technicolordreamer
New Member
A millennial caught in mid century madness
Posts: 5
1965 Rogue Rambler
Currently Offline
|
Post by technicolordreamer on May 10, 2018 8:52:36 GMT -8
We took our trailer in to have the appliances tested for leaks and both the fridge and the range have multiple. The appliance guy used the term "death trap" to describe them. So, my question is has anyone found someone to repair/restore vintage appliances or should I scrap them and install new ones? Either way, the whole trailer is getting new, professionally installed lines. Thanks in advance!
|
|
turbodaddy
1K Member
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 460
17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
Currently Offline
|
Post by turbodaddy on May 10, 2018 18:43:33 GMT -8
This stuff makes me crazy. I really want to believe that "dealerships" and similar facilities are honest and willing to repair stuff. However, my experience has been that all most want to do is sell you something new, or replace faulty parts instead of repairing them. Seems like very few places will actually try to repair things.
Most recent example was our 2006 Toyota Prius had a bad hybrid battery pack.(190K miles) Dealer said that the cost of repairs at $6500 (New hybrid battery, two new computers) exceeded the value of the vehicle. I didn't buy it knowing that Prius easily go 300K miles and that until that day it had never had any problems.
I found a guy on C-list who moonlights from his Toyota tech job. For $650 he drove to my location, switched out the battery pack with one he reconditioned and went with me for a 1/2 hour test drive. We've put over 20K miles on the car with no problems since.
So if I were you I'd try to do it myself, using the wealth of advice available here. Save a lot of money and learn a new skill. Propane has an additive that makes it easy to smell a leak. Soap bubbles and your nose can find problems. Just my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by vikx on May 10, 2018 20:30:30 GMT -8
I tend to agree with Turbodaddy.
For one thing, the fridge would only have ONE leak, that would be at the single gas line connecting to it. For instance, the gas line connects to the fridge on/off valve. When the valve is opened it puts gas to the fridge operating valve. When that opens, you get gas to the orifice and burner. (Thermocouple allows the valve to work)
Fridges can have other leaks, but it is not an LP leak. (cooling units go bad and leak, can not be recharged) Some fridges can have the cooling unit rebuilt but older fridge units often can not be.
Ranges rarely have "multiple" leaks. The stove top has one gas line connected to the manifold. If the valves are all off, no gas should leak from the manifold. That would be the first step to test the stove. Use gas leak detector. Stoves can be bench tested easily.
Lastly, the old gas lines are often in much better condition than expected. They are much thicker than what is available today. I keep them whenever possible.
|
|
HOTRODPRIMER
Full Member
Posts: 774
Likes: 257
1957 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by HOTRODPRIMER on May 21, 2018 8:44:40 GMT -8
I had a leak with the stove in our Shasta and I had my brotherinlaw who is in the heat/air business to check it out for me,he installs gas furnaces so he had the equipment to check it out,fortunately my problem was a faulty fitting I had installed and it was repaired in just a few minutes. Danny
|
|
CorvettCrzy
Full Member
Posts: 934
Likes: 273
'58 Corvette, '64 Franklin
Currently Offline
|
Post by CorvettCrzy on May 22, 2018 19:03:45 GMT -8
I went to our local RV Dealer and asked about testing our furnace. They wouldn't do it. They were more than happy to install new lines @$130 an hour. I know Jim was a little nervous at first about the propane, but like already stated, it smells, you know when it's leaking. I particularly liked a test that vikx recommended, fill the lines, turn the gas off, let it sit, then open and see if they still have gas or it has leaked out. It's not as difficult as it sounds, and also as was already stated, lots of help here and watch some mobiltec videos!!!
I guess at this stage of the game, I think there's more danger in not being aware of air flow and carbon monoxide. Keep the air flowing...........
|
|
kathleenc
Active Member
Posts: 419
Likes: 101
Currently Offline
|
Post by kathleenc on May 23, 2018 6:45:11 GMT -8
Camping world checked out one of my stoves, but they wouldn't repair the leaks they found and didn't know anyone who would. So sort of useless really. I found someone who repairs vintage gas stoves but there are multiple warnings online about him being a crook. So back to square one.
|
|