I removed the cover, used a multimeter to test the compressor circuit, and found the compressor start relay to be defective. Ordered a new one and installed it when it arrived.
Removed the cowling with a square drive screw driver, removed the spring clip from the cover of the compressor controls with a screw driver, pulled off the old compressor start relay and replaced it with the new part. Since other problems could have caused the compressor to short cycle this was a "replace the part and hope it would work" since that would be the most common reason and it was not a very expensive part.
Pulled out the freezer. Unplugged. No freezer back cover was there. The compressor start relay was in a plastic encasement attached to the compressor - wires led me to it. Removed the solid metal spring with a screwdriver and removed the plastic cover. Tried to pull out the defective relay but the freezer was so old I needed a pliers to remove it. When I put pressure on the old relay with the pliers the relay broke and came off in pieces. I then removed the wires from the broken parts and put them on the new relay. I pushed the new relay onto the 2 pins then replaced the cover and spring. After plugging the freezer in the problem was fixed.
