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Refrigerator burner question

Fulltimers
Explorer
Explorer
I just had the cooling unit in the refrigerator replaced and it runs good on electric but when I switch to gas, after only 2 or 3 minutes, it smelled like the motorhome was going to burn down. I immediately switched back to electric. I pulled the back cover and the burner cover and found the baffle (flame spreader) visible below the flue. I don’t remember it being that way before the repair. It also looks like the bottom of the flue is burnt.

See photo

Is this right, normal?


Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog

2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2005 Saturn Vue (Mr. Toad)
3.5L V6 Automatic

5 REPLIES 5

Fulltimers
Explorer
Explorer
I got the shop to come out to my location and fix the baffle. He removed the roof vent and there was just enough room to reach down and grab the wire the baffle is attached to. Fortunately the baffle was still attached and he just pulled it back up into the right position inside the flu and secured the wire. It took about 2 days to burn off the smell though.
Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog

2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2005 Saturn Vue (Mr. Toad)
3.5L V6 Automatic

Fulltimers
Explorer
Explorer
Yeah I understand there is a smell associated with new cooling units but this was intense and as you can see in the photo the end of the flue is pretty burnt.
Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog

2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2005 Saturn Vue (Mr. Toad)
3.5L V6 Automatic

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
Fulltimers wrote:
Thanks Chris

You are right. It is a side by side. Dometic NDR1292.
Do you think they installed it wrong when they replaced the cooling unit the other day?
Is it possible to get to it and correct it by removing the roof vent?


There is a wire that holds that 4 inch long spiral baffle. The odds are they did not secure the top end in the hole at the top of the flue to keep it from falling down. That smell is normal on LP for a new cooling unit. It will go away in a few hours. Doug

Fulltimers
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks Chris

You are right. It is a side by side. Dometic NDR1292.
Do you think they installed it wrong when they replaced the cooling unit the other day?
Is it possible to get to it and correct it by removing the roof vent?
Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog

2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2005 Saturn Vue (Mr. Toad)
3.5L V6 Automatic

Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Explorer II
Yes- the wire holding the baffle has rusted or broken. Most should be a couple of inches above the flame. Give a model number and we should be able to come up with a measurement or part number for the baffle.
That looks like a side by side, or the photo is reversed.
-- Chris Bryant