Norcold fridge model DE561

M

margarita jane

New Member
Feb 4, 2008
94
PORT ELGIN ON
Boat Info
400 DA 1997 "ISLAND GIRLS"
Engines
3116TA CATS/ZF HURTH 800 SERIES VDRIVES
Anyone have dificulty with their fridge, mine wont cool but power supply was checked good and authorized dealers either dont want to or can't repair the cooling unit and are recommending replacing whole fridge. Of course that model does not exist anymore but DE0061 seems to have same dimensions... hope cherry panels will fit. Has anyone had repairs done or is replacement the only option?
 
When I had problems with my refrigerator, I found a local refrigeration shop to replace the "guts" of the refrigerator. There are kits available to replace all of the refrigeration parts. If the "box" is good, I would try to go this route because you do not need to deal with getting it out of your cabin.

It was not cheap...I think the kit alone was around $600.

If you need more details, I can try to pull my receipts.
 
I did what crusin did on my 380. Practically speaking, they couldn't get a new fridge through the cabin door anyways - hence the "availability" of total repalcement of everything except the box.

And, it was not cheap.

I figured I would buy one at a marine store and replace it. But, like most things, it was of course not that easy.
 
I replaced the cooling unit on my DE461 refrigerator. I bought the unit from a local dealer because it was actually cheaper then getting it direct from Norcold (don' ask me why???). I bought it from a local RV dealer who is now out of business (maybe that's why!!).

Anyway, the cooling unit cost me $575, and then I paid another $337 to have it installed.

Call your local RV dealer and see if they can get you the cooling unit. They may also do the installation for you. It all takes place inside the cabin of your boat, so you do not need to remove the refrigerator (although they will need to take it out away from the wall of the cabinet it is installed in).

I replaced mine in 2004, so I have used it 4 seasons so far with no problems.
 
Last edited:
I am experiencing the same problem on my Norcold De-461 6.3cft, the compressor and the power supply are bad. I removed the cabin doors and removed the flange around the box so it could go through the cabin opening. I sent the box to a repairman who is going to install a cooling kit $800 and a power supply $400 and $150 labor to install the kit and compressor to the box. I still have to put it in the boat. Be careful in choosing the DE0061 7.0cft as the depth of DE0061 might be bigger than your old fridge and the freezer door on the DE0061 is bigger than your old fridge (so the cherry wont fit)

Regards

Tony
 
I would do what you can to replace the guts as described above, on my 99 DA it went bad and we damaged the fabric around the door and put a gash in the helm seat :smt021 while trying to get it in, and that was while trying to be careful! I am sure others could be more careful then we were... but, in hind sight, I would have had it rebuilt... The cherry did not fit either, we did a pretty good job of coming close, so close I am not sure anyone else would notice, but I noticed it every time!

just my 0.02...

Ryan
 
My Norcold de461 is as follows...The freezer holds 23 degrees ,but the refrigerator won't go below 49. HELP....Thank You Bruce 2000 410 Dancer
 
i had a 99 400 and replaced the cooling coils and the electrical power pack > about a 3 hour job . Hardest thing was to find the power pack as they do not make it any more . Was about 500 for the cooling coils and 200 for a used power pack reclaimed from another unit .
 
Norcold gets my vote for biggest piece of crap ever put on a sea ray. first time i had one go TU, I replaced cooling coils/compressor and it ran about $700 total. 461 ran a couple years then another part, maybe power supply, dont remember exactly went belly up. decided to throw it away and bought a new one. next boat had one go out as well, so bought new one. had to damn near tear it apart to get it in the 400EC doorway. then norcold said the 461s (i think) would tend to overheat if there wasnt ample air flow across coils and such so newer units came out with different ventilation design. in my experience, available repair service, repair parts cost, reliability, etc all leave alot to be desired.

the company ought to change their market to boat anchors, they'd be good at that. just tie a line to one of their fridges and shove it over the side.
 
searay40dad said:
Norcold gets my vote for biggest piece of crap ever put on a sea ray. first time i had one go TU, I replaced cooling coils/compressor and it ran about $700 total. 461 ran a couple years then another part, maybe power supply, dont remember exactly went belly up. decided to throw it away and bought a new one. next boat had one go out as well, so bought new one. had to damn near tear it apart to get it in the 400EC doorway. then norcold said the 461s (i think) would tend to overheat if there wasnt ample air flow across coils and such so newer units came out with different ventilation design. in my experience, available repair service, repair parts cost, reliability, etc all leave alot to be desired.

the company ought to change their market to boat anchors, they'd be good at that. just tie a line to one of their fridges and shove it over the side.
Click to expand...

I second that!!! Throw it away and get something with a Danfoss 12V compressor and live happy. Vitrifrigo makes a replacement for the 561 and it works fine. I also know Tundra are good.
 
When my Norcold failed originally I did the kit upgrade. Still only marginally cooled. 3 years later it was dead again. Then I replaced it with a Novacool refrigerator with a higher quality german compressor. 5 years later I've had zero issues.

Norcold are junk in my opinion and fixing them, or replacing them with another of their models, is just throwing money away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,186
Messages
1,428,177
Members
61,097
Latest member
Mdeluca407
Back
Top