1962 WDA-62 Restoration ......

[sfh074]

The easy way .....

<span style="font-size: 14pt;">to add the transmission oil. Notice how small the oil port is in the trans to get the oil thru. The tubing barely fits.</span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span>

<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ebay sells these 1 liter "kangaroo feeding bags" (I didn't name it!) that are identical to any IV bag you see at the hospital. However these have a large mouth and plug at the top that allows you to add any liquid. Three of them are like $6 and when you add the required 26 ozs of oil to it, it reads exactly 800 mL on the side markings.  It comes with about 4' of tubing but you will only need about a foot. Get you a quart of 30 weight non-detergent and you are good to go.  Hang the bag as shown and let gravity do the work.  I sped the process up a bit by adding some rubber bands around to help force the oil out. Easy peasy and no mess.</span>

 

[jetcone]

Bud this is what I use

to great success!!   Royal Purple, it is a little $$ but when Im restoring a machine like my Charcoal Frigidaire I want the best. I just saw this is a synthetic too! I never knew there was a difference in moisture retention in grease! Good lesson thanks!!

https://www.royalpurple.com

 

[sfh074]

I should clarify .....

the term grease I used in my previous reply. Older petroleum based grease and oil had a tendency but very miniscule, hydroscopic effect. Older grease technology added different ingredients to make them more sticky so as to stay in place on faster moving mechanisms. One of those ingredients was soap. Soap based grease was a mainstay used in high speed gears and bearings assemblies. Over time it was notorious to absorb moisture because of these additives. Modern day grease now contains non hydroscopic additives in petroleum based lubricants. And full synthetic had replaced petroleum altogether.

 

[askolover]

I just love looking at this type of restoration.  I wish I had a good garage or workshop where I could do more myself.  Amazing.  Too bad ALL those old machines couldn't have been collected and reworked one by one and re-used.

 

[sfh074]

Couple of more items .....

added to the restoration ...... in between all the other honey-do list.

 

I recreated 3 of the paper labels that were on the exterior of the WDA-62 when shipped from the factory.  Two of them were on the back of the machine, and one on the power cord.

 

And again it is dark and rainy, making the basement lighting non-conducive for photography.  But here is a sneak peek with lousy pictures.  Like I said before, on a sunny day I'll take the finished product outside and get some HD photos to post.

 

[sfh074]

One neat tip ....

if you ever feel the need to clean and make the 3-prongs on the power cord look like new, shiny brass can once again be had by soaking the prongs in "Lime-A-Way". It took about 30 minutes and the end result takes the dark oxidation completely off. Once satisfied with the results, soak the plug in water to neutralize the cleaner.

 

[hippiedoll]

Wow...

You get down to every little detail. It's gonna be just like stepping back in time, buying this Frigidaire WDA-62 washer brand new, and bringing it back with you to the present day!
This is too cool!
I love it!

You're doing what many of us wish we could do with things from back in the day (toys, cars, vacuums, washers, etc.)!

Keep up the GREAT work Bud!
)

 

[swestoyz]

Bud - the labels look great! Can't say many of the plug labels have showed up over the years, so it's pretty great you were able to re-create one. Are you planning on slathering glue over the cabinet labels, or leave them pristine white?

Ben

 

[sfh074]

LOL ......

I was wondering if anyone was going to ask that! So I had to guess at the glue they originally used and went with some of the kids glue paste that I remembered from grade school. Walmart had it for a dollar!

And yes, I smeared it on with a 1" brush around the perimeter. Maybe in 20 years it will start to charge colors and turn that familiar tan ..... just like the original.

And I got lucky. One of the old machines had most of a power cord tag still in place used as the reference for the new one.

Bud - Atlanta

 

[losangeles]

1962 WDA Restoration

I just got through reading sfh074 Bud (Atlanta) post about his restoration of the 1962 WDA. I saw this machine before it had anything done to it. Now it seems that there has been a miracle in Bud's Garage. The pics he has posted are nothing short of amazing. His attention to the tiniest detail is worthy of the spyglass award. I know Bud's work personally. He took my 1963 Imperial's transmission apart, pick out all the broken and chewed up parts, replaced the parts needed, then in a case or two actually made the parts needed. His love and dedication to the restoration of vintage washers and dryers has no bounds. He is truly blessed to have such to have such a talents for appliance restoration.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I have never seen a restoration like this. Your level of detail is stunning. A joy to see your pictures. Thank you for posting!

 

[sfh074]

Lid bumpers ..... the crowning touch!

 

The very last, but not the least item I needed to complete this restoration were original lid bumpers. Well looky looky! 

 

I went round and round looking for these at the usual places like Grainger, McMaster, etc .... but nothing even close. Stuff that would maybe work, and all only in black. Not the light gray that they originally came as.  And if you know anything about me, I couldn't have that.

 

So in the usual self fashion, I did a copy cat.  I added a thread over in Shoppers Square if anyone would like a set of these.

 

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?83721_0~1
 

Bud - Atlanta

 

[appnut]

Bud, I am at a loss for words of praise and reverence to this task at hand. But I am humbled and in awe of your accomplishment. Bob

 

[norgeway]

Now that

Is the way to restore a washer!!

 

[peterh770]

Excellent work, Bud!