We have a 4 door Norcold 121 Series refrigerator. Now and then we have started hearing a whiring bearing noise from the back of the refrigerator. I suspect one or both of the condenser fin cooling fans are wearing out. The refrigerator is 9 years old. I cannot see the fans from the exterior refrigerator access panel, there's all sorts of pipes in the way. It is very tight there. I climbed on the roof and took off the refrigerator vent cap. I can see the condenser fins but not the fans. Not sure but bet to replace these fans would have to remove the entire refrigerator. That would be a pain.Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions or ideas how to repair?

TC&Z wrote:We have a 4 door Norcold 121 Series refrigerator. Now and then we have started hearing a whiring bearing noise from the back of the refrigerator. I suspect one or both of the condenser fin cooling fans are wearing out. The refrigerator is 9 years old. I cannot see the fans from the exterior refrigerator access panel, there's all sorts of pipes in the way. It is very tight there. I climbed on the roof and took off the refrigerator vent cap. I can see the condenser fins but not the fans. Not sure but bet to replace these fans would have to remove the entire refrigerator. That would be a pain.Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions or ideas how to repair?DID you really mean 1210???( I think) Its very easy to move the fridge out.The fans are screwed to the back of the fridge about a foot below the condenser

Disconnect gas and power 12volt and 110. Disconnect water to ice maker .. Unscrew around faceplate ( covers come off) and pull out .. Have support to hold it at the right level, replace the fans .. I'd add and extra for 3 .. Then reverse What could be complicated ? :-)

Get Ball bearing fans. Replace the Fan Tstat also. You must pull a 1200 series to replace the fans and tstat. Doug

dougrainer wrote:Get Ball bearing fans. Replace the Fan Tstat also. You must pull a 1200 series to replace the fans and tstat. Dougwhat he said..In replacing the fans, see if you can get IP55 rating or better. That's a very dirty environment and the reason they died

When I looked down from the roof the top of the frig has 2 brackets tying it to the wall as well. The insect screen is molded into the plentum so only way to remove screws is cut opening in insect screen. Guess patch it up when done.I would appreciate any references to sources and types of fans you mentioned.

Norcold 121 Series Condenser Fan Noise | Good Sam Community

SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
SCVJeff wrote:
Well I had em' and this was bought new

Just because you had them and some idiot installed them does not make it right or something you should look for. IF you check all the various refer installation manuals, you will see nothing about putting brackets at the top. THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. Doug
You're right... As I said, there is no meat on top of the fridge at all and the screws came out of the top pulling by hand, so I removed the brackets completely to make room for the Halon extinguisher.
wborst
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
I just bought these fans with thermostat they seem to be working well. They just a bit louder than the originals, but not objectionable.

I bought a furniture dolly from harbor freight and built a platform on it to make it the same height as the bottom of the fridge. Then disconnected everything, removed the screws front and back, and pushed from the back through tha rear access door. It was't as bad as I thought it would be.

Hope this helps
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 09, 2016
SCVJeff wrote:
Well I had em' and this was bought new

Just because you had them and some idiot installed them does not make it right or something you should look for. IF you check all the various refer installation manuals, you will see nothing about putting brackets at the top. THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. Doug
SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
Well I had em' and this was bought new
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 09, 2016
Winne products have always used those side mount plates on their refers, not just the Norcolds. BUT, they are accessible from the back bottom outside access door. AS to those top brackets, only a total idiot would mount brackets up there. I have pulled for repair probably over 150 1200/1210 in 20 years and have NEVER had those top brackets at all. You have the inside 8 screws that mount the refer to the inside cabinet and then 2 screws on the backside metal plate to the floor. There is NO reason to mount brackets on top accessible only by pulling the roof top screen vent assembly.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 08, 2016
I had them as well. They are useless as thats not a hard top and you can pull the screws by hand

The side brackets do all the work and are anchored pretty well
TC_Z
Explorer
Sep 08, 2016
Every MH installation is different, my 2007 Winnebago Voyage refrig does have 2 brackets on top. Sharing these photos hoping others have done this before and I can benefit from your advice/experience. Where do you recommend I purchase replacement fans from?

Brackets

Perhaps these 2 bolts on each side are part of the attachment as well

Left side

Right side

Suspect fans

Fans

Thanks
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 04, 2016
TC&Z wrote:
When I looked down from the roof the top of the frig has 2 brackets tying it to the wall as well. The insect screen is molded into the plentum so only way to remove screws is cut opening in insect screen. Guess patch it up when done.

I would appreciate any references to sources and types of fans you mentioned.

There are NO brackets or screws that hold the refer from the TOP and accessed from the top roof vent. NOBODY does that. If by chance you have these brackets, someone else has installed them, NOT the OEM. The only screws are the inside 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top and 1 to 3 screws that are from the backside on the bottom metal plate. Doug
TC_Z
Explorer
Sep 04, 2016
When I looked down from the roof the top of the frig has 2 brackets tying it to the wall as well. The insect screen is molded into the plentum so only way to remove screws is cut opening in insect screen. Guess patch it up when done.

I would appreciate any references to sources and types of fans you mentioned.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Sep 04, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
Get Ball bearing fans. Replace the Fan Tstat also. You must pull a 1200 series to replace the fans and tstat. Doug
what he said..
In replacing the fans, see if you can get IP55 rating or better. That's a very dirty environment and the reason they died

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