Author Archives: Samurai Appliance Repair Man

Daily Summary of Samurai’s Tweets, 2010-09-11

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LG fridge LFC20740SW: How to Disassemble the French Doors to Tighten the Handles and How to Replace the Door Gaskets

Sublime Master of Appliantology john63 explains this procedure in the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums:

On the LG refrigerator model LFC20740SW—the DOOR HANDLES are removed by either grasping the HANDLE and pulling in an upward motion—about an inch.

OR

I prefer to protect the bottom of the HANDLE with a piece of cardboard or rag and lightly tap the bottom with a small hammer. Once the DOOR HANDLE moves up about an inch or so—it can removed.

Using a 1/4 ” allen/hex key—tighten the two BOLTS that the DOOR HANDLE attaches onto.

If this fails to provide a snug fit–check:

1) That the DOOR HANDLES are re-installed properly—reverse of removal–but must be fully seated on the BOLTS on the door.

2) The INSERTS on the DOOR HANDLE is somehow damaged (not likely) and should be replaced. These are the metal pieces on the opposite side of the HANDLE which slips over & onto the door BOLTS.

The french door gaskets can *tear* if they lack lubrication.

Due to the fact that french door style refrigerators do not have a *center partition* like a side-by-side refrigerator—-the french door gaskets must seal **sideways**.

All french door refrigerator door gaskets should be checked for a slippery feel at this section of the gasket. Use FOOD GRADE SILICONE or VASELINE. Just a thin coating.

To replace the DOOR GASKETS—pull off the old gasket from the door until reaching the **sideways** section.

The plastic trim needs to be pulled off at this part of the door. Try to get your fingers into the leading rdge and pull until the plastic tabs “snap” and release.

Using a flat / slot screwdriver—-the two white locking tabs will need to forced out from their mounting holes. This is the most challenging part of removing the gasket.

If you get this far—let us know. There’s more to be aware of when installing the new gasket.

Here are the part links for the door gaskets:

Left door gasket

Right door gasket

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.

Catastrophic Compressor Relay Failure

Relay failure melted down the terminals on this compressor. Many times, the terminals will become brittle and break off. Reconnecting the new relay becomes an artistic challenge at this point. Sometimes, there’s no choice but to replace the compressor for big bucks. This is always true if one of the compressor connection studs breaks off.

Catastrophic Compressor Relay Failure

So what caused this? A cheesy electrical part, namely the relay, failed because, well, it’s a cheesy electrical part. An unsatisfying answer I know but, without getting into the engineering analysis of material failure, that’s the short answer. And don’t blame the engineers; feast your blood-shot squinties on the bean-counters and marketing geeks hovering over the engineers, hounding them about how the appliance needs to come in at $X in order to meet “corporate projections.”

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.

Identifying Compressor Terminals: Start, Run, and Main

Compressor Power TerminalsLet’s say you’re gonna do some tests on your refrigerator compressor to see if it’s okay. Or, you need to figure out how to wire up a generic (Supco) start relay/overload combination. So you pull the relay cover off the compressor, remove the relay/overload and this is what you see.

You need to figure out which posts correspond to the Start, Main, and Run windings ‘cuz if’n you don’t and you go and wire that relay/overload up wrong, well, you just went from a $30 easy-as-pie repair to a $300 rectal cramp.

What’s a brutha to do?

Well, urine luck, budrow, ‘cuz one of the wise and beneficent Sublime Masters of Appliantology at the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums, Bobice, has graciously prepared this little primer on how to tell them little posts apart. Let’s give a listen to Master Bob:

Using a good multimeter set on ohms, remove the compressor terminal cover with the unit off.

Touch one lead (of the meter) to one terminal and the other lead (of the meter) to one other terminal and record your reading . Lets call these terminals (A) and (B). The remaining terminal lets call (C)

So for example A-B=7 Ohms

Now lets read A-C and record. Lets say 5 Ohms

Now lets read C-B and record. Lets say 12 Ohms

Now lets add all the A’s= 12 Ohms

Now lets add all the B’s=19 Ohms

Now lets add all the C’s=17 Ohms

The highest reading will be the “Start” winding

The next highest reading will be the “Run” winding

The lowest reading will be the “Common” winding

Therefore B= “Start”

The next is C=”Run”

The remaining terminal A= “Common”

Kin Ah hears a “Amen?”

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.

Installing a Retrofit Compressor Relay / Overload Kit on an Elderly Whirlpool Refrigerator

The original compressor relay/overload for some older model Whirlpool refrigerators, e.g., EB19AKXLNR0, is no longer available. So Whirlpool is using a universal relay/overload retrofit kit to replace it. The kit looks like this:

universal relay/overload retrofit kit for older model Whirlpool-built refrigerators
(click it to git it)

This kit also comes with a white wire tie, which is not shown in the picture. But I only mention this to tell you to ignore it.

To install the new relay/overload, just use the black wire ties and gang them together to make the required length to fit on the compressor. Route the wire ties around the front of the relay/overload, not the back. Make it nice n’ snug. And be sure to use a dab of the supplied thermal mastic paste between the relay and the compressor case. Good to go, sailor!

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.

Daily Summary of Samurai’s Tweets, 2010-09-09

  • The United Samurai Retirement Plan brought to you by the United Samurai Beer Fund http://post.ly/wLKW #
  • LG dishwasher with an LE error ==> replace sump assembly. Repair tips here http://ow.ly/2Bqvu #
  • Kenmore HE washer 110.45966400 flashes F14 error code. EEPROM error on CCU==> replace it. All good. 🙂 #
  • Electrolux DE Wall Oven EW30EW65GB3 tech sheet and other repair goodies http://post.ly/wQov #
  • Viking DFSB483 ice maker leaking… or is it really just a frozen fill tube causing the leak? Hmm… http://ow.ly/2Bulz #
  • Refrigerator compressor goes CLUNK when it shuts off. How long 'till D-Day? http://ow.ly/2Bvdd #
  • Electrolux refrigerator E23CS78GPS2, icemaker dispenser auger turns continually. Replace dispenser power board. http://ow.ly/2Bx5X #
  • Kitty Wuvs Flowers! http://post.ly/wSdn #

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