'63 Lady K rides again!

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roto204

roto204

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After EXTENSIVE scraping of silicone and lots of epoxy and lovin', the '63 Lady Kenmore rides again. Repairs were made to the check valve that had broken in half along the mold seam (and then made again, when it broke after the first attempted repair), and then I had to "build" a new hose when the hose from the filter to the check-valve ripped (ARGH).

A new 15W light bulb for the tub, and repairs to the heat shield, and we're up and Kenmoring!

I *LOVE* the Super Roto Swirl, even though I thought the Vari-Flex on the '70 was nifty and did a good job. This agitator whips denim into shape!

A huge THANK YOU to Steven (wigwag) for this wonderful machine! Its mate has been drying clothes perfectly for a few weeks now :-D, and now the two can be, well, "So Happy Together..."

4-10-2007-21-04-43--roto204.jpg
 
Lil' old ladies

Steven said that the little old lady had a Sears service contract on this machine.

With the exception of a few hoses and the check valve, water valve, and cabinet/control panel (and agitator), everything is brand new, including the...

- base
- centerpost
- doughnut seal
- inner basket
- outer tub
- spin tube
- transmission
- motor
- belt

WOWZERS!

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Boogers

The only booger is the dispenser unit--it's crumbling from within. We cleaned the dispenser tank and solenoids, so they're fine--but the white part is crumbly and the posts for the screws that hold it together are turning to dust.

I'll have to keep an eye peeled for one of those.

That notwithstanding, I'm very much looking forward to having this as the daily-driver...I guess the 1-18 will have to go chill in the shed, which will be okay, because I still need to put the new water valve and old fill hoses back into that :-P
 
It's beautiful, Nate! I'd grown up with a 1960 Kenmore and completely lost interest in them before seeing all the great Kenmores/Whirlpools you guys have resurrected. They made fantastic sounds and really rolled a load over well.
 
Fantastic that the turquoise Lady is back in service again! When I was there, I did see that it was in excellent mechanical condition so I knew you'd have it washing in no time. I love that huge lamp on the console...I bet it's one hell of a nightlight!

Beautiful, just beautiful!
 
Nate it is just beautiful!!!!!!! I am so glad that you decided to get this beauty and keep the set together as they should be. (Do I feel a slap coming??)
 
Hi Nate. Congratulations on a beautiful machine. I love turquoise...it is such a soothing color. This Lady K makes up for the evil Kenmore which is probably reincarnated as a Toyota or a Whirltag.

Ross
 
I didn't know they used tublights into the 60s. -- Me either! Of course, this is my first tub-light machine. The only glow that came out of the tub of the '61 was the shimmer of pure evil.

I'd grown up with a 1960 Kenmore and completely lost interest in them before seeing all the great Kenmores/Whirlpools you guys have resurrected. They made fantastic sounds and really rolled a load over well. -- They ARE great!! I was amazed at how the different agitators really transform the wash action...

...and the suds-locking :-|

I love that huge lamp on the console...I bet it's one hell of a nightlight! -- LOL It is! For the first few days that we had the avocado set, Frank and Will kept wondering what light was coming from the laundry room (if everyone went to bed and the machines were going). At least this model has a simple, 15W tube, rather than the unusual 28" tube on the '70 set that I had to hunt around for.

I am so glad that you decided to get this beauty and keep the set together as they should be. (Do I feel a slap coming??) -- LOL No, Terry, but there were times (especially when I reinstalled the check-valve and it broke after the first epoxying) when I thought about shipping it right over to you :-) I'm glad you did encourage me to keep them together in the end, though. I'm thrilled with the way that both of these machines perform.

Do you have any pictures of the matching dryer? I would love to see it close up! -- Sure, when I get the washer installed next to the dryer, I'll document both better :-)

That's really cool! That was one amazing lady under the skirt, you'll have fun with this set for a long, long time! -- Well, Greg, you do know how I abhor ladies who are oily, leaky and noisy. This was a refreshing change :-D

Congratulations on a beautiful machine. I love turquoise...it is such a soothing color. This Lady K makes up for the evil Kenmore which is probably reincarnated as a Toyota or a Whirltag. -- The turquoise has grown on Will, who likes it now (at least as a laundry-equipment color). And yes, this is a nice change of pace from what I've experienced in the past in terms of Kenmore repair...
 
Does the control dial light up as well? I remember seeing some models from 63, 64 that did. Is yours just burned out?
 
HA!!

A man after my own heart. I wondered the same thing. On investigating, I found no lights behind the timer. Go figure!

I think I might add one later on just for sport. You'd think there would be lights there, wouldn't you?

:-|
 

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