1962 Whirlpool Washer

[ken]

So I did a little clean up on the washer over the weekend. Also got the top off. Found some more mice activity on the tub ring. The inner tub cleaned up pretty well but there is a little rust around some of the bottom holes.

Until I get the spanner nut wrench I ordered I wont know what lies in the outer tub. But Im afraid of what Im going to find. When I laid the machine over to get a better look at the components I heard what sounded like rust debris falling to the bottom of the outer tub.

When looking underneath I noticed the debris trap/tube was partly out of its rubber ring. Probably happened when we loaded it into the back of my truck. I took it off and found rusty debris in it that was wet. Unfortunately it would seem it sat for a long period of time with water in it. The motor, trans, and pump all turned easily. We shall see... [this post was last edited: 11/9/2015-20:28]

 

[delaneymeegan]

Don't get discouraged.

I'm excited !

Considering the situation with the mice, what your hearing could be .....
More likely it is large flakes of laundry detergent scum that usually stick to the outer walls of the tubs. When they sit for long periods of time, they dry out and flake off.
Water would evaporate quick enough.

Did this basement ever flood?

 

[stan]

I'm excited too

Want to see more,
What did you use to try to remove the rust?

 

[ken]

Yes, We'll have to see what I find when I get the inner tub out. But lets not forget the pieces of wet rust I found in the trap tube came from somewhere.

I don't believe the basement in the house ever flooded. It didn't give the impression it was that type of situation. The house was built as a vacation home actually on top of a rock ledge. It was fun getting the washer around two sides of the house and down the stone and concrete steps 20-30 feet to the road in the dark.

I did briefly try some CLR on the rust which worked somewhat. But I didn't get on it that much. I figured Id wait and see what I found in the outer tub first.

 

[delaneymeegan]

Ken,

Just getting the spanner will not be enough to get the retaining ring off that tub nut. Since you're waiting for the spanner to arrive, if I were you I would get some "liquid wrench" and apply some to any screws or bolts that you plan to remove, and that look like they're rusted.

The longer you can let the oil sit and soak into the screws or nuts, the easier it will be for you to remove. Sometimes several applications of product are necessary over a couple of days time. The less stress you have to put on the screws and nuts, the more likely you will be to be able to re-use them, if you choose.

Robot or human?

 

[ken]

Delaney

The next step is the agitator drive block and then the spanner nut. The nut is not at all rusted and has grease on it so Im thinking the wrench should take it off without much trouble. What might be more of a problem is the drive block. The bolts I have to get to next (4 outer tub mounting) will be after the inner tub is out.

You can see what Im talking about in Robert's tutorial on the restoration of the 57 Kenmore (Whirlpool).

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?dir=/RESTORATIONS/1957_LADY_KENMORE/

 

[delaneymeegan]

Excellent work Roberts done

I've removed my share of Belt-drive tubs, though not as old as the one shown in the tutorial, and not as rusted. I also never had a nifty spanner, I used a pipe wrench which was crude (It was the 80s, I was literally a kid. What did I know.)

But yeah, I would be sure to get those areas soaked with Liquid wrench. It's only going to make things easier. You don't want to ruin parts that may be difficult to replace.

I've seen nuts and screws that looked perfectly good on the surface, but were heavily rusted on the underside, so don't be fooled. I've also seen the opposite, thinking, damn this is bad, only to remove the screw and find threads that were smooth as can be.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I never liked the way old WP-made machines filled. They shot an air bubble under sheets that blew up a balloon that liked to never get tugged under the water. I have seen some ladies with large sterns and when they walk the way their skirts tug back and forth reminds me of sheets with an air bubble on top of the water in our Kenmores.

 

[delaneymeegan]

Haa HA!
I know what you mean, Tom.

If there is good turn-over, they eventually get sucked under water. lol

 

[ken]

You learn something new here all the time. That's part of what makes this site great. I have never owned or used a Whirlpool/Kenmore so have no experience. But Im surprised to hear that the way in which the water comes out the filler could make a difference and would be the cause of an air bubble in what is being washed.

As far as I know all or most TL washers from the period fill from the top which means the water is falling onto whatever is lying in the tub as the tub fills from underneath. What makes the difference with a Whirlpool compared with a GE or Maytag?

When I took the tub ring off I did notice a rubber "flapper" on the bottom of the plastic filler housing. I wondered just what that is supposed to accomplish. Throttle back the flow? Some was missing from one half.

 

[ken]

Got the inner tub out

Unfortunately this is what I found. The agitator block and spanner nut came off pretty easily. I was very surprised I got the outer tub bolts out. Only one gave a little trouble. Havent gotten the outer tub to let go yet.

 

[DADoES]

 
:-(

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Am i seeing this right...i mean, does it get any worse?

[this post was last edited: 11/16/2015-21:28]

 

[turquoisedude]

Yikes! I was afraid there was some corrosion, but not that much...

Ken, you'll be needing a donor machine I think!

 

[delaneymeegan]

definitely a donor machine

And I'm impressed with the amount of work you've done. If you can get this far, you can certainly rebuild.

I see what looks like a baseplate in good condition. It's odd that the outer tub would rust so bad.

It might be easier to just take the top from this machine and put it on a better condition belt - drive machine, and switch out the agitator. At this point, that essentially what you have left.

A moist basement in Catskills can do this to metal. I'm guessing this country home wasn't well heated in the winter. The heat of which would keep things dryer.

 

[ken]

For whatever reason it obviously was left with water in it. And it sat that way for a long time. As I said the pieces of rust I found in the sump tube were wet. And Im guessing it sat that way with the lid closed which only contributed to slowing any evaporation.

The place was a summer vacation house until the current owners bought it so I would say it wasn't heated at all in the winter. Probably used from May thru maybe October and then closed up for the winter.

When I saw the condition of the outer tub it made me think of the pictures of Robert's restoration of the 57 Kenmore. Robert stated the washer had set outside on the Aberdeen Farm for over 20 years. Obviously completely exposed and rain certainly would have made its way into the tubs. There was only very slight rust to be found in either tub. I guess the arid conditions of South Dakota played a role in it not rusting.

 

[stan]

Can't that be

scraped out with a putty knife, can't see.. Does it have holes in it?

 

[delaneymeegan]

Ha HAA-a-a-a !

You are (unintentionally) funny ! Scraped out? lol.

The lighter sections in that large dark rust color circle that goes around the agitator column, are huge holes, and they allow us to see the support structure (the light grey color) beneath it.

If he were able to get the water to enter this machine, when it was still put together, it would have just run right out onto the floor.

I've never seen a belt drive so completely rusted. A few rust spots here and there, yes. But this.... [rolling eyes]

I know how beautiful it is in the mountains there. Those trees really thrive in the humidity. When that humidity is trapped, however, it really creates havoc on the structures. Many of the resorts had large flat-roofed additions with equally large sections of windows added in the 1940s to the 1960s. As the properties became vacant, the roofs leaked and the windows acted like greenhouses. What a disaster.

I've seen (and enjoyed) pictures of the many abandoned and decaying resorts in the Catskills. Its amazing what mold can do.

 

[stan]

O.K

Took me a while to see the lighter sections..
Your right.. I didn't mean to funny LOL ..but guess I was