1978 Kenmore Tragedy...

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harleybadger

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Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
15
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Folks, Spatsbear and I had an unfortunate event...

We had a load of towels in the '78 Kenmore 70-Series, and during spin, the mounting surface at the bottom of the basket gave in to (what we thought was minor) rust. Suddenly, bang-bang-bang as the basket became detached and started slamming against the outer tub.

Oh crap.

Anyone know where we can find a replacement basket for a 110.72870110? Of course Sears parts direct shows it as no longer available. Nowhere else in the realm of Google has any hope.

It took us long enough to get this washer, then weeks of TLC to get it perfect, and now it's sad and broken.
 
Oh no!

So sorry to hear that!
I hope you can get it back up and running.
Maybe a silly question, but have you checked with Eugene?

Barry
 
On a side note:

It's things like this that make me question whether or not I should even consider buying a vintage machine.
Especially since I don't know how to work on them myself.

Barry
 
Hey Harley

I’m bummed out to hear about it. There was some rust in the center of the tub but it felt super solid. Anyway, I do have a spin basket, but I’m not sure if will fit your Machine. I believe it’s a standard capacity tub. Send me the rough measurements and I’ll see if they will work.
 
I dont know if its the same

But I have a 1986 Kenmore 70, Needs a timer but very nice, if you want it for a parts machine all you have to do is come get it,
 
That stinks:

The machine was working so well. I have been following it since Eugene first started working on it. Have you reached out to John LeFever Combo52? He seems to have parts for everything. Gordon Kenmoreguy64 may have one as well.
The 1986 Kenmore you have been so generously offered will not fix the problem. While many parts can be interchanged the Large Capacity WP/KM platform was revised in 1980 and this machine would have the 21 gallon tub and you need a 26 gallon.
Good luck in finding the part. Best bet would be a white 2 layer porcelain tub from a 1979 or older Lady Kenmore these were the best 26 gallon tubs.
WK78
 
Replacement Tub For A BD 1978 KM

These are around, I may have one or I am sure Gordon Kenmore 64 would have one.

 

When you get around to replacing the broken tub check the transmission to be sure that all three transmission braces are in place and tight, if they are missing or loose it will cause the basket to break, and several other serious problems as well.

 

John L.
 
sorry to hear

I have a 1978 Kenmore washer identical to yours and makes me wonder if I shouldn't use mine very much, Its been a good washer so far I want to inspect both tubs but I cannot take off my agitator its stuck on . Your best bet is to get a donor washer if I come across one I will let you know best of luck keep me updated I'm curious to see how you fix it so I know for mine if it breaks .
 
OMG y'all are all great! Thank you so much for the offers! Eugene: No worries, we have put a hundred-thousand miles on it since! Spats is gonna measure it tonight.

Again, thank you all, it's so nice to be in a modern online community with nice people.
 
Harley, just saw your video. Hate it that this happened!  It is interesting because I have just about the exact same washer. It was a gift from a family friend, to my sister. She passed away and I stored it from her home. Years passed, and I ended up moving out of mom and dad's house and buying a place of my own. Just before I bought a new washer, I remembered this one and brought it to my workshop. The tub its self had rust holes in it, as well as rust around the drain fitting. I could not remove the agitator, and ended up fabricating some spectacularly Rube-Goldberg-esque pullers to get it off...... in pieces and chunks. :(

I was able to get the basket out and repair the floor of the tub. I sanded it down with some diamond point grinding wheels, to rough up the porcelain. Then, I layered it with Permatex Right Stuff liquid rubber gasket maker. Also used this to seal the rubber drain fitting.

 

On one of my road trips, I found a derelict washer and salvaged an agitator from it to get mine going.

I have been running it for 4 years now without any issues at all!

 

I don't remember seeing any rust in the bottom of the basket around the center hub area. Hopefully that isn't going to bite me down the road!

 

kafooty06 as said above, I had the same problem and ended up destroying the agitator. I had a puller which gripped the fins at the bottom and pressed down on the shaft via a threaded rod. It put so much pressure on it that the fins sheared off. After the agitator broke up, I had to cut the stub in half lengthwise with a grinder to get that off the transmission shaft! It was awful!
 
I was watching a video from LORIANFURNATURE and the guy was restoring a 1978 kenmore washer like the one we all have in this thread.The guy used some type of pressure bags to pop off the agitator I just might buy some
 

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