older White-Westinghouse upright frost-free freezer

[jeremytl]

I have this older White-Westinghouse upright frost-free freezer. I received it recently from a kind neighbor.
I used it successfully for 3 years (I think it is a 1970 something model, maybe early 80's). Recently noticed soft ice cream. This led me to put a freezer thermometer in there. It sounds like the compressor runs all the time and the thermometer reads between 6 and 12 degrees F. I did a little research and found some info on switching off the outer condensation feature. I can't find anything like that. I can't even find the evap coils underneath or behind the unit (I usually clean them on my fridge since I have a long hair cat). There is a lot of condensation on the outside of the unit. It is stored outside in a lean-to shed structure. I live in central NC where we get hot with high humidity. I think it is about 16 cubic feet size. That's about all the details I can think of.
I'd like to be able to get the temps back down to 0 degrees for long term venison storage. Thanks in advance for any help.
Thomis

[JWWebster]

Whats the gasket look like? Any frost buildup or condensation? I recently chraged up a freezer with great results:

http://appliancejunk.blogspot.com/2011/08/freezer-recharge.html

[jeremytl]

Hi- thanks for responding! I don't know much at all about appliances. I can see behind the machine, at the bottom, the compressor. i don't know where the gasket is. or where to look for frost buildup. There is no frost buildup inside the unit. i checked the temp again this morning it was about 7 degrees F.

[JWWebster]

7 degrees is pretty good for that age freezer wouldn't think?Get a big container and fill it with water this will help hold the temp.

[jeremytl]

7 degrees may be pretty good for a freezer that age but...i'm having freezer burn on my venison. I've had to throw out 30 # of good meat. after doing some research, i learned that frost free freezers are not the best for long term meat storage. It really needs to be at zero degrees for meat. i think i'm going to throw in the towel and buy a new freezer if i can't get someone local to charge the compressor for me for CHEAP!

[jeremytl]

i wonder if there is a way to bypass the defrost timer? i'm OKAY with not having the frost-free feature. i just want it to freeze to zero degrees F.

[jeremytl]

[whirlpooltech]

i don't know where the gasket is

The door gasket? It's on the door.

i wonder if there is a way to bypass the defrost timer? i'm OKAY with not having the frost-free feature.

That's not how it works. If you bypass the defrost timer the evap cooling coils will frost up on you and the freezer will run warmer yet.

The non self defrost frost free freezers have the evap cooling coils built into the walls so they are not exposed to the air so they don't frost up like your frost free model.

[jeremytl]

having troubles with posting pics. hopefully this will help

[AJ]

I fixed your images.

[JWWebster]

You ain't gonna get much betta than you have now BUTT and that a big Butt, you can buy another themostat to get to the range you want by requesting a specified temp.They come in all types from ambient to full contact karate models in any specific temp yall want to achieve.

In yore photo yall seem to show a nice Buck and imply the Buck was harvested with a Bow. Why do yall have a square happy face coverin your photo? I would be proud to make that kill as long as I knew I had made plans to skin that deer and preserve the meat for my family members. Are ye a child?

[jeremytl]

AJ thanks for fixing my images.
JW, The freezer used to freeze to zero so my aim is restore it back to that point.
I'm learning a lot here and I have it narrowed down to replacing a few simple parts. I just need help identifying where the defrost timer is IF there is one (I read that it could possibly be a circuit board instead of a timer). I plan to test the defrost thermostat tonite. I know the defrost heater is working just fine because it shocked the sh!t out of me last night. Yehaw
If I plug in the unit and the fan is working then can I eliminate the idea that the fan motor is bad?

[jeremytl]

by the way it's not as old as I first thought, it just LOOKS old. It was made in 1991

[AJ]

I just need help identifying where the defrost timer is

The defrost timer is to the left of the compressor in your photo.
Click on the attached photo to enlarge.

[jeremytl]

Thanks AJ!
..is it possible that all these parts are working correctly and it just needs charged with more refrigerant?