Mark -
So glad you got this. I guess I spurred two menbers in one weekend to grab a machine off Craigslist, almost like a washer pusher, lol.
Let's see, in no sort of order, here's what I can tell you:
1) Its a 1975 model. After 1973, the model numbers read differently than they did 1973 and earlier. To the right of the decimal, the first digit is the decade. So, 1970s. Second digit is the application: 1= 24-inch standard, 2= 29-inch standard, 3= 29-inch suds, 4= compact, and 5= 24-inch suds. Thus your machine is a 29-inch suds model, which we already knew. The 5 is the year digit. The 701 is the series, and the 00 is the engineering revision. There were very few 1975 models (like four or so only) and most didn't get any revisions before the 76s came out.
2) The soak selector works as follows: select soak only and the machine will stop after the drain and spin after the pre-wash segment. Select Soak and wash, and the machine will continue on into the Normal cycle.
3) Do you need just a knob for the temp, or the whole switch? I have boo-coos of knobs, one can have your name on it, just ask. If a switch, the same replacement switch works in machines all the way back to 1960 or so. I can dig up the part number if you need it, but if you'd like used, there are lots out there, I probably have one of those as well.
4) The self-cleaning filter is the tub-mounted variety, probably the best overall of the SC filters on Kenmores. Maybe John knows better but these seemed very effective and not all that troublesome. They needed a minimum of plumbing as well as compared to others.
5) That fixture in the left upper corner is for the powdered detergent dispenser. They are almost never included with a machine.
6) Tread lightly around the bleach and softener bezel - they can be brittle and then don't secure themselves once the snap clips fail.
7) These big tubs fit in the machine just as you said, they deepened the tub and thus the suspension rods, and dropped the entire baseplate and everything under it closer to the floor. BUT, they also made the tub wider. If you look at the cabinet, there are some half-moon shaped indentations in the front and sides of the cabinet to allow the tub to fit into the cabinet.
8) A Dual-Action agitator will fit with no issue in your machine. Sears tried to sell them in their catalogs for a number of years in fact for retrofit. Just make sure you have one with the large capacity auger. The standard version uses the same base agitator but a shorter auger. There is little to no chance you'd find a standard version (quite uncommon), but you never know.
Cool machine Mark - I never saw one of these in a suds model, but that's the midwest for you. Your machine may tie one of mine for the nastiest Kenmore of the week prize. Mine I rescued from a filthy installation in 2010. I wrote a whole thread about how disgusting it was. People actually expect these machines to clean for them? Really? Try keeping it clean then!!
Can't wait to see how you come to like this machine. Congratulations to you AND the machine, I think it landed softly in new digs.
Gordon[this post was last edited: 4/8/2014-00:19]
