58 Frigidaire dishwasher progess report

[turquoisedude]

Oh so close...
The weather in Ogden was kinda iffy this weekend, so when it wasn't raining, we tried to get some garden work done. But when it was raining, I got to tinker with the 'work in progress' dishwashers!
I really want to complete the 58 Frigidaire, so I started by putting the electrical components back into the machine. The timer assembly had been out of the machine since 2010 - I got it back in with no issues. The timer terminals are all very well-identified, so I was confident I was making the right connections.

 

[turquoisedude]

I somehow had the instinct to test the original water inlet valve a few weeks ago and found it was not working correctly. I swapped the original one with a more modern one - this one came from a 90s GE that had been removed from a rental property. It worked fine when I tested it, so I figured it would be fine.

 

[turquoisedude]

So, I tried to run the machine through a cycle test and it was 'water water everywhere'! The flow of water through the original fill flume and air gap was more that it could handle... I was able to control the flow of water at the faucet, but this is not the ideal solution. As it is I could never safely build this machine in, so I am going to have to find a different solenoid... Any suggestions??

 

[turquoisedude]

And now the good news...
I managed to run the dishwasher through three complete cycles (well, I shortened the dry cycles...) and it seemed to work just fine!
The cycle reminds me of the KitchenAid of this era - a purge and flush, main wash, two rinses and a dry cycle punctuated by two drain phases after the dishes had a chance to 'drip'. I do believe that the Frigidaire Imperial models had a second wash but I can't remember if they had a third rinse...
Anyway, my plans for next week will be to get the front panels painted - picture this in turquoise! Stay tuned...

 

[appnut]

do believe that the Frigidaire Imperial models had a second

Paul, your machine's cycle sequence was pretty much what the spintubes back then were.  The sequence you are referring to didn't happen until the next generation of spin tubes when the timer dial moved up to on the door panel and was a great big knob.  That was probably the 1960 series.  And oonly models with a "gated" detergent door had a 2nd wash.  (meaning timed-opened detergent door).  The basic models just had one grat big dimiple in the door where you put the detergent.  However, even the basic model still had the same cycle sequence as the higher-end models with 2 detergent washes.  purge/flush, wash, rinse rinse (which was a wash with 2nd detergent dispenser), and two final rinses and on into dry.  I believe these only had one pump out during the dry cycle.  Our 1959/1960 Waste King did the same thing during the dry cycle. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Voice over: "When we last looked in on the garage in Ogden, the water inlet solenoid on the 1958 Frigidaire dishwasher was still causing an overflow at the air gap..."
Ok, so this week's episode was still about solenoids... OY! I found a solenoid from another abandoned GE dishwasher (a portable this time) so I tried it. Too
much water. I tried swapping the solenoid from the 61 Whirlpool that did not seem to be letting enough water into that machine. Still too much water. I finally spent several hours taking the original Frigidaire solenoid apart to inspect it (managed to tear the diaphragm washer...GRRR!), got it back together, it leaked, and it still sent too much water into the air gap inlet... Hubby very wisely took me out to dinner at that point.
So, Sunday morning, I figured the best way to solve the inlet overflow problem was to...take out the original air gap!
Well, the son of a gun worked. Not pretty, not original, but by golly, it's water-tight!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, now I was ready to attack the real goal of the weekend - repainting the door and access panel.
Here's the before shot. Note the original white finish where the Frigidaire nameplate went. [this post was last edited: 6/6/2011-19:47]

 

[turquoisedude]

Sanded and primed! There was a bit of rust around the vent opening, so I had to do some heavy sanding and hence the decision to go with a primer.

 

[turquoisedude]

And here's the final result - transformed by turquoise!

 

[turquoisedude]

Finally! The racks are back in the dishwasher!

 

[turquoisedude]

And one of two things I had forgotten about this machine - I still have the original mesh detergent cup! Funny that just a few years later, the Deluxe Frigidaire dishwasher had a 'dimple' detergent cup in the door.

 

[turquoisedude]

And the second thing I forgot about this machine - a wiring diagram! Not the complete one with schematics, but enough to clearly show where the wires go. I was lucky enough to get the electrical components back together without it, though!
So, next step will be reassembly and there will, of course have to be a wash test. However, I may debut this machine in a couple of weeks, when a couple of AWO members will be visiting Ogden... Stay tuned!!

 

[revvinkevin]

 

 

YAY PAUL!!!!   

 

Another job well done!

 

Now where are the photos, all assembled with the new paint??

 

Kevin

 

[turquoisedude]

Coming soon! Hopefully this weekend, Kevin!!

 

[steved]

This help?

They made this model from 56 to 58

 

[steved]

Second part

the facts

 

[steved]

The best part

A complete wiring diagram

 

[turquoisedude]

Thank you, Steve! You are a wealth of information!

 

[mickeyd]

Dry cycles are so boring! How cool to have a machine that comes back to life with the excitement of the pump.

 

It's great to see a spintube Frigi. I'm sure you like it. I'd love one.

 

Can't imagine why you'd paint it turquoise

 

It'll be beautiful.

 

EDIT: Once I posted and the icon came to life, I remembered your story about the Westy tangling all of your nice long sleeved dress shirts.