1965 Kenmore Washer Leaking Underneath ~ Help? O_o

[freshwater]

Okay you guys! My old thread has been archived because it's been a month or so since I posted, but I'm in my new house and hooked the washer up today ... and after 3 trips to the hardware store to get new hoses, etc. I did a test run and I thought all was hunky dory until I moved the washer and noticed water on the floor. Boo.

I checked and double checked ... none of the exterior hoses are leaking. It was leaking from underneath, so I took the back panel off and I see where it's leaking from (I think) but I don't know what it is. Seems to be the mechanism that agitates, maybe?

I don't know ... I'm no mechanic, but I was wondering if anybody may know of a common culprit on these models before I try to call somebody to fix it. I'd rather do it myself if it's a washer or something simple that I can do. I mean, after all, when I went to the Sears store for a replacement hose they just laughed at me when I told them the year, and sent me somewhere else. =(

I'll re-upload the washer pic and also will upload the sorry attempt to take a pic of the inside. Tomorrow I can probably do better with some sunlight.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[freshwater]

The leaky place

Sorry for the sucky diagram and ignorant language of the parts, but it's behind that drum thingy that holds the belt. =(

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Rhonda,

It looks like the arrow is pointing in the vacinity of the pump, and if the machine hasn't been used in a while, and/or if the pump is well used, it may very well be leaking. Check the body of the pump to see if it is wet.

What temp water did you use? Good hot wash water will 'sometimes' help a long un-used pump reseal itself. Try that.

If not, then a 350365 pump is what you need for that baby, and there are a lot of them around, in fact I think still available from Whirlpool and definitely on ebay.

Gordon

 

[freshwater]

Thanks Gordon!

Oh gosh ... I have no idea what water temp. I just turned on the water valves and let it fly. I did the test wash on the hottest setting, though.

Supposedly when I bought it, it had been used about a month before ... but I have no positive proof of that.

Okay I will definitely check that! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

 

[freshwater]

It's the tub

Gordon, I ran another cycle and realized I was wrong about the origin of the leak (because I didn't have the back panel off at first). It's coming from the tub. I just had a repair man here and he said it's probably rusted or a seal broke while it was being moved. He said even if I could find a tub, it would cost at least $250 to fix. =( Disappointed. )=

 

[westingman123]

Don't be disappointed! Someone here can tell you what to do for a LOT less than $250, I'll bet. I've learned tons since coming here.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Rhonda,

I'm not totally surprised, and your repair man is right in that a hole could be rusted in the tub.

If the tub seals are just bad and this is little or no tub rot, re-sealing is a fairly straight forward operation provided the person knows what they are doing and has the parts.

I have patched holes in tubs with success, but it depends on where it is or they are.

Don't give up on the machine yet!!

Gordon[this post was last edited: 11/7/2011-12:36]

 

[freshwater]

Thanks!

<span style="font-size: small; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not giving up just yet! I'm just going to move it out to my garage (when I can round up some strong backs to move it) and work on it when I get the chance. I'd like to do it myself if possible, so I'm glad I found this forum and you helpful folks.</span>

 

[kenmoreguy64]

When you're ready Rhonda, let us know and we'll help you with a step by step on how on how to proceed!

Out of curiosity, how much water is the machine leaking?

Gordon

 

[freshwater]

Thanks!!!  I will be needing your help!  It's not leaking that much.  I put 3 gallon bucket underneath to catch it and there was maybe an inch or less of water in it.

 

If time allows I may start on it tonight.  Is the first step to remove the entire back panel?

 

[freshwater]

Okay so I've come across my first stumbling block! I've disconnected everything that goes from the washer to the lid except for this one last thing.  It's a black thing (plastic or rubber?) and there are two wires going into it.  It appears to be sitting in a metal clamp, but I can not get it to budge.  I'm guess it's the thing that lets the washer know if the lid is open or not ... but how do I get it off?  Is it just clamped in there? I don't want to pull on it too hard and risk damaging it.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[DADoES]

 
The black capsule is a mercury switch.  It simply snaps into the holding bracket, carefully pry it out.  The bracket could conceivably break if it's very rusted.  No need to remove the bracket from the hinge.

 

[freshwater]

I got it out! THANK YOU!

 

[tolivac]

Yes,dealt with mercury switches like that one in older tower light flashers.A small gearmotor turned a cam that moved the mercury switch tube up and down to flash the top beacon lights.And---these liked to fail during the worst snowstorms!and climbed the AM tower "Hot" to fix them!Great fun!

 

[freshwater]

Agitator

@tolivac ~ You'd might as well be speaking another language. Whatever you said is way over my head. LOL

 

I unscrewed the top of the agitator ... so now how do I get the agitator out?

 

And then the next question is ... does the tub just lift out?  Or do I have to unscrew something from underneath?  I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this project.  I tried to find instructions on the web, but am not finding much -- especially on one this old.

 

Thanks in advance!

Rhonda

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

Hi Rhonda,

 

I just sent you a message via our internal messaging here on AW....

 

Kevin