Jason Rodgers builds a vacuum clamping system

[David King]

Jason, these caps are designed for use in a refrigerator where the pump faces a lot of back pressure when the system has been running and tries to start up again before the pressure has had time to subside. As the pumps get old they somehow lose the get-up-and-go of a younger pump. I know that makes no sense to me either but in that situation the cap is an extra kickstart. I'd say there's a 10% that it will help you on these motors you've got -that's based on 0 factual information, just my gut.

[Jason Rodgers]

I'd say there's a 10% that it will help you on these motors you've got -that's based on 0 factual information, just my gut.

Your gut has been at this longer than mine, so I'll take that 10% and run with it.

[Jason Rodgers]

Update: got a 3-in-cap, and it didn't help with either compressor. Now that I'm on summer break, I finally had time to run back across town to the appliance store and see if they'd give me a refund or replacement. The guy was cool, confirming that they sold me a bad compressor, and gave me another one, even hooking it up to prove it works. This one doesn't pull vacuum down as fast as my original, but it works and my system is back up and running.

As always, thanks for all the help!