1966 Ametek/Troy Laundrite Big Boy Repair

[laundroguy77]

I recently read other post talking about Ametek Big boys. My family owns a laundromat with one of these old machines in it. It has been out of order for the last few years due to bad bearings, water leaks, and electrical problems. We finally decided to remove the machine from the laundromt and take it to our shop in an attempt to repair it. We were actually able to locate the bearings, seals, and a few other misc parts at a local auto parts store. We have to get one more final part and it should be here tommorow. I'll post some pictures of the repair process and hopefully a video of it working after its back in operation.

 

[laundroguy77]

More Pictures

Here is one of the pictures of the big boy disassembled.

 

[laundroguy77]

More Pictures

More Pictures, Click on the link to view.

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[spin-it]

It looks like there are 2 drive motors judging from the "bump" for the capacitors. One looks to have the clutch mounted on the front. Is it one motor for wash and one for spin?

 

[cycla-fabric]

Boy oh Boy, I remember the local laundromat near where I live use to have 3 of them and it use to cost a 1.00 per load. Those machines hold alot of laundry and were used a quite often. You can wash a 9 x 12 rug in those machines. Good to see you will be getting it back in action again. Good Luck

Doug

 

[laundroguy77]

Thanks for the feedback & good luck wishes guys. Yes you're right there is one motor for wash and another for spin. No clutch though, just pullys. The wash motor is on the left, and the spin motor is on the right. The spin motor has a double pully that runs the drum, and a larger pully (the one visible in the picture) that connects to the wash motor. Years ago the price was 1.50. Last time it was in working order the price was 2.25. Probably will raise the price when the big boy gets put back down there.

 

[launderess]

Two Motors

Common arragement in many older (and modern for all I know)front loaders made in Europe.

My Miele w1070 has two motors; one controls wash action the other spin. Thing is built as one unit and weighs a ton.

As for Ametek's "Big Boys" see the link for more:

http://www.planetlaundry.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-5306.html

 

[launderess]

@laundroguy77

If you truly plan on returning that washer to service, contact Amtetek or your local serviceman/parts place for an updated door lock system, assuming yours does not have it already.

One big reason Ametek discontinued it's laundry division was they were sued because a person was able to open the door of one of their machines whilst the tub was still moving. He lost an entire arm IIRC, and got a nice big award against the company. One result is that laundromat and one assumes domestic front loaders today have triple or double locking systems so the door cannot be opened until the drum stops.

 

[laundroguy77]

Door Lock

@launderess

Thanks for the input! I really liked your link about the history of different front loaders. To answer your question about the door lock, yes it does have the updated door lock system. As soon as the machine starts, the electricity to the door is turned off. It also has an electronic system with a magnetic sensor that senses when the drum is turning. It also disables the electric door lock when the cylinder is moving.

 

[laundroguy77]

More Pictures. Getting closer.

Got the new bearings, seals, and updated drain installed. Here are some more pictures.

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[laundroguy77]

New Link For pictures

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[autowasherfreak]

When I was growing up a couple of laundromats that Mom went to before she got her WP automatic had Big Boy machines, I would get a chair and sit in front of them and watch as though they were TV's, LOL.

 

[toploader55]

What a beast !!!

I as well as a child would watch that machine and loved the sounds it made. The Loud Clank of the solenoid when it drained and the motor winding up for the 2 speed extract cycles. I would love to see a video of the Full Cycle when your finished. Thanks, Eddie

 

[laundroguy77]

Big Boy Sounds

That’s funny. I too remember when I was young watching that Big Boy, and our town Pharmacist referring to it as watching TV. Too bad it won't have the drain clunk anymore. We updated the drain with an electric gate valve from a Speed Queen Super 20. Sure thing after it's going I will be sure to upload a video. Thanks guys!

 

[spin-it]

The pics of the rebuild are great. Looks like she'll be back to super loads in no time. I'm trying to understand the 2 motor system...so the wash motor actually turns the shaft of the spin motor which turns the drum at wash RPM's through the pulleys on the spin motor shaft? The spin motor obviously has no power to it so it just free-wheels? Then for spin, the spin motor tuns the drum directly for spin RPM's and the wash motor free-wheels? It seems so simple; no gears, speed changers, shifters or clutches or modern VFD's. It really can't be more expensive then all that other stuff used to change speeds. I believe the Easy combo actually used two motors. I'm surprised more manufacturers didn't do that. What is the spin RPM anyway? Thanks for the info.
Kevin

 

[laundroguy77]

Two motors

Your exactly right about how the motor system works. The spin motor is nothing more than an idler during the wash cycle, and the wash motor is just an idler during spin cycle. The greates amount of noise the machine makes during the spin cycle is the wash motor just going along for the ride. The fan inside the motor is just screaming. As for the spin rpm, i'm not sure. The wash motor is 860 rpm, and the extract motor is 1750 i believe. Next time i'm over there again i'll have to measure the pullys and figure out the spin rpm. Thanks for your interest!

-Tim

 

[a440]

Very cool!
Nice to see you rebuilding it!
The motors are enormous! I bet is is such an awesome sound when going into spin!
Do a video if you can!
Thanks for the pictures!
Great save!
Brent

 

[combo52]

WASH MOTOR SCREAMING ALONG

Isn't there a one way clutch in the pulley on the spin motor that allows the wash motor to not turn when the spin motor takes over? Many other large FL washers used a two motor drive, including the Easy combos and they all had a helix coil type clutch to keep the wash motor from dragging along while it tries to spin. I would guess looking at the picture of the pulleys that this machine spins somewhere around 350 RPMs. Thanks for sharing the rebuilding process, I look forward to a sight and sound video.

 

[laundroguy77]

Spin RPM

Just went over and measured the pulleys, also checked the spin rpm with a manual tachometer. The Spin rpm is about 380. This machine would be so much quieter if there was a clutch to disconnect the wash motor during extract, but there is not, it’s all rigid pulleys. I never checked the rpm of the wash motor during the spin cycle, but I would guess it is around 6500rpm. Latest project I’ve got with the machine is replacing the bearings in the wash motor. There has been a lot of spin cycles since 1966, and the bearings show it. Luckily they were easy to find down at the local auto parts store. Thanks for the interest! I will post a video soon.

-tim