1961 White Lady Kenmore Washer/Dryer Combo

[gashog7]

Recently received this combo unit in trade for some work done for a friend and am tring to track down replacement blower belts. All the regular avenues have been exhausted. The unit work fine otherwise, it has jjust been stiing unused for at least 35 years which has led to the dry rotted belts. I cannot come to scrapping this unit at the behest of friends and family simply because of a few belts. I had seen a post from 2005 of a similar more extensive restoration and have tried contacting that user to no avail. Any help is surely appreciated.

 

[gashog7]

Belt pic

Pic of pullys

 

[combo52]

1967-70 KM Combo

We have found a belt maker that can make the smaller round belt [ the one that is sitting on top of your machine ] the poly-vee blower belt is more of a challenge, but these seldom ever failed, if your is gone I may have a good used one.

These are very cool but complicated machines, you will likely have to do more than change these two belts to get much use out of this machine. I know these machines very well and have about 12 of them. E-mail me a contact phone # if you need more detailed help.

John L.

 

[revvinkevin]

1961 White Lady Kenmore Washer/Dryer Combo

 

 

Small correction here: You are about 10 years off on the age of the combo, it looks more like a 1971 not 1961. 

 

Also, the smaller (pump/blower drive) belt that will work, surprisingly is a Eureka upright vacuum belt.   Yes you read that right!    While the "standard duty" belt will work, the belt for the "commercial model" will last longer. 

 

You should be able to get them at any vacuum store.   Just ask for a conventional round Eureka/Sanitaire belt.   You will have to really stretch it to get it on the pulley, but it will work.  

 

I believe the grooved blower belt are NLA, but John (Combo52) will be able to give you better info on that one.

 

John is right, this machine will likely need a LOT more than just the two belts to be completely operational.   I have two of these neither one works at the moment.

 

Kevin

 

[gashog7]

belts and such

Much appreciated, I figured some type of belt from another appliance would work. Will head to the local vacuum repair shop next. As for the additional work, I knew that going into it. The drum bearing I am having rebuilt which is why it was originally taken out of service (too noisy of a spin). I am cleaning out all the dust/lint and dried soap scum splashed out everywhere on the outside of the drum and resealing the boot and hose for the soap and softener with heavy duty form-a-gasket sealer from the local auto parts shop (I did this with a newer portable dishwasher a number of years back with no leakage). I am really hoping that the enture drum/tank does not need to be removed and that the bottom does not leak but I may be wrong on that one too. I have also already broken the one hose that splits off and connects to two points on the blower itself, not sure of the function of that. May just have to get creative and use vinyl tube and pvc connections since nearly every part that is not metal is nla. I was told that the age is determined by the first and third numbers after the dot on the model, hence 110.6910910 would be '61. If this is incorrect, I would like to find out where the year of manufacture actually is.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Model numbers...

The first and third characters method in the model number applies to 1974 and later models, to about 1999 or so. Prior to 1974, the first two characters were the model year. In your machine's case, its a 1969 model.

Gordon

 

[mixguy]

Permanent Press

In reading the buttons I read Permanent Press. a 1961 washer would have said Wash & Wear, so I know it had to be a newer washer model. Is the dryer a gas or electric model? Hope you can located the belts and other parts needed to complete the restoration

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations!

The major problem with one that has any age on it and has been sitting is the transmission. To achieve variable speed spinning and to control the spin speed during the all important balancing operation, the tranmission uses air-driven clutches. There is an air pump on the top of the tranny driven off an eccentric inside. The diaphragm parts dry out and it won't develop any air pressure to take it out of tumble. I have one that the only way it is going to work easily is to put a little piston air pump on the other side of the base and run hoses to the tranny. When you talk to John, he can explain the balancing system. AVCO, which owned Bendix pattened the suspension and vibration damping for ANY washer-dryer combination when they developed the Bendix Duomatic. That is why the 29" Kenmore, with 1600 parts was the only design for a domestically produced combination washer-dryer that was able to extract enough water before drying so that you had to squeeze fairly hard to get water out of fabrics extracted in it. This machine, once the balance tanks (those three boxy baffles in the drum) were properly filled to compensate for irregularities in the weight distribution of the load, was able to spin at a rip-roaring 400 rpm. I always gave heavier things a spin in a Frigidaire or at least a Maytag before letting them go into dry with my electric model.

After working on this, you will find out how good you can feel when you stop beating your head against a wall.

 

[fluxcapacitor]

Well, if you do sell or part it out after all, i would love the door