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Thanks Dick for taking the time to share that video with us. You just have to love the drama of that water filter! Beautiful machine.
 
Replacement?

Dick,
Listening to the machine on my computer speakers, I hear the ubiquitous whine of the newer drive system Kenmore/Whirlpool used from 63/64 on. Is it possible that somewhere in this machine's history it had the transmission swapped? Could that have anything to do with the machine's behavior? I was never sure of the exact date of the tranny change, but I know when the drain hose port moved from the bottom of the cabinet to the the top the sound of Kenmore and Whirlpool changed and the oscillation of the agitator became slightly faster.
Kelly
 
Replacement

Hi Kelly, When I was first working underneath the machine putting on another pump, a quick "once over" made me think everything was original. But your post posed a very good question so I went out this evening to look at it closer and take a pic and it appears from the date stamp that everything is as it was when it was manufactured back in 58. Well, at least it was until I took off the frozen pot metal pump that weighs a ton and replaced it with a much lighter plastic one. And the copper color on the motor casing is stunning! ((--::

I have to agree with you that this machine along with the 53 Kenmore has agitator oscillations comparable to the Whirlpools which I have always considered just a bit fast than Kenmore.

I'm going to put on suspension support braces and check out the suspension rods as the tub lists to the back right of the machine.

I have already played way too long with the snubber adjustment and front and rear legs adjustment until I'm blue in the face. I will get this vibration prob. narrowed down tho'.

Thanks so much for questioning that and it is so good to hear from you.
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agiflow-Yes, I do not like a lot of suds but these old Kenmores seem to kick them up with Tide. My big tub BD Kenmore doesn't do that. I wished Sears had never stopped making that non-sudsing detergent they made back in the 60's and 70's. It cleaned like hell, had a faint lemon odor and rinsed great.
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Rick- I thank you a million for all your advice and am emailing you this evening.
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Patrick-We will talk sometime this week

And a warm thank you to all members who posted such nice comments. You are all a great group. ((--::

Dick

2-7-2007-21-09-56--Dick_S..jpg
 
Dick that 58 KM sounds about like my 56 KM. I just love it!! I just went down the basement and put the 56KM and the 56WP on the suds return setting on the timer. So both machines were on agitate without any water in the tubs. The 56WP is slightly faster than the 56KM. Both these machines agitate faster yet, than my 65 KM. All three of these machines have their original transmitions.

By the way, of the three WP built machines I have(2KM&1WP) none sound exactly alike. They each have their own unique personality. The fifties machines are the most fun to hear running. WP figured out a way to quiet down the wig wag sound by the mid 1960's.
 
RE: Kenmore suspension

"....I've got one issue left to face and that is excessive vibration in spin cycle. I've already worked on the snubber and self adjusting legs at length so now all that I can see that is left is to work on the suspension rods. The tub seems to list a bit to the rear right. I've never had this problem in any Kenmore (the 60, 53 and the 56 are steady as a rock in spin). I've only heard of one instance were Sears replaced the entire guts including the suspension rods on a friend's Kenmore and the machine still got up and walked. I'm not ruling out this possibility on the 58 but am hoping not...."

If the tub is listing, it is a sure indication that you need to replace the rubber suspension balls that are located at the end of each [suspension] rod. This will tighten up the suspension and eliminate many annoying problems with these machines.
 
RE: Kenmore suspension

Thanks for your input Spinout. Yes, replacing the suspension balls will be a task for one of these Saturday mornings when it warms up a bit. In the meantime, the other old Kenmores in the washroom are taking a rest, watching the newest addition run thru load after load! ((--::

It was so much fun the other day watching it turn out snowy white vintage 50s percale cotton sheets and pillowcases that had never been used and had turned brown from being stored away. What a treat for me.

Dick_S.
 

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