1955 GE COMBO Restoration

[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.

 

[combo52]

GE Combo Drying System

This and All GE Combos has two heaters, a smaller 1200 watt element and a larger 2800 watt element, the smaller 1200W one is on the top left and is the most visible one in Jon's pictures. Both are used for normal drying at the start of the dry cycle and with a full rated load of ten pounds of cotton towels [ spun at 210 RPMs ] all 4000Ws of heat will be on constantly for at least 45 minutes, once the thromostat trips [ about 280 degrees F ] and the timer starts moving it will switch off the 1200w element and the 2800W element will heat the load again to 280F, this phase will take another 15 minutes or more.

All the while 1/2 gallon of cold water is flowing down on the right inside of the outer tub , which not only condenses all the water being evaporated out of the clothing, but also carries at least 80% of the heat away and all of the lint, dust and other grit right down the drain.

The drying temperature is adjustable and can be turned down to as low as 180F for drying delicate items and when the temperature is set for delicate clothing the smaller 1200W element is not used at all.

GE combos were very effective dryers and they had to be to dry clothing that was close to being dripping wet. Tom and I found that if a load was re-spun in even a WP BD TL washer the drying time was cut in 1/2.

John L.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Go figure... my combo has two heaters too but one is 750W and the other 680W! In the delicate cycle only the 750W one is operative...
but the load is spun MUCH faster!
(still it needs 80 minutes for 6 lbs of clothing!)

 

[turquoisedude]

YAY Jon! I'm pleased to see that the relay wasn't the issue!! Congratulations!!

 

[jetcone]

Update

I worked on the Combo yesterday and for the first time I got it to run on the dry cycle WITHOUT the timer motor engaged !! So big progress on that front. Now it seems to be narrowed down to one glitchy little problem, on dry sometimes I get 220V out of the control thermostat and sometimes I don't. If I can correct this then I can reassemble and try a virgin load!!

 

I started this thread what? back in ......November??

I gotta get this machine outta the lab, I got more stuff com in'!

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Great news! Is it possible that the thermostat is tripping too soon due to an empty tub load? That wash tub gets plenty hot when both calrods go into 'speed-broil' mode!

 

[jetcone]

Nice try Paul

but I don't get the calrods on at all so it is not satisfying the thermostat through heat. The control thermo is behaving like its satisfied and I double checked the safety thermo its working on the cold side. Its something inside the thermo since it worked once intermitently.

Back to the drawing board OY
!! 

 

[jetcone]

Shades of things to come

She passed her mechanicals today

 

[jetcone]

Polish

Polish - you know the drill !

 

[jetcone]

A quick

Vid and then onto the "virgin water test"!

[this post was last edited: 4/27/2014-11:50]

 

[mrlavadoro]

Wow!! Very good washers, pics and restoration!
Thanks for upload photos of the washer!

 

[jetcone]

Thank you Jose

I hope to have the water test completed soon and then next real laundry!!

 

 

 

[jetcone]

Water test

Today I can't believe the door held

 

[jetcone]

Damn timer

Is not on when the pressure switch is satisfied

 

[jetcone]

Always

Minor bugs at the finish line
Both fill flumes need aiming
Testing the thermo cut out now
Yay! The thermo is working it cut in the timer motor on reaching the first set point

 

[jetcone]

So

after yesterday's testing she has a small punch list.

1) Aim water inlet nozzles for fill & condenser
2) Debug timer connections for timer motor cycle
3) Recheck short to cabinet- I think that is because the entire guts got drenched yesterday by the inlet nozzles spraying water all down the insides.

A small punch list after all the work she's had don'tcha think?

 

[turquoisedude]

Sounds pretty minor Jon!! Can't wait to see the next round of progress!!

I've created some pretty interesting grounding situations with leaky machines... THAT may explain a lot... LOL

If you have any issues with the fill flume or funnel, let me know; I have the ones from the early 56 combo that got parted out last year.

Is the timer not getting power at a specific phase of the cycle? If so, that can be 'normal' - trust me!!

 

[a440]

Great Job Jon!
What a beautiful machine!
Is this the only working 1955 Combo known of?

 

[jetcone]

Thanks Paul

I'll keep the spares in mind but the funnels are brass , I think the problem is me, I removed the entire valve assembly to clean and update and didn't think about how I put it back in place because the funnels are so huge on this machine. OOPS!

Brent as far as I know this is the only known example of a 1955 GE Combo , as to working well I leave that up to you!

 

I have run the entire cycle and this may interest some of you- there are 5 rinses! But there are no spins between rinses. AND the 5th rinse is with HOT water !!! I would guess to prepare the clothes for the broiler-dry cycle to follow. After the 5th rinse the machine goes into high speed spin - 225 RPMS LOL  for a time the drops to a tumble and then if I remember a short spin again before starting dry. 

 

[a440]

5 Rinses! Awesome!
Sounds like a fun machine!

 

[bigalsf]

Incredible Job

What a great job, Jon. The machine looks wonderful, and I love all the intricacies of this type of appliance. Combo's were truly the engineering marvel of the laundry appliance world! Thanks for sharing all the photos and knowledge. Congrats on your success with it, and here's to many "broiled dry" loads!