838502P Genuine Anti-Rack Pinion for Fisher & Paykel Bottom Freezer Fridges, Freezer Drawer Rack and Pinion Gear

A freezer drawer that runs crooked may have a worn or broken pinion, and 838502P is the genuine Fisher & Paykel anti-rack pinion for the freezer compartment. It's part of a rack and pinion setup that keeps both sides of the drawer moving together. The brackets that mount the pinion are separate parts, 837010 for the right side and 837011 for the left.

Freezer drawer twisting, binding or not closing square

A wide freezer drawer can easily push in further on one side than the other, which is called racking. To stop that, a toothed pinion on each side, usually linked by a shaft, runs along a rack so both sides travel the same distance. When a pinion cracks or loses teeth, the drawer goes in at an angle, jams, clicks or jumps as it moves, and may not close fully against the seal. That lets warm air in, which leads to frost build up and a freezer that works harder than it should.

Part details

• Genuine Fisher & Paykel part 838502P
• Anti-rack pinion for the freezer compartment drawer
• Pinion mounting brackets are 837010 RH and 837011 LH
• Model list not on file, match by part number

Replacing a freezer drawer pinion

Unplug the fridge, empty the freezer drawer into an esky and lift the drawer off its runners. Check both pinions and the racks for missing teeth, since a damaged rack will chew up a new pinion. Fit the pinion so the teeth on both sides line up at the same point on their racks, otherwise the drawer will still sit crooked. Refit the drawer and check it closes square.

Questions about this part

Do I need one pinion or two?

That depends on your drawer and how much is damaged, so check both sides. If only one pinion is broken and the other is in good shape, one may do. If both show worn or missing teeth, replace them together so the drawer runs evenly.