73 Tri Cabin Fridge

Bob Giaier · Post by **Bob Giaier** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:44 pm

I was wondering if anyone has the original Tri Cabin fridge. The one I have hasn't been turned on in at least 13 years. I just started it up and it actually works very well, but it makes allot of noise. Should I be worried about the noise? I only ran it long enough to know that it gets cold. I guess I'm wondering if there is a lubricant you can add into the refrigerant or wheather I should just let it run and maybe it will just get quiet (or really quiet if it dies).

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:52 pm

My Tri-cabin still has the original refrigerator and it works very well. It is not the newer frost-free technology so we plan to replace it next spring.

I would say let it run and see what happens. The worst that could happen is that it would fail and you would have to replace it. If you are concerned about it overheating, I would only run it when I am there for a while make sure that the coils are cleaned and it has adequate space for ventilation.

Good luck!

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:00 am

hi bob, aaron in baltimore here. i belive our '72 f-36 tri cabin had the same fridge. this is the under counter mounted unit to the right of the sink in the long part of the "L" counter? if memory serves me, ours was made by MARVEL (believe it or not they are still around and the current model is the 61RF) --- the model 80RF is a frost free design--- http://www.lifeluxurymarvel.com/product ... s/80rf.php
if this is indeed your current brand, perhaps you can contact them via their website and ask them about the noise. ours ran great until roughly 5 years before dad sold the boat and installed a simple under counter fridge/freezer from lowes. if you end up removing the old unit, beware, it is NOT an easy job as it is bigger than the cabin doors.
i am curious though, why was it not used in 13 years?
hope this helps.
aaron in baltimore

Bob Giaier · Post by **Bob Giaier** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:14 am

Thanks Aaron and Sea Dog. To answer your question Aaron on the 13 years, the boat had been in a barn for 13 years before I got it a few weeks ago. Apparently the previous owner lost interest in her a long time ago. It's in remarkedly good shape, like a time capsul. In fact we may actually name her that eventually. The engines have 500 and some hours on them, which doesn't seem like much use even. We are having fun slowly trying everything out. Most of the stuff is original and it all seems to work.

Anyways, thanks again for both your input. I'll definitely check out and keep that webb site for the fridge and try to figure out how to clean the coils.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:31 am

Have you run the engines yet

Bob Giaier · Post by **Bob Giaier** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:55 pm

We did run the engines. It's the end of the season and we didn't want to put her in the water and then re-winterize her. The tanks were drained a few years ago and we didn't want to put gas in them either, so we used a 5 gallon gas can with a new model fuel pump in it and connected it directly to each carb. Oh i almost forgot that we removed the water pump belts too and removed the plugs and sprayed fogging lubricant directly into each cylinder and turned them over before connecting the gas. The Starboard engine started right up and the lifter noise slowly went away as we ran stopped and ran the engine. The port engine was unhappy. At first the carb float stuck and the engine took in lots of gas. We pulled the plugs again and gas sprayed everywhere. We thought we were going to blow the place up. We were smart enough to get lots of fans and blow out the fumes before we tried the port again. Anyways when it started it clanked pretty bad for a while and slowly quieted down. My brother is a mechanic and did this whole operation with me. He says that when an engine sits for a long time with cetain valves open those lifters are compressed and don't just fill back up right away with oil, so you have to patiently run and stop the engine in hopes that it will fill and quiet down.

Anyways, sorry for the long answer, but I thought the whole ordeal was interesting. The short answer is they ran! and seemingly pretty well too.
Here's a riddle I mentioned the engines have 500 plus. Actually one has 500 the other has 700?? We were thinking that maybe the previous owner left the port ignition key on and went home for the week.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:33 pm

Or, ran on just one engine. My f-32 was a charter boat out of Seattle before I got it and was ran on the starboard engine 600 more hours than the port from 1992 till 2007, Obviously trolling.

Bob Giaier · Post by **Bob Giaier** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:58 pm

good point. I guess you could go thru a few seasons with one engine. Sounds like it'd be pain in the butt to manuever a boat like that though with only one screw.