1963 Frigidaire Imperial Washer,almost done

[losangeles]

Frigidaire washer lovers, I need some help. Another AW member is helping me restore a 1963 Frigidaire washer and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I need a 1958 to 1962 agitator column to fit my new cap, rings and pulsator on to. No freebies expected, as I am wanting to pay for the part. Thanks to all who can offer any help in finishing this project. Tommy

 

[sfh074]

Explanation of part needed ....

Tommy has been working on a 63 Frigidaire Imperial for awhile now and it was purchased missing the agitator cap. Months back he sent out a plea looking for an agitator cap for this 63, but to no avail. The 63 and 64 models use the same cap but since it appears the possibility of finding such a cap is nill, the decision was made to seek out the agitator column from a 58-62 instead, since a cap and rings can be had for this setup. The 63 to 58-62 column swap, is a single bolt swap, whereby the 63 pulsator it sits on is identical to the 58-62. Simple pimple. It would seem that finding a 58-62 column would be way easier than the hard plastic agitator cap for a 2 year only, 63-64 agitator. If you have a used 58-62 column sitting around collecting dust please consider selling to complete Tommy's pet project. It will be well loved and the crowning finish to an otherwise beautiful Imperial washer. Thanks!

 

[sfh074]

If you remember ....

Tommy purchased a '63 Frigidaire washer off ebay a few months ago and the money shot looked terrible. The poor pulsator was pitiful and the '63 column was missing the cap. After a few APB's in search for a replacement cap, with no luck, the decision was made to replace the '63 agitator with a '62 setup since the columns are more plentiful than a '63 plastic cap. It turns out that everything below the '63 agitator column is identical to a '62 and replacing the '63 column with a '62 is a simple swap.

Here is a picture of how he purchased the machine:

And here is Tommy's new '62 setup with new rubber cap, rings and pulsator ... along with a NOS '62 column that he will be installing shortly. Hopefully he will take some pics after he receives this in the mail and gets it installed in his machine. I'm hoping he will even make and post a video of its maiden wash!

ONE MORE VINTAGE FRIGIDAIRE WASHER SAVED AND PUT BACK INTO SERVICE!!

Attaboy, Tommy!

Cheers,
Bud - Atlanta

 

[frigilux]

Have always thought that was a gorgeous agitator/pulsator. My favorite from Frigidaire. Congrats on saving another classic!

 

[losangeles]

1963 Frigidaire Imperial, almost done

Hey Eugene,
Thank you for your comment. As soon as I get her buttoned up, more pics and a video will be forthcoming. Tommy, (Losangeles)

 

[appnut]

Congratulations Tommy.  Soon Alabama will be quaking and pulsating from the ground up.   

 

[trainguy]

Tommy & Bud

Congratulations on great work!

 

[sfh074]

Quick Update

Tommy installed the new Pulsator and Agitator .... BUT! Why is there is always a BUT??

But the washer appeared to be in great shape mechanically and was never tested. Long story short, it will not spin.

After working with Tommy for nearly a week to get the transmission out, he delivered it to me and I popped it apart. I found the brake assembly threw one of the 6 clips that hold it together and trashed the brake. I am currently looking for this assembly, part number 6595136 - (this part number came as an assembly). PhilR has an old thread on this very same part number back in 2013 and shows him asking members if they had one and then installing it here:

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44342

I would love to get this AW members machine running for him to enjoy, but I am dead in the water without this part. If you have any contacts that may have this, if you would, please reach out to them and see if they "might" have this part. It appears the brake cup went from steel to aluminum in '63. A '59-'62 steel one will work if that is all that is available.

**** At a bare minimum I need the 6 clips, the brake cup and brake plate as shown in this picture.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Bud - Atlanta

 

[sfh074]

2nd appeal

Does anyone have these parts new or used? Willing to even buy a used transmission core for the parts needed. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bud - Atlanta

 

[sfh074]

We're going in .....

I popped Tommy's multimatic transmission apart last week and found that the brake assembly had rusted itself together. The funny thing is that I found little to no water in the transmission .... but the brake had rust! The transmission oil that was taken out looked really good and almost like new. Some why the only rust found just in the brake??

The brake assembly design changed slightly in '63 and the friction material was switched to a paper based material. A lot like the black gasket material you get from any auto parts store.

So what happened that this machine wouldn't spin? What I found was that the paper friction material that is factory bonded to one of the two friction plates inside the brake assembly pulled all the available moisture in the transmission and rusted the adjacent friction plate it rubs against. In doing so the paper literally bonded itself to the plate with rust! Factory glued to one plate and now the other side of the paper bonded to the other plate by rust. When the machine was put into the spin cycle, the brake assembly could not slip like it was supposed to do and ended its life in disaster. The brake assembly at that point broke in two. When I finally got the brake assembly out, I found the two friction plates still welded together with rust.

The odd thing is the only trace of rust anywhere in the transmission was only found where steel came in contact with the paper material. Obviously some small amount of water or vapor got inside and the machine sat for a very long time unused. The paper seemed to have acted as a desiccant in the oil and attracted all the moisture to it.

 

[sfh074]

One part not located ....

fortunately is one that could be repaired. When the transmission grenaded, the deaccelerate shoes were locked and their driven plate tried to force the matter. The four teeth of the driven plate were damaged in the process. A quick pass with the tig torch and a touch of welding rod, and a few minutes with the dremel ..... brand new. Well, almost.

 

[sfh074]

Ready to go back in .......

New brake and a few other new parts added and ready to go back in.

 

[losangeles]

Ready to go back in

And "Go Back In She Did". I drove to Bud's and assisted/helped install the transmission. It was a beauty to behold. The pictures do not do it justice as seeing it in person. After about 12 hours of work and a dinner break, the washer was ready for a dry run and water testing. It passed all testing without a hitch. And the pump even got a makeover with a good cleaning and coating with POR-15 and a new water seal. We loaded her up and I brought her home. I installed the washer the next day and washed all the laundry that there was to do and even made up some loads just to watch this wonderful washer at work. Thank you so very much Bud, for all the time you spent in helping me restore this washer. It was a pleasure helping you and most of all learning from you.

 

[hippiedoll]

ALRIIIIIGHT!!

Congratulations Losangeles/Tommy!

That is so cool! And I'm so happy that you got your Frigidaire all fixed up, back together, and up & running!

Sfh074/Bud has an amazing gift reproducing the agitator parts and looks like he's pretty damned good at getting these vintage Frigidaire washers back to life!

He is definitely a blessing!

So happy for you! And doing the HAPPY DANCE for you on this side of the computer...
D

 

[swestoyz]

Great job, guys! Some beautiful work there - in fact I suspect the transmission looks better than when it left the factory.

Enjoy this amazing washing machine, Tommy!

Ben

 

[sfh074]

A big shout out goes to ......

Gyrafoam - Steve! He was so gracious in my plea for parts to complete this transmission rebuild.

Ater getting a nos brake from another member and finding out it was totally rusted together to the point the friction material bonded itself to both sides of the inner disc. When I took it apart to lubricate it and get it ready for installation, I found it to be unusable. At some point the brake got wet and the friction material bonded itself to both sides of the metal disc it was supposed to slip against! I'm now in the same position that Ben is in looking for the proper replacement friction material to rebuild it.

But that is where Steve stepped in. He got in touch with me and invited me to come and take a look thru his parts stash and see if he possibly had the brake. Well I took him up on his offer and low and behold he had a shiny new brake! After taking it apart to lubricate it for installation, the darn thing was absolutely pristine and friction material in beautiful condition.

Again thank you Steve for helping us get another multimatic up and running and back from the dead! Could not have done it without you!

Bud - Atlanta

 

[stricklybojack]

.
where are the pics? Must. Have. Pics.

 

[norgeway]

Steve!

Is as good a friend as anyone ever had!

 

[joelippard]

Tommy, I'm so glad you got this going again and I'm glad I could help advise you on the "top" end work on the machine.  Now it's complete thanks to the help of others.  I'll look forward to seeing some pictures here!

 

Joe