1986 Kenmore 60 Series DD--Refurb Project

[ddfan92]

So I've been working on my 4th spare machine that has sat for over a year in storage, starting yesterday from the time of writing this.

The good news is that it still ran when I tested it. The bad news is that after having taken it apart, it will now need two parts definitively replaced, due to probably age and maybe sitting unused through the winter. I'm not even going to mess with the tubs lest I should damage the seals. Last it was used it worked perfectly without a hitch, which as you will see from the pics below, is amazing that it still did work. It will most certainly need a new motor coupler, that is without question, haha. Then the pump was rusted on the shaft of the motor, so it would not come off even with brute force or penentrating it with WD-40 So instead, I had to remove it using the "theapplianceman" method, by cutting out the front of the pump and the impeller so that it would eventually come off the motor. Was a sad decision to have to make, but such is.

Ordered the new parts as are mentioned above and should have them by this weekend.

 

[ddfan92]

Then,

On to the main reason for pulling the machine apart:

I wanted to check the oil in the transmission. It always would sound like it was low on oil, if that makes sense, and if anyone even knows what that sounds like. Well, upon doing so, (I should have gotten pics) the oil level was actually fine, but it didn't really seem like it was factory OEM oil, it would fizz up when you move the parts, and I don't know if that's supposed to happen or not. In any case, that kind of makes me think that maybe at one point somebody did a refurbishment on the transmission, put new oil in, and put a new neutral drain kit in, because the neutral drain works flawlessly on this machine. Even after sitting a year or more not being ran, it only takes a few strokes of low speed agitation to fully reset it and hold without slipping into spin.

So with all that being said, I actually went and bought a quart of new oil to put in this machine, and maybe hopefully with it being 90 weight gear oil, it might help the sound a little better. I feel like whatever was put in there before was probably some real thin stuff, and maybe that's why it had no trouble staying in neutral drain. I took the parts out and let them soak in kerosene to clean the old oil off them

 

[ddfan92]

Also,

That clutch will need cleaning from all the oil that splashed up onto it somehow. There's oil that has been flung around the bottom of the machine which may have been one of the reasons why the transmission was likely refurbished.

 

[ddfan92]

Center-dial Kenmore DD

Slung oil:

 

[combo52]

1986 Direct Dr. washer

This was a good era for this machine, from your pictures. It’s very unlikely anybody ever did anything to this washer certainly didn’t change the oil that’s what the oil looks like in machines of that vintage

It’s very common for the pump to get rusted onto the motor shaft when there’s a slight leak at the pump, seal, be sure to file the motor shaft completely smooth so that the new pump slips on and off easily if you have to force the pump on the motor shaft, it will ruin the seal and the new water pump quickly.

You need to replace the two top oil seals in the transmission that’s where the oil is leaking into the clutch and being flung into the cabinet from.

There were a few problems with the neutral drain system on these early, direct drive transmissions with this feature, it wasn’t until much later that they started to have trouble with the neutral dream pack. so it does not surprise me that it works perfectly.

John.

 

[maytag85]

That reminds me, rebuilt the transmission in my Whirlpool in the spring of 2021. Haven’t had a single issue in 2 years since the rebuild.

Not sure why the oil foams up when you manually move the parts inside the transmission, my guess is the anti-foaming additives inside the oil are beginning to break down after 37 years along with the other additives inside the oil. With a belt drive transmission, I don’t think the oil has a chance of really foaming up since everything tends to move at a slower pace then the direct drives with the quick and short 90 degree agitation strokes as opposed with the 145 degree agitation arc in the older belt drive transmissions.

 

[ddfan92]

Well,

I was able to clean the rest of the gear parts off and dry them. Now to assemble them back together. Cleaned the clutch up as well, much better. This one has notches cut on opposite sides of the clutch drum edges. Not sure why they did that, but maybe it was a feat. of that era. The clutch lining also has the six pads that are RED which is interesting.

 

[ddfan92]

Top seals

DADeOS, I'll look into getting new seals, thanks for the info. If they really never did anything to the transmission, then it actually stayed in really good shape for it's age. I made sure to fix the motor shaft with a file and a piece of Emery cloth. Sean, I think you're probably right on the oil. If it is foaming from parts moving at the faster pace they do in the DDs, probably best to change it so it doesn't eventually become a problem down the road.

 

[ddfan92]

My mistake haha

John, I'm terribly sorry haha. Had you confused with DADeOS there for a minute because he recently commented on one of my old posts. BTW, there's two seals in the top of transmission?

 

[ddfan92]

Update--09/27/2023

New pump and couplers came in the other day. Bought a 5 pack of non-metal reinforced couplers for about 14 bucks on ebay, and then immediately was permanently banned from using ebay for no reason at all, and they wouldn't tell me why on the phone.

Put the pump on today, and the other day, I went ahead and put a new coupler on the motor and transmission so it'd be ready to go. I'll keep the old coupler because the fingers for it are both still good.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #9

It’s a real bummer that eBay decided to ban you for no reason. I believe Amazon may have some parts you may need on there for your direct drives.

 

[ddfan92]

Yeah and from what I've read, they've done that to some other users who have been using fleabay for 20 years or more for no reason whatsoever. Shame that it's come to that now. They claim that it's because they feel for whatever reason that the user may be threatening to the community, even though they haven't done anything conducive to being a threat. Likewise with myself.

Oh well, who needs them, I got my parts I ordered so no real harm done. The transmission seal I had just ordered the other day from Amazon, and it says it'll be here next Monday or so.

 

[maytag85]

Reply #11

I thought about ordering a seal for the transmission I rebuilt 2 years ago out of my ‘63 Whirlpool but decided to just use Permatex gasket maker and so far, no oil leaks on the 2 years since I’ve done the rebuilt. On the other transmission I have, might just pack it with corn head grease since it basically turns into a heavy gear oil when mixed around but returns back into a grease once it settles. Packed the oscillation box on the 1950’s GE Vortalex fan I have with corn head grease and so far haven’t had a single issue with it.

 

[ddfan92]

Permatex

Can't imagine how that would work on a seal that sits around a moving part? But again, I'm not one to talk. Only thing I knew how to do was break it when I tried getting the old one out, so it's rather beyond repair now.

 

[DADoES]

 
Reply 12 may be referring to the cover perimeter seal on his '63 WP transmission, not a shaft seal.

 

[maytag85]

DDFan92

If you have any more questions about my ‘63 Whirlpool, you can just send me an email. Just don’t want to create anymore confusion or get off topic on this thread about the rebuild of your Kenmore 60 Series direct drive washer.

 

[swedesapplserv]

I have made the mistake of attempting to use the "pickle fork" method of levering off seized pumps and wound up crushing the bearing caps on the motor.

 

[ddfan92]

Letz go!

New transmission seal in!

 

[ddfan92]

Finally after forever!

She's reassembled and ready to......sit for another day 'til the new gasket dries....*sigh*