Used BM23 - Gets nice and cold, then stops

[immingct]

I picked up a used BM23 (8 years old) for $300. I let it sit for 12 hours and plugged it in, setting the thermostat on 6. The condenser kicked in and started cooling just fine. After an hour, the unit had a wonderfully nice cold temperature inside (I have yet to put a thermometer in it to read it). Then, I checked the unit a few hours later, the inside was unpleasantly warm. When I turned the thermostat back up to 1, then back to 6, the unit came back on and started cooling again.

In the morning, the unit was warm again, only the inside fan (I believe this is the evaporator fan) was running. Repeating the thermostat up/down again kicked the compressor right back on and the fridge was cold again within an hour.

So, that evening I played drink beers and watch it (unit was warm again). I let the fridge get cold on setting #5. An hour or so later I came in, compressor was off, unit still cold, but I turned it up to 6/7 and compressor kicked on, hour or so later, repeat, going up to 8/9. Later, while the compressor was still running, I set it back to 5. I started the thermo game around 6PM and last checked at 10:30 and went to bed. This morning it was warm again.

The coils are spotless.
The door seal is good.
The compressor is “warm” but nothing I would think is abnormal.
I don’t find any ice on the coils.

So, I’ve read many a posting and figured I’d add my own.

1. Could it be a faulty thermostat not letting the condenser come back on?
2. Am I freezing the unit? (How exactly does this work?)
3. Did I not let the unit set/compressor reset long enough following transport (unit was on it’s side for 30 minutes).

I wanted to use it this weekend for a party and probably still will since I have found I can manually play with the thermostat to keep it cold, but any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[bard]

I'd throw a new thermostat on it and see what happens. $35 + s/h I'd also go into it from the top. Getting the drip pan/evap cover back on from the front is a pita.

[immingct]

Update...

So I let it sit for two days, figured more than enough time if it was the compressor not resetting, and plugged it in last night, starting at setting #4.

Nothing.

Turned the thermo up to 5/6 and kicked on. Cold in 20/30 minutes.

Checked 2 hours later still cold. (Not sure if the compressor ever kicekd on during that time).

Then, about 2 hours later, I checked again, this time it did not feel as cold, but it was still cold. I turnthe thermo up to 7, nothing. 8, nothing. 9 nothing.

CRAP! Shut door, compressor kicks on. Well, this is the closest it has behaved to acting normal and by now I would have to think it's the thermostat.

So, as a friend suggested, I can hire a small person eskimoe to live in the fridge, to work the thermostat, or I can just get off my butt and order the part. I'm still deciding.

[THE ICEMAN]

You sir, definitely have thermostat problems. Time to replace it.