RM8501 refrigerator

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   I been having problems getting the refrigerator cool with gas. The refrigerator works good on AC.I replaced the regulator, blowout gas line, installed new orvis, clean the stack.  The gas stove lights up every time and has a nice blue flame. 
When running on AC the top set of fins and bottom fins both get cold.  When running on gas the top fins get cold but the bottom fins are still warm.

I even bypassed the gas line from my front tank and hooked up a gas line with regulator to the back of the refrigerator  and got the same nice  blue flame but it still will not cooling the refrigerator. I even installed a new thermostat. Is there anything else I can do. I even installed more cooling fans in the back of the refrigerator. I can sure us some help     Thank You

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funks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05 Nov 2014 Location: CALIF Online Status: Offline Posts: 98	Post Options Post Reply Quote funks Report Post Quote Reply Topic: RM8501 refrigerator Posted: 31 Aug 2022 at 1:16pm
	I been having problems getting the refrigerator cool with gas. The refrigerator works good on AC. I replaced the regulator, blowout gas line, installed new orvis, clean the stack. The gas stove lights up every time and has a nice blue flame. When running on AC the top set of fins and bottom fins both get cold. When running on gas the top fins get cold but the bottom fins are still warm. I even bypassed the gas line from my front tank and hooked up a gas line with regulator to the back of the refrigerator and got the same nice blue flame but it still will not cooling the refrigerator. I even installed a new thermostat. Is there anything else I can do. I even installed more cooling fans in the back of the refrigerator. I can sure us some help Thank You

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3224	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Sep 2022 at 8:37am
	How old is your fridge and also have you actually heard/seen the fans turn on? When running, how long do they run before turning off. Have you removed the chimney on top of the stack? If not, when you remove it, the swirly metal rod should be impeccably clean with no residue or soot adhering to it. If there is any, clean, you will note a huge difference as this needs to turn/spin.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

funks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05 Nov 2014 Location: CALIF Online Status: Offline Posts: 98	Post Options Post Reply Quote funks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Sep 2022 at 11:14pm
	Thank You Jato for your advice. Yes the fan was working and the chimney was very clean. The whole back of the fridge was like new. I have a 2014 179 r pod so the fridge wasn't that old. I finally gave up working on the Dometic fm 8501 and order a replacement today. I will let you know how that works out. Thank Again John

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3224	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Sep 2022 at 11:08am
	Hi John, Sorry to hear you had to replace this. I had to replace mine at 10 years. Although it was a 2011 model it was produced/built in 2010 so replaced August 2020. I find it interesting that you state that the fins get cold; this isn't right. Mine (both top and bottom) are quite hot, if the fins are cool then the bi-metal switch would never turn the muffin fans on as that needs to read at least 100 degrees F. before the switch makes contact to turn the fans on. Is it possible that you see any 'green' residue, after effects on an ammonia leak? That would render the propane side of the fridge useless. FR told me 10 years is the normal upper limit for the life of these fridges. I was disappointed to hear that since we have Amish and the like who run their propane refrigerators for 20 years or more without any breakdowns.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

funks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 05 Nov 2014 Location: CALIF Online Status: Offline Posts: 98	Post Options Post Reply Quote funks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Sep 2022 at 5:45pm
	Hi Jato The fridge never did get that cold using gas. That's just the way it is sometimes. Like I said the back of the unit look like new. Very clean and no signs of any leaks. I just couldn't figure it out and so I just had to move on. Thanks Again John