurant or a store) I always
> check the level and if I am slanted too much I shut off the refrigerator
> until I return and begin to drive.
>
> There are several sites on the Internet that explain this in detail. Here
> is the first one I found in a search:
> http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2015/02/rv-refrigerators-how-level-should-they/
> <
> http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2015/02/rv-refrigerators-how-level-should-they/
> >
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick, CO
>

> >
> > Question for anyone with experience on the Norcold model #N641.3. Its a
> 3way fridge and is no longer getting cold. We were parked over the weekend
> in
> > a families driveway on a hill and thats when the fridge officially went
> kapput. We arent currently parked on said hill any longer. The fridge will
> > turn on with all power sources. Meaning the light will come on and the
> front display lights up. It also sounds like the compressor does kick on it
> > does get hot like i think it should. I unplugged the thermostat
> overnight in hopes that maybe that was the culprit but woke up to no
> difference in the
> > fridge. Im hoping the fridge isnt junk especially since weve been
> hemorrhaging money lately on this old gal(new tranny, motor) Any
> suggestions or
> > ideas would be greatly appreciated thanks a bunch
> > Jim and Jen
> > --
> > Jim DeMellia and Jen Radefeld and our cat Ickis
> > NH natives
> > 1975 GMC “Palm Beach” ,455, her names Linda
> > Full time RVers exploring the beautiful and unusual parts of the
> country.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Jim - some additional information.

Erv Troyer posted this about 10 years ago but its still a good place to buy a replacement unit:

—————————————————————————
Occasionally questions crop up here about rebuilt cooling units (C/U) for our
refrigerators, and the name of National RV Refrigeration in Shipshewana, IN
usually appears during the postings. Ken H recently had a C/U failure, and he
asked me for some information about them, since I live in this area.

This is the information I found - and is probably more than anyone wants to
know. But that is how this GMC Net works... you get information overflow -
then you decide what you need.

Some years ago there were two young Amish men that started a business of
servicing absorption type refrigerators and rebuilding cooling units for these
refrigerators. Eventually they split the business - Ray Miller formed National
RV Refrigeration which was exclusively for RV refrigerators, and his partner
formed another company which serviced only residential refrigerators. Since
this is the middle of a large Amish community there are thousands of these
units used in homes in this area.

About 2 years ago Ray sold National RV Refrigeration to Leon Herschberger,
who had been working with him for several years. Leon moved the business to
his home, and continued with basically the same prices, and the 3 year warranty
on rebuilt cooling units. He told me that he replaces any tubing that is
damaged, and stressed that complete purging of the system is very important.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. Emery thank you for the clarification. The “compressor” I was referring to is the heating element. I wish I would have asked sooner, we just left Indiana but need to be home in a few days for a wedding. I’ll give the gentleman a call about the fridge and see what he says but it sounds more likely what Emery described that it’s officially clogged from being on the hill.

Sent from my iPhone

>
> The repair expert D C Mac refers to is National Refridgeration in Shipshewana, Ind. His name is Leon and his phone No. is
> 260-768-7059.
> A real expert w/ fair prices and good knowledge of GMC's.
> Mike/The Corvair a holic
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

>>
>> There's also the guy in Amish territory of Illinois or Indiana who repairs these units. Good option if you aren't too far away from him. I'm sure somebody here has his contact info.
>>
>> D C "Mac" Macdonald​
>> Amateur Radio K2GKK​
>> Since 30 November '53​
>> USAF and FAA, Retired​
>> Member GMCMI & Classics​
>> Oklahoma City, OK​
>> "The Money Pit"​
>> TZE166V101966​
>> '76 ex-Palm Beach​
>> k2gkk + hotmail dot com​
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Gmclist on behalf of Wayne Rogewski
>> Sent: Monday, June 4, 2018 09:45
>> To: gmclist
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Norcold 3way fridge
>>
>> As a last ditch, you can pull the fridge and turn it upside down. Stand it on its head for a few minutes and then turn it back over. If the ammonia
>> has not all escaped this sometimes helps get it all back down in the tubes where it belongs. There have been mixed reviews on success, but thats a
>> last ditch effort.
>> --
>> 77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
>> Mid Michigan
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
If you're anywhere near east Tennessee, I've had great luck with Shelburne
RV (https://shelburnerv.com/) in Cleveland.

Ammonia refrigeration systems is a specialty of theirs.

Patrick

> Thanks for the responses everyone. Emery thank you for the clarification.
> The “compressor” I was referring to is the heating element. I wish I
> would have asked sooner, we just left Indiana but need to be home in a few
> days for a wedding. I’ll give the gentleman a call about the fridge and
> see what he says but it sounds more likely what Emery described that
> it’s officially clogged from being on the hill.

--
GMCnet Listmaster
Tyrone GA
 
That worked for us.

Len and Pat Novak
1978 GMC Kingsley
The Beast II with dash lights that work and labels you can see!
Fallbrook, CA new email: B52Rule
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4375

www.bdub.net/novak/

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Wayne
Rogewski
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2018 7:45 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Norcold 3way fridge

As a last ditch, you can pull the fridge and turn it upside down. Stand it
on its head for a few minutes and then turn it back over. If the ammonia
has not all escaped this sometimes helps get it all back down in the tubes
where it belongs. There have been mixed reviews on success, but thats a
last ditch effort.
--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson
carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan

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