Dometic Fridge "we don't make that part any more"

Tedsoldbus · June 29, 2021, 07:17:10 PM

After smelling propane a few times after using the fridge on propane, I used soapy water to discover the propane shut off valve on my 40 year old Dometic fridge was leaking propane. Took it to a local guy that is good with all things RV. His assistant was on hold for 3 hours, even using the dealer back door number, to be told "that part number?.... yeah, we don't make that any more. Bye now.". RV guy said with surge of RV sales due to covid, they sometimes wait 5 hours for Dometic to answer!
First look at the after markets for my valve were 350 for used, and 500 for new. RV guy said "That is a 70 dollar part. Damn parasites."
Then he said "Screw that, come with me". Out back was his bone yard. Quickly found an old fridge with exactly the valve. Problem solved, but I am fast learning with a 40 year old bus I will have to become a better scrounger or be able to carve things out of metal. He also answered for me the toggle switch in the refer panel that turns on a fan. He said use that if you go to Arizona to kelp keep the fridge cooler. It doesn't have to work as hard.
That was my last gremlin....for now. Headed for Loudonville for the Flx parade end of August.

robertglines1 · June 30, 2021, 12:48:35 PM

you did good! FYI there is a shop at Napanee Ind that will rebuild you fridge while you wait.

dtcerrato · June 30, 2021, 01:08:04 PM

Quote from: robertglines1 on June 30, 2021, 12:48:35 PM
you did good! FYI there is a shop at Napanee Ind that will rebuild you fridge while you wait.

What Bob said, there's also one in Shipshewana IN - I think it's called Pine's RV. That area is Amish and they do impeccable work. We rolled in there with a failed cooling unit on our Dometic obsolete fridge - dropped it off on a Sat. went around the block to a great RV park and had the fridge back in on Mon. on our 2nd AK road trip FL to AK!

lvmci · June 30, 2021, 01:11:52 PM

Wish there were one out west like that, no Amish in Las Vegas, lvmci...

dtcerrato · June 30, 2021, 01:40:05 PM

If I needed cooling unit service out west I be inclined to call them in IN & see if they recommend anyone out there. Their reference would be valuable - that's how good they are...

luvrbus · June 30, 2021, 01:45:35 PM

There a Amish guy in Prescott Az that does the fridges,a lot of Amish around Wagoner Ok that repair the fridges and build furniture easy to find in OK they have phone booths in their yard

richard5933 · June 30, 2021, 01:45:53 PM

They'll ship you out a whole new cooling unit if you need. Always worth a call. JC Refrigeration is the name of one of them, I believe.

lvbob · June 30, 2021, 03:55:08 PM

I have one of pines Amish units in my Eagle bus works great even in the summer Temps here in Vegas.I had them ship it to me and installed it about 5 years ago,best investment I ever made. Bob

TomC · July 01, 2021, 07:36:30 AM

This is why I use the NovaKool compressor type refrigerator that runs on 12V/120V. They now make a 9cu/ft with separate compressors for the refrigerator and for the freezer compartment. Good Luck, TomC

chessie4905 · July 01, 2021, 08:01:21 AM

My dad replaced the refer, icemaker, and furnace after they reached 10 years. He didn't want to deal with issues, as he spent winters full timing in Fla, Texas. or Az.

chessie4905 · July 01, 2021, 08:01:36 AM

My dad replaced the refer, icemaker, and furnace after they reached 10 years. He didn't want to deal with issues, as he spent winters full timing in Fla, Texas. or Az.

luvrbus · July 01, 2021, 08:04:38 AM

The propane ammonia fridges made today are not bad with cooling I think they added something to the ammonia not for sure.I built a building 300,000 sf for a frozen food outfit in Springdale AR all the refrigeration in the building was ammonia some areas it was -50 F or more takes special concrete for those temps

Jim Blackwood · July 01, 2021, 09:44:38 AM

I studied the ammonia cycle once a long time ago, it was interesting how they use the heat from a pilot light to separate the gases. It's usually a little hard to follow the flow path through the coils but it starts to make sense once you know the process. Love the 'no moving parts' bit. If it wasn't for external rust they would probably last forever.

Jim

Tedsoldbus · July 23, 2021, 11:46:40 AM

Thanks for all the input. Still having a few issues. Might just be too old and need rebuilt. Reached out by email to JC in Shipshewana. Hope to hear back. I could go there after Loudonville! Hey Bob, name of the place in Nanpanee by chance? There are lots of Amish north of Chattanooga and I am trolling a little to see if any of the horse and buggy guys here have taken this on as a trade. Who'd a thunk it? The Amish? If they do a fridge like they do the barns north of Chattanooga, they can have my bus for a week....

richard5933 · July 23, 2021, 06:59:46 PM

The Amish communities have been using absorption fridges for decades. No electric in their homes other than possibly what they can do with a 12v battery, so it makes perfect sense that they'd be good at keeping them going.