1994 GE Filter Flo has it's first breakdown

[lbcarguy]

My new laundry room is shaping up and I have had my 3 sets of machines set up and hooked up for the last few weeks (see my profile for details).

Last Friday, I encountered horror of horrors when my newest washer started spilling water all over my new floor. Thanks to Jimmy in Ohio, he steered me in the right direction. At first we thought it might be the tub seal. I removed the agitator, and then inner basket. I removed the tub seal and it was OK. I then checked the outer tub and saw a good sized pinhole. I continued checking and touched some other crusty spots and there were several other pin holes and one 1/2" hole that popped open when I feather lightly touched it. I am amazed that rust spot held with a full load of water in the tub.

The machine sat for over 3 months this summer while my laundry room was built so that may have hastened some of the rust activity, though I hear this is pretty common on these machines after 7 years and I am pushing onto 11.

I mixed up some JB Weld and pached the holes. After 24 hours of cure time, I painted the outer tub with POR 15 (paint over rust) to seal it all up. After another 24 hours, I reinstalled the tub seal and filled the machine high enough to check for leaks. Was all a OK so I put it back together.

My last of the Filter Flo's should be good for another 3 or 4 years I hope till another hole eats through. I am sure any repair person would have recommended to junk the machine, being 11 years old. Nothing in my opinion made today is as good as these were, so I intend to keep patching as long as possible.

Just wanted to share my latest appliance exploit.

Happy washing.

MK in LBC

 

[westytoploader]

That's great to hear that the V14s, LKs, and the '94 GEs are hooked up in your new laundry room, and that you fixed the washer's problem. Another member posted about some pinholes in a Filter-Flo's tub as well. Seems common; when I end up buying an older GE I'll have to open it up and check for rust (not to worry; I have the repair manual from 1990).

As far as your profile, I agree completely that GE washers pretty much went to hell when they were redesigned. We bought one of the "new" GE's in 1996, and it lasted an entire two years; it would've been worth it to replace the old 1986 White-Westy TL's timer and to have the top repainted before even thinking about buying that worthless piece of crap...we might even have the Westy today. That was a great washer, one of the last with a metal tub and recirculating filter (old 70's Westinghouse design BEFORE they switched to plastic tub). Hang on to it, that Filter-Flo will become collectible someday...

 

[kenmore1978]

GE outer tub rustthrough

Wow, rustthrough on a 1994 machine? Despite all the problems I've had with my '78 LK, outer tub rust hasn't been one of them, though, to be honest, it is starting to rust from the top edge, but nothing lower down.

I imagine it would really cost you, but maybe the outer tub is available as a new part?

So did you ever find the ice cube tray for the GE refrigerator?

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Jaune,

What is the status of your '78 LK as far as repairs are concerned? Is it running again, or are you still using the portable?

--Austin

 

[fixerman]

Rust through on a GE is really quite common. Probably due to the thin metal and and porcelain used on the later model filter flows. In addition to the perpensity to rust in the flat part of the outer tub, I have seen many rust through along the edge of the boot seal lip under the clamp. Moisture probably gets trapped between the seal and tub causing the rust. I think most of the GE outer tubs are the same for the same capacity machine. Replacement of the outer tub with one from an older washer with thicker metal might be a solution. Also, I have used a product called "Slap Stix" on rusty tubs with success. It is usually used to repair outer tubs that have been scraped by the inner tub rubbing on it because of off balance loads or machine not being level. "Slap Stix" are strips of plastic with peal off backing that can be applied over rust holes. It can be cut to the size you need.

 

[kenmore1978]

78 LK

Still using the 72 LK portable, not working enough to afford the tools and parts to disassemble the 78 down to the core and replace the spin bearings. And actually, I'm still not sure if that's what's causing the problem,( bending of the plunger when braking) though I'm sure those bearings need replacing after all this time and use. Those reasons and the thought of having to tear it down to the roots AGAIN have not made me be in a big hurry to do the project. I've even thought of retiring them and going with a new or used FL set, but with the way things are financially with me now, that's not feasible. And I REFUSE to have a mis-matched set. I remember being disturbed by mis-matched sets even as a kid and, of course, replacing washer AND dryer would be even more expensive. On top of that, I insist on TOL stuff, so any replacement has to match the LK even features or more. My friends don't call me the "Power Princess" for nothing