The fan next to the compressor, and the compressor come on at the
same time. If the fan is defective, the compressor will overheat.

Immediately unplug the refrig. Because an over heated compressor
may come back to life, or it may be burned out forever. On the
small chance that the compressor will come back to life, don't
hurt it any more.

Replace the fan, see if that helps.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

wrote in message
...

Hmmm 30 years. I believe GE used their "uni-bearing"
cond motor.
The single bearing has probably gone oval-shape.

Dig out the model number, but this shows some common parts:
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/ac...s.aspx?cat=173

You could put a meter across the motor just to verify that
it is getting power when it stops spinning.

I have checked the temperature of the refrigerator now. It is
to warm
also. I believe the separate cooling fan for the compressor
shuts down
because the compressor is froze up and over current. Not having
to
delve into a refrigerators working before this can only be a
guess.

Maybe some one on this group can confirm whether the cooling
fan runs
during the same time periods as the compressor. If so I may be
off to
Lowe's to get another thirty year refrigerator.