1965 Kenmore 800 Washer Repair/Tune Up Boston

[caddykid60]

Hi. I have a 1965 Kenmore 800 Series Washing Machine. It runs well when I tried it out a couple of years ago. It is stored in my basement. I would like to have someone give it a tune up and a check up to make sure it runs well. I would like to put it in to operation. I am in the Boston area. Local repair people won't even consider looking at it because of the age. Does anyone know anyone in the Boston area that works on these machines? Thanks, Mike

 

[tuthill]

Just put some hot soapy water down the drain hose to prime the pump, set the timer to spin, open the lid, and let it idle. If everything sounds good from there, press the lid switch and see how it spins. Then I'd water test it.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Michael -

Jed/Tuthill is correct, though your machine may or may not have a pressable lid switch. Many, including the 65 800 I just got, have concealed mercury switches. If yours doesn't have a visible lid switch, don't worry about it.

I recommend putting the hot soapy water into the left front side of the tub however and skip the drain hose. All 1965 800s have self-cleaning lint filters which hold a quart or more of water, and the hoses leading to and from them would probably hold another quart. You'd need a half-gallon at least to fill these before you reach the pump. You can get to the pump from the other side with one-fourth as much water by pouring the water where the tub empties, which is in the left front corner. This is a lot easier too.

Otherwise, just do as Jed suggests and let the machine idle, followed by a spin. The 65 800 has a dry agitate sequence in the timer, which is available at the 2 and 4-minute marks. This will allow you get the machine to agitate without water. If it does all that to your satisfaction, I'd try it with water and see what you get!

Gordon