In need of help with old kenmore kegerate

[Shadycolt85]

Hey guys!!! Been a troll looking for information and this seemed to be the most knowledgeable for help. I bought a older wood style kenmore kegerater for $220. Is in great working order but 1 problem. The wood top started to rot around the tower and being the guy I am it needs to be replaced. Wanted to replace it with new wood top which I will make but am not 100% on how it comes the old one is attached. Looked like a 2 bolts on top back and maybe glued on the sides. Since I'm replacing that was thinking of putting a new 2 tap tower on but to be honest just not sure what I'm getting into and don't want to throw $220 down the drain if I mess it up. Any help is appreciated. Looked around on here for a thread for top but couldn't find exact detail.

 

[IslandLizard]

Not familiar with these.

There could be some concealed fasteners underneath, in the front and perhaps the middle. I doubt it's glued to the top, but who knows?

It looks like the top is laminated particle board. Leakage and condensation started the process of rotting it out. If it's not possible to remove the top, I would repair the bad part with wood and fiberglass resin, remove the side rails and resurface.

 

[Shadycolt85]

It is laminated particle board. The tower is a little loose and want to replace top. How would they be hidden fasteners?no way to undo?

 

[IslandLizard]

It is laminated particle board. The tower is a little loose and want to replace top. How would they be hidden fasteners?no way to undo?

Concealed as in "fasteners from underneath."
Perhaps 2 little brackets welded to the fridge in the front, above the door? Like a dishwasher "secures" to the countertop.

What kind of top are you planning to put on?

 

[Shadycolt85]

Just planning using wood weather marine board or butcher block. No fasteners by the door. Sorta has me stumped. When I look at the crack where wood meets fridge some places there's a gap and some places looks like glue.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I would find it hard to believe a manufacturer would leave exposed brackets or nuts/bolts. I would think they either screwed the top down and then glued laminate over the top or built the box possibly with brackets on the inside and then sleeved the inside.Either way I would think your stuck with it...But your the one looking at so you never know. Call the manufacturer see what they say,maybe they can send you an exploited view parts list. That thing looks pretty old,tearing it apart could be a disaster.

 

[Shadycolt85]

Ok got into it and the only thing holding the top down was glue. Better then I thought it was going to go.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Sweet! With everything exposed now would be the time to wire in a fan and override the thermostat for a temp controller, if your going down that road

 

[Shadycolt85]

Fan for the inside of the fridge? And what's the override entail. New to this so not sure what u mean.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

A fan keeps the air moving inside the fridge so you don't get warmer beer on the top of the keg/colder on the bottom. A lot of people add a fan.I think they use a computer fan? My commercial fridge had a fan built in when I bought it so I cant compare the differences.
Only using my fridge as reference It was as simple as snipping the wire to the themostat and bypassing it. Then get a temp controller like the Inkbird. You plug the fridge into the controller and plug the controller into the wall. It has a temp probe you hang in the fridge. The controller then becomes the thermostat and you can digitally set the fridge to any temp exactly. You could even use your kegerator as Fermentation chamber at that point if you don't have one. You could even cold crash in your kegerator...I wont advise you on what or how to bypass your kegerator,somebody here more wise in electrical should chime in to help...The controller itself is simple plug and play and only cost around $30...Well worth it

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Heres the controller many people use

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...DSWXY4&usg=AFQjCNHbOT4NvRM4G4k3KgMBYTclEdLArQ

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Also it looks like your tower has no faucet. If that's the case do yourself a MAJOR favor and get a Perlick Flow control faucet 650SS. There well worth the money and will give perfect pours. Will save you headaches with foamy/flat beers

 

[Shadycolt85]

So with the controller does that improve the efficiency of the fridge or take life out of it. Just curious by I mine is from 97 and I do have a tower that came with the kegerate but from other post and research have been contemplating fans for the tower and fridge. Will that perlick faucet replacehaving to do a tower fan mod?

 

[Shadycolt85]

I've been wondering if I really need to do the 2 fan mods. Plan on getting sixtals and just drinking craft beer. Don't know if I'm going to far with this since it's a older model compresser says 97. If the fan will help keep the fridge cooler and last longer I'm for it but just not sure. Don't wanna put in money and have it old take a dump

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I've been wondering if I really need to do the 2 fan mods. Plan on getting sixtals and just drinking craft beer. Don't know if I'm going to far with this since it's a older model compresser says 97. If the fan will help keep the fridge cooler and last longer I'm for it but just not sure. Don't wanna put in money and have it old take a dump

So your not going to brew your own beer?? It is a homebrew forum
The fan wont help or hurt the fridge longevity
The Perlicks are for the pour
Blow the fridge fan up the tower

 

[Shadycolt85]

lol I will homebrew but now I'm in the process of building a house so it's just not possible now. Just looking to have this kegerator work well for like 6 months at least and make it last and not waste beer