1969 Lady Kenmore Combo Restoration

[jetcone]

Hi all by request here are some photos of the 1969 Combo undergoing the continual restoration.

20 odd years ago I dragged this machine off the junk heap at Chatham Dump. I am wondering at 350 pounds how I did that feat but here it is.
John LeFever and I have been trying to get this machine up and running ever since then. John has been onboard for over 16 years helping me with this HARD BIRTH!!! It did in punishment for 5 years over in a wayward corner of the basement because it was NOT cooperating! I persisted though!
And thank God for John Lefever he is JUST A PEACH! Let me say that up front.
12 years ago he hauled up 4 boxes of parts from another machine and those boxes over the last 12 years have been invaluable!! Just like this past weekend when the spray wash / spin balance solenoid exploded right before my eyes during wash and smoke started pouring out of the machine top!

There at the bottom of the 4th box was an extra solenoind! YAY!
All I had to do was install it!
Here then is the photographic evidence!

Jet

 

[jetcone]

Front Panel Removed for service

ALso the bottom panel is removed and the tub boot is curled bacl into the tub.

 

[jetcone]

The Unique Air / Water Balance and Speed Governor

Here you see the blue balance mechanism firmly mounted to the tub which can rock inside the cabinet.

 

[jetcone]

The way it works

The Air bleed valve ( just like on a bike) controls how much the air clutch grips the tub drive.
The water nozzle will spray balancing water into tanks mounted on the spinner basket inside the tub.

 

[jetcone]

Now we must get at and

replace the bad solenoid behind the rigid mount.
The rigid mount is used to tell the balance mechanism just how much the tub is rocking. SO there is an engagment tang that grips the flag of the balance mechanism to do just that.

Its quite like a self referring program only this is mechanical in nature.

 

[jetcone]

Reinstalling

the Rigid Mount onto the machine and balance mechanism

 

[jetcone]

First Load Pictures tonight

I'll process the wash pictures so you can see it in action.

 

[peteski50]

Kenmore Combo

Jon,
Real cool machine
Best Of Luck getting it up and running.
Peter

 

[Unimatic1140]

Great pictures Jon! That air/water balance system worked well, it certainly was a complicated system. Actually the later redesigned Whirlpool/Kenmore comobs where much more complicated than their 33" original 1950's combo monsters.

 

[tlee618]

Thanks for the neat pictures Jon, That machine is so complicated!!! Cant' wait to see the wash pictures tonight. Terry

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Thanks Jon!

Very cool machine!
I am so glad that you are not giving up on her!
It appears that yours is a Gas model? I think that those are so cool.
Can't wait to see your other pictures of it running!
Brent

 

[spiralactivator]

That is one groovy combo. Dig that marbled control panel! Congratulations on a job well done. I can't wait to see it working on a load of laundry.

 

[foraloysius]

Great pictures, nice machine!! Why on earth did I never notice that machine when I was staying with you in 2002? Or wasn't it there then?

 

[veg-o-matic]

Jon, I want to marry you and bear your children.

veg

 

[jetcone]

HAAha! Thank you Veg!

Louis the machine was there and it was on punishment you walked right by it when you saw the Blackstone.

When my machines are on punishment they don't speak up nor do they stick out! They sit there quietly until I say so!

Here is the door boot being put back on by muscular hands.

 

[jetcone]

I forgot this important note

If you are ever working on one of these machines and you need to move it for ANY reason be sure the first thing you do is UNLOCK the Tang by back screwing the thumb turn on the Rigid Mount otherwise you'll break off the FLAG on the balance mechanism and poofo no more balance! She'll fly across the Room!

 

[jetcone]

Loaded and Running

This cycle is the SUPER Wash which loads 1 gallon of water approx together with ALL the detergent you put in. It creates a highly concentrated pre wash by which only the spray contacts the clothes, note the lack of water up on the glass and you will see in the next picture the machine has moved onto regular wash and filled up to 3 & 1/2 gallons of water and the water is up the glass.

 

[jetcone]

This is a full wash

See the glass has water/suds whereas in the previous picture there is no suds on the glass.

 

[jetcone]

Flying

Australian Socks.