Old model bev-air bm23 on craigslist: advice needed

Yeah we will see what happens but I wasn't in a hurry to give this dude my $$. Maybe he will get $400 for it but I wouldn't get on it. I think he unburied this (and by the looks of his garage a bunch of other junk) and is just trying to unload and make a quick buck. He couldn't tell me a thing about this unit. The search continues....

 

Hey guys by total chance a guy in my local beer group just posted this old bev air the other day and I'm going to take a look at it tomorrow. Any idea if this style of bm-23 is older or newer than the wood grain? He's asking $75 obo (can be cash, beer trade or a combo) and will deliver to my place. He says he doesn't like drinking the same beer for weeks on end so just wants it to be put to good use. He has no idea exactly how old the unit is but Tap tower, co2 tank, and regulator are all new within the last year or so (no idea if the tower is chrome or stainless or brand regulator) and he uses the fridge to store beer currently so at least it's actually used. Even if I spend the $75 and it dies in a year I'll have some parts. He mentioned the faucet pictured in the last pic can be used to convert to a dual tower. Not sure how to do that.

 

Haha wow.

Is this the serial number on the front?

 

Ended up trading some beer for it straight up. Runs fairly quiet and was at 37f at about 5-6 on the thermostat when I tested the 5 gallon bucket. The door seal needs to be replaced, outer surface painted, and the air hose for the tower fan is missing. Also planning to replace the beverage lines. What length do you guys recommend for a bm-23?

For about $50 worth of beer not a bad deal. Newer co2 tank, nice dual gauge taprite regulator, coupler was in good shape, and the guy is delivering it to my place tomorrow.

 

Should the condenser be running constantly on these when you turn it on until it hits target temp on the thermostat setting? I did a major clean job and plugged in the unit at setting 5 at 9:45 pm. At first the unit was running like a dehumidifier would sound. 30 mins later the unit is very quiet ( except for the tower fan which is running constantly).
Air temp in the unit felt cool but not 38f cool. Just curious what is normal?

 

Update: 645am and 5 gallons of water is at 37.5f at setting 5.5! Runs like a top! Super excited. I think we are in business. I'm sure it will perform even better with a replaced door seal (which I'm debating if I even need to do now).

 

Zero said probably like 40 years! The compressor looked to be in pretty solid shape when I took the cover and vacuumed it out last night (minus the 2 mice skeleton along the back plate ugh!). Down to 35f now. I put the thermostat at 5 even to monitor if it will hit that manufacturer 38-40 range. Gonna install that tower chiller tubing soon, pick up new bev line and see how the first commercial keg goes sat-sun

 

Does anyone know if the air hose for the tower fan is supposed to connect tightly into the hole near the fan at the back of the unit or is the metal clip just supposed to hook it near the hold opening? The supposedly oem air hose tubing that I got will not fit snugly into the hole present to the left of that fan. Thanks again

 

Zero in looking at your YouTube video for your modern unit it looks like it attaches directly in flush to the hole. The difference with my old unit is that the hole appears to be a bit lower and further left from the fan. There also is a rubber housing around the hole and I do not see an area to screw in the retainer, like yours appears to be. Hmm

 

Here you go zero. It's a bit difficult to tell but the air hose isn't fully seated within the hole near the fan. It's simply a
Bit too wide and can't be threaded in. There is still air flowing towards the tower though, as it is cooler to the touch.

 

Yes it is a rubber grommet.
I'll take a close up later when we get home.