vacerator
Well-known member
Ditto that guy's!
I used to watch and help my dad overhaul washers when I was a teen. He worked for Sears, so most were Kenmore's which were set on peoples curbs. Often they were condemned machines because the repair cost superceded the price of a new one, if the customers did not have a Maintainence agreement. He restored them and gave or sold cheap to those in need, usually just to recoup what he spent on parts.
The main wear itmes were the cluthces, pumps, mix valves, motors, spin tube bearings, timers, and wig wag solenoids. I recall the bearings being of a brass slotted oil-lite type. He'd repack them with ricon red grease. He had a bench grinder with a wire and buffing wheel made from a disused Whirlpool washer motor, and an opened up Whirly trans. next to it most of the time being worked on. Old parts galore from scraped machines also.
I told him once I graduated high school, that I'd work with him if he wanted to strike out on his own, but my mom was not for it. While Sears did not provide denatl, nor optical insurance, his work attire was launderd for him, abd he did not have to use the family vehicle to commute in.
All 5 of us siblings had congenital eye muscle issues, so much was spent on glasses, and doctor visits. Dad made enough on the side to offset it, and my mom remained a stay at home parent. The profit sharing then was also excellent. "The good ole' days!"
I used to watch and help my dad overhaul washers when I was a teen. He worked for Sears, so most were Kenmore's which were set on peoples curbs. Often they were condemned machines because the repair cost superceded the price of a new one, if the customers did not have a Maintainence agreement. He restored them and gave or sold cheap to those in need, usually just to recoup what he spent on parts.
The main wear itmes were the cluthces, pumps, mix valves, motors, spin tube bearings, timers, and wig wag solenoids. I recall the bearings being of a brass slotted oil-lite type. He'd repack them with ricon red grease. He had a bench grinder with a wire and buffing wheel made from a disused Whirlpool washer motor, and an opened up Whirly trans. next to it most of the time being worked on. Old parts galore from scraped machines also.
I told him once I graduated high school, that I'd work with him if he wanted to strike out on his own, but my mom was not for it. While Sears did not provide denatl, nor optical insurance, his work attire was launderd for him, abd he did not have to use the family vehicle to commute in.
All 5 of us siblings had congenital eye muscle issues, so much was spent on glasses, and doctor visits. Dad made enough on the side to offset it, and my mom remained a stay at home parent. The profit sharing then was also excellent. "The good ole' days!"
