Bad Thermostat????????

[aerovan]

I have an old commercial grade direct draw kegerator, a Flagon 400, it's obsolete, the company was taken over by Glasstender. I bought it for $85.00 a couple of years ago. It is set up for Guinness. It usually works very well but occasionally it will stop running and not cool until I adjust the thermostat, even just slightly. I suspect it needs a new thermostat. It has the same condenser fan motor as my Beverage Air BM 23 and a very similar looking compressor, just a different configuration. From this limited info can anyone tell if the thermostat may be the problem?

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

When you say stop running, everything stops or just doesn't get cold at that point?
Also all these diff brand units don't make any of the cooling system components. They are all contracted out and sometimes cross to different brand units.

[aerovan]

DSCN2164.jpgThe compressor and condenser fan stop, as though it had reached the proper temperature. Evaporator fan etc. keep running. It sometimes runs too long and gets too cold and by a slight adjustment of the temperature setting it gets right again. It doesn't always maintain a consistent temperature. I think I am going to remove the evaporator cover and replace the thermostat. It also looks very similar to the one on my Bev-Air. It's less expensive than losing a keg of beer. This unit was manufactured in Florida for a short time, it looks similar to a Beverage -Air but is a bit taller because the condenser coils are behind the compressor and the fan draws air from the back of the unit. There are access openings at each side for cleaning the condenser and to the drip pan, which are louvered to allow the cooling air to escape. When I saw the photo on Craigslist it looked like my Beverage Air BM23 from the front. It has a double faucet set up, one being a Guinness (Nitro) and the other a regular Co2. It was cheap so I bought it. I replaced the door gasket for $48.00 and the evaporator fan motor for about half that amount (same one as in the Bev-Air).

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

The tstat should have a part number printed on the side of tstat when you open it up and look at it..Should be able to cross the part number online.
If not post the the mfg and part number on tstat.

[aerovan]

10-4. I have been a carpenter since 1978 but lately I'm learning a lot about refrigeration (and beer) by fooling around with these old kegerators.

Thanks.

[pismo10]

Can always get an external thermostat.

[aerovan]

I installed the same thermostat as in my BM23. While I had the condenser cover off I soldered a couple of pinholes in it, primered and painted it, reassembled everything and it is working beautifully. I still have less than $200.00 invested in this unit. It sits on my patio and from inside the house I can hear the compressor start and run and it is like music to my ears. I am always looking for a similar bargain.