You're welcome!
There are several posts about these machines in the forum archives - just type 9605 into the "Search the Imperial Forum" bar and scroll through.
In case you weren't already aware, be sure the courier knows not to handle the machine by its control panel: they were made from...
These models had a capacitor rather than the relay found in the earlier machines (pre 1980 ish from memory of reading the service info) but it's indeed a possible point to check.
You can disable the agitated fill by moving some wires around on the timer. It's programmed to agitate during fill...
Steaming
Assuming the steam function uses the heating element, could using those cycles have contributed to its premature failure? If all it does is fill with some water and heat it, that plain water has nothing in it to counter the hardness so scale will form on the element just as it would in...
Sounds as though it's running the Wool programme wash rhythm. What happens if you press the Wool button? Is it possible to get the wiring for that option the wrong way around, or have some wiring fault cause it? I think Wool also limits the final spin to 800rpm - does it seem slower than...
2 minutes...
...is how long a 96-series top loader will agitate after rinse hold, having already agitated for 1-2 minutes. I've attached the timer chart below for full reference.
I'm fairly sure the 1509 and its ilk agitate for 2 minutes only on the final rinse before pausing for 40 seconds...
Shocking!
Burnt out sockets always conjure up images from old DIY manuals showing some kind of terrible christmas tree arrangement of adaptors; it's quite a surprise when it happens in this day and age with factory-fitted plugs and to those with a sound grasp of basic home electrics.
I tried...
I'm sure the majority of Hoover machines of that style were standard height (85cm), slightly narrower than standard (58.5cm) and moderately deep (56cm).
Guarantees on parts
It seems odd to me that Hotpoint are offering 10 year parts guarantees (yes, indeed they are - it surprised me too) yet if you call them out for a repair, the cost is fixed-price including parts. It certainly was when I called them out to fix a 15-year-old machine!
Somehow...
A 96702 with its Almond body would probably have gone rather nicely with your washroom tiles!
Congratulations on the acquisition.
It's a bit of a guess but the humming and no action might be the capacitor - could be worth keeping a spare on hand.
Sadly, vitreous enamel doesn't take...
Temperature control
I believe it's mixed fill on Warm and Hand Hot settings, and hot fill for Hot and Very Hot on the 1504 and the following models up to 1509/05. See reply 66 on the thread I've linked where you can view the page from the service manual. A bio powder option was provided to...
...and then there was a 96700 from 1984-5, not in need of repair unlike the 9600.
So they're still popping up. Good luck! Surely you're not shipping it to Barca though...
If the load's relatively balanced, there's no reason why it shouldn't hit full speed on the interim, even in the allotted minute on the 96-series machines.
Using the Rinse Hold function should be practical enough without relying on that ball - and it's an extra chance to watch the wash action...