1955 GE COMBO Restoration

[jetcone]

Hi Phil

well I seem to see the opposite with this timer, the stationary contacts have been bent way back so there is a huge gap between them-  so the moving contact just swings back and forth in air, I'm closing the gap so that should make the timer very responsive. Cross your fingers.

 

 

 

[philr]

Jon, can you make a video of the timer? I can't see why someone would have bent these!

On Paul's timer, the contact arms barely moved when they hit the low spot on the cam.

 

[turquoisedude]

Jon, As Phil said, we monkeyed with the contact arms in the 56 timer (the assumption we were working under was that the position the timer stayed in for over 50 years forced the contact apart). BUT, although the combo did seem to come back to life after this, something went out of alignment again very shortly after and I still get no power to the timer motor after the wash fill phase of the cycle...
I was speaking to Phil about it and he mentioned that this metal may not like flexing so much, so be careful!!

 

[jetcone]

No; what I found was

the  stationary contacts had bent back away from the moving contacts and today I found 3 other contacts on the other side of the timer block with the same problem. I have worked on many timers and found it better to bend the stationary contacts not the moving ones as there are very specific dimensions that must be maintained between the moving contact and the timer cycle wheel. So now the block seems to be working correctly but the timer motor is dead and I found one last black timer motor that works.

I installed that today and NOTHING! I was pissed! 

The motor was working when I tested it, come to find out the Escapement was jammed up completely with grease that had turned to solid varnish over the last 58 years. I was able to move it with a screwdriver but now the whole shebang is soaking in Gunk B Gone .

And the saga continues

 

 

[turquoisedude]

I feel your pain, Jon!! I hope the timer escapement mechanism will loosen up...

 

[jetcone]

Well I soaked the mechanism overnite

You should have seen the black crap that was loosened and flowed down the drain! But my hurdle was retrofitting the "new" timer motor to the escapement.

 

The jamming was actually caused by a mismatch between motors and escapements. These machines; it has been my experience that each one has a UNIQUE escapement/timer mechanism. So what I discovered in this unique GE case was the gear shaft was too short on the replacement timer so the drive gear was contacting two sets of wheels and jamming up. 

I decided for replacement as you will see below instead of trying to jack hammer the new gear up the shaft and thereby damage my only working motor.

 

 Oh an interesting side note I believe this was the last year a GE laundry appliance utilized an Ingram escapement, in 1956 GE created their own timer mechanism called a clamshell which was used right up throughout 1970's.

See the shaft difference for you own edification:

 

 

[jetcone]

SO alittle

surgery was in order- get out your finest tools! 

I swapped out the gear mechanisms between timers, I have to file down the staking, and cover the motor mechanism so brass filings didn't get in there.  The beauty of these early timers is their accessibility and interchangeability. The ones I've worked on that are black all seem to turn CCW, whereas the later silver timers can turn either way at different speeds.

 

 

 

 

[jetcone]

See how important it us to

block the brass filings:

 

[jetcone]

the escapement

was relubed with Tufoil , so were the bearings in the timer block, and taking the motor down I was able to give its gear train a lubing too. Everything turns nicely now.

 

The motor was assembled back onto the timer body and I ran an entire cycle and the switches all seemed to make contact.

 

Now to reinstall in the machine and give it a dry run.

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Waiting anxiously for the results and keeping my finger crossed, Jon!

 

[combo52]

GE Combo Timers

Every GE Combo ever made used a PR Mallory timer that they sourced from the same.

Every GE TL washer from the very first till sometime in the late 70s, early 80s used a timer that was fully field serviceable that was designed and built by GE.

Jon good luck with your rebuild, we are hoping for a complete recovery.

John L.

 

[alr2903]

LOL

Jetcone, "I have repaired the timer, just by staring at it". Laughing with you, not at you. We all want to see this combo run! I admire your patience.

 

[gansky1]

Jon, how did you stake the mechanism back down onto the motor after filing down the original stakes? 

 

[jetcone]

I didn't Greg

I was going to use fine machine screws but I found the plate that holds the gear contacts the lid of the timer just under the hex nut so I just snapped the plate back down on the remaining stakes and  reassembled and tightened it down. If it moves off its an easy fix and I can get right at the timer motor at the back of the machine.

 

 

 

[jetcone]

Well I had some luck tonight

Put the timer back into the machine and ran it. First time it has run in dry, the condenser valve , pump, motor, timer motor and dry light all came on! Progress!

 

The heater relay and heater elements stayed cold however so there is more work to do. But Its 90% there now.

 

[jetcone]

Finally got

The heater elements working - see the quick vid!

 

[alr2903]

Yay!

Jetcone, that is some serious heat. Nice to see your combo taking a victory lap.  alr

 

[dj-gabriele]

Excellent work, it's amazing how you're restoring that washer-dryer to full glory!

But in all honesty I must say I'd be wary of drying any clothing in there as it seems dangerously hot with the grill style heaters :S

BTW, what is the power of those drying elements? Is the machine a water condensing one or venting one?
And if it is water condensing does it have a separate condensation chamber like a modern machine or the water is simply left flowing on the sides of the washing drum?

 

[jetcone]

Gabriele

It uses water to condensed and it is sprayed against the outer tub. I don't think those heater elements remain that hot thru the whole dry cycle, it looks like a broiler to me!! I am still working out the semi-working control thermostat.

 

More to come she's not done yet!

 

 

[ovrphil]

Following the progress; these stages of restoration are VERY interesting; some of us have been through the same but not with a washer; looking good, Jon. Congrats on progress this far. I never got far with staring at the parts.