1966 Ametek/Troy Laundrite Big Boy Repair

[spin-it]

Tim(?)
Thanks for all the information. If your machine is a 1966 and has only been out of service for the last few years, that's a damn good track record! How has it been in those 40+ years repair wise? It seems to be very well built but simply constructed. Are those the original motors? I guess "freewheelin" hasn't had such a bad effect on it if you are just changing bearings now. Can't wait to see and "hear" a video if you get the chance.
This thread hsd sparked my interest in these larger capacity laundromat machines. Seems all the newer ones use one motor with inverter control for drum speed and distribution. What other machines do you know of use the 2 motor system?
Again thanks for all the pics and inf, great job..
Kevin

 

[laundroguy77]

Wash Motor

The wash motor turned into a little more of a project that i thought at first. Now I need to get a couple parts for the start winding contactor. Found a website that sells them. Hopefully i'll get them ordered this week and get it back together. Heres a picture of the gutted motor.

 

[laundroguy77]

Big Boy/Two Motors

@alr2903
Yes it does have the cartoon character you're talking about on the control panel. I'll take a closer picture of it and post it on here. It is a little faded. It is a blue/green guy wearing a suit and a cap. As for the super 20's, I don't know much about them. We got the valve used on eBay.

@spin-it
It has over the years been a pretty good machine. People like it because it's so big. It has needed some repairs over the years though. My dad has had the Laundromat since 1988. It was out of order then, if I remember right it was a simple fix. A hose going to one of the pressure switches was plugged with lint. In 1995 we put bearing and seals in it, just like we did now. Also replaced the door lock and drain solenoid a couple times. Honestly, now that we have done all the work on the drain and the door seals, this is probably the first time it has ever had no leaks. Seems like it always had a drip or two. As for other machines with two motors, I'm not sure. I believe some of the Milnor's have two motors, but I have never worked on one. We have 3 speed queen sc27's, a Wascomat w-74, and Maytag Neptune's, and they all have one motor. The Neptune's go through bearings and seals quite often. We have 6 of them, have changed bearings and seals in almost all of them once, and there only 6 years old.

Thanks for you're interest guys!

-Tim

 

[laundroguy77]

Big Boy Cartoon character

Here's the picture of the big boy cartoon. Be nice if i could find a new decal. It's pretty faded. I originally thought it was blue, it's actually red.

 

[alr2903]

Thank You for taking the time to post the picture of the "big boy" logo, its been a long time since I have seen him.  Bonus, i can now read the sticker,  fabric softner in approx 16 minutes and total cycle time  25  minutes. Thanks again  alr

 

[laundroguy77]

It's Installed!

Yesterday we got the big boy installed back in the laundromat. Current price is 3.00 per load. Video to come soon! Thanks a lot!

-tim

 

[laundroguy77]

Video

Shot this video with my cell phone. Not the whole cycle because i got a couple phone calls while i was taking it. Haha! Does show the spin cycle. Pretty cool!

<object width="320" height="240" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150453716714848" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150453716714848" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="240"></embed></object>

 

[autowasherfreak]

Glad you got it running again! Watching this brings back a lot of happy memories, of my mom and I at the laundromat.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Wish I had one of these in the basement for heavy blankets and rugs!

 

[toploader55]

Incredibly Fabulous !!!

Not only for the memories, but a Front Loader that actually uses enough water to see it in the window. Thanks for all your Hard Work keeping the "Big Boy" alive and well.

 

[westingman123]

Oh, I used to be fascinated with those! The Poly-clean laundromat used to have 3 of them side by side. How I loved those trips to the 'mat--Mama took big things that she wouldn't put in her machine at home. No air-conditioning, just a BIG fan in the wall--which, naturally, also fascinated me.

 

[vintagekenmore]

We had one of these in the first hotel I worked in. The only difference in the panels was that there was a cycle dial which we turned to the beginning of the cycle, loaded it with what we were washing (usually towels and pillowcases) closed the door and hit the start button. It did have automatic dispensers for the chemicals for the laundry. The other one was a giant Laundrite, it was turquoise in color and I remember that when it spun, it sounded like a jet plane taking off or coming in for a landing when it stopped, they were workhorses. The last time I went there, the big turquoise laundrite had been replaced with a Milnor but the Big Boy was still there and still churning away.