'72 Lady K washer owner's manual

[kenmoreguy64]

All -

I've been working on revitalizing a 1972 Coppertone Lady K that I recently bailed from the crusher twice in two weeks. I have become very interested in this washer with all that I've invested, so I'm hoping someone out there has an owner's manual copy? The model number is 110.7204902. I would like to read Kenmore's suggestions on using the 14 cycle buttons, especially the 'custom care' feature, so I know how it is supposed to work. I'm curious what they say about the Vari-Flex agitator as well.

The machine was put through the mill before I got it - it sat outside for an unknown period, long enough for several inches of mud/dirt to accumulate in the tub and for four rust holes the size of a finger tip to develop in the outer tub. Two months ago the washer was taken to a used appliance store and immmediately dumped in front of their dumpster they were loading for the recycler. I rescued the washer moments before it was loaded. A week and a half later the machine was mistakenly taken from our warehouse at work where I had put it to a Charlotte recycling center and literally thrown out of a pickup truck onto a concrete pad.

Shockingly, the machine came through this better than one would expect. There is some porcelain damage to the corners of the top, but that's about it. The machine seems to have never been serviced or touched mechanically. I was shocked to find the trans bolts, the braces and even the pump bolts to be clean, oil free, and otherwise like new other than a light covering of belt dust. The pump was nearly locked up so I've given her a new one.

I have patched the tub with epoxy and sealer and will water test it this weekend. I've invested more time and energy into this machine than I ever figured I would, and I marvel at how quiet it is and how fun it should be to use. The white Vari-Flex looks and works like new (I think, I've never had one that worked before).

Anyway, I'll post some pictures when I get her cleaned up.

If anyone has an owner's manual or copy, I'd sure appreciate hearing from you!

 

[mickeyd]

I remember the story from last month, the irony being that a

through the ordeal unscathed.

The Custom care button will abort whatever agitation speed is programmed for the cycle you've selected, and coast down to a tortoise pace. Say you've got some favorite, trendy clothes that were soiled, and after a nice pre-wash and a few minutes of White Cottons& Linens, you decide you want a gentler touch. You need not change any cycle buttons or the main dial; simply press Custom Care.

If you extend the three slotted fins all the way to HI on the HI/LO Vari-Flex dial, the agitation is nothing short of spectacular.

Being able topre-select press 4 separate buttons, like Pre-wash.....Soak....... Cottons Colored......Extra Rinse for your work clothes, and coming back in an hour and a half to find them spotless is a blast. As is watching the stream of water "cement mix" the reserved detergent in the white dispenser. The noises the dispensers make, clicks, cracks, and bongs are a real delight.

And the agitated fill during cool-down is downright Frigidarian.

Of all the machines I've ever loved, this is one destined for heaven, and I'm so glad you brought her back to life. Isn't this also the very rarely seen on any LK Piano Key, a suds-saver model?

I sure hope you find the operator's manual. There is no more fun reading, than those, is there?

 

[mickeyd]

With humility, I admit to knowing the cycles by heart

and would be happy to tell you about any one of them. A few have intermittent agitation, and with Custom Care selected and the Flex vanes on absolute LO, you could almost wash an orchid ;'D

Later, Buddy.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hi Michael

You've got a good memory - this is indeed the washer of last month's story. THANK YOU for the eloquent run-down of the machine's basics. So the custom care doesn't change spin speeds? If so, that's good because it doesn't on mine I don't think. The machine is so quiet it's hard to hear it change speeds - it does in agitation but I can't tell that it changes in pump out or spin (I think this is the only Kenmore that I've ever worked on where its speed could be changed by a button).

Cross your fingers for me - if I'm lucky the machine will be washing laundry tomorrow or Sunday. I haven't washed anything in a week in anticipation. The tub holes explained why this machine was empty after a couple torrential rains and it's plastic top companion had several inches of water in it. I've taken several steps to patch the holes, but this is a tub I would have tossed back when they were still available as new replacements.

Speaking of bringing her back to life - I got some Tide Spring and Renewal just for the Lady - seemed too appropriate not to. If it works well, I'll move on to the Gain Joyful Expressions, lol.

I'll keep you posted.

Gordon

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Thank you once again Michael...

Michael you got me motivated. Last weekend I did most of the epoxy patching in Lady's tub, but I forgot one spot and it's been nagging on my mind all week. After I sent my reply above, I decided to go get it done so it will be largely dry tomorrow when I do the rest of the work.

While I was doing this (yeah, at 12:45 am) I decided to take a few pictures of Lady and her friends. The first two are Lady of course - you can see the porcelain damage. The rest of the machine is basically just dirty. I haven't let myself work on any of the fun stuff until I know it holds water. Another pic is of Lady's counterpart that went thru the ordeal with her of being dumped in the appliance heap.

The next two pics are of machines I've taken out of my storage and brought back to life since joining AW.org. I put similar tub patches in the MOL plastic top machine. The '75 model 70 is a machine that I acquired in pieces. For reasons I can't explain, I love that control panel style.

G

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Lady

#1

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Lady again

#2

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Lady's counterpart on the trip to the dump & back

1972 60-series that I call a "plastic top". Haven't been able to find anything wrong with it. I apologize for the glare.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Lady's patched tub

Cross your fingers and wish her luck....

 

[kenmoreguy64]

1979 Kenmore 500

I've had a blast with this machine. I had never used a straight vane agitator, and it had a waterfall filter. I love my 1986 Kenmore with DA that I've had since new, but this machine is a fun change of pace. Anything less than a full tub and it will splash water on the wall (or on me).

 

[mattl]

I "think" I have my old owners manual...

I think I have my owners manual here somewhere, I'd be glad to scan it and email it to you if you don't find a hard copy. I also have the matching dryer manual too. I can't say how timely I might be, haven't been feeling the greatest lately.

Let me know If you like a scanned copy...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

One last pic - the 1975 seventy series

This is the first machine that I ever worked on with the skinny quiet-pak belt. I got it as a shell - no trans, no pump, and no control panel, in 1996. I tucked it away but never forgot about it. About a month ago I accumulated what I needed to reassemble it, and and this is the result. The control panel was given to me by my mentor buddy in 1992 or so when he found it at the city dump.

I had to buy two pulleys from Sears (the only outfit that had them). The drive pulley was $39.99, oddly, when I bought a mish-mash of parts from someone the other day on ebay, there was another drive pulley in the box that they found while packing my order, and they included it free.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

A scanned copy

Matt -

A scanned copy would be great. I am not picky at all. As you can see my Lady K should be grateful for whatever I can get!

Thanks very much.

 

[tbolt25]

those are nice washing machines

Those are really nice washing machines-the belt drive Whirlpool-Kenmores are my favorites(next favorites are the older style GE's and Hotpoints). These washers are making my 1978 BD Whirlpool Supreme LFA 5800 jealous!

 

[70series]

You have a beautiful Lady K. I've seen only two of those in person, in white, and gold or avacado. Good luck in getting her back in top form.

Thanks for sharing your collection photos again. So many of your washers are either match or are at least very similar to laundry appliances my relatives have had.

That 1979 500 model is cool. I always loved those control panels, probably because it was a change from the black paneled center dial models offered at that time. I liked the black paneled models too, but since this style of console was rarer, I appreciated it more. Was this 500 model a standard capacity version? I notice it only has three water levels, but sometimes that is misleading. If it is standard cap, that makes it more special. Another feature I thought was cool was that it lacked the lid instructions and was white on the underside of the lid. While I love and appreciate the TOL Kenmores of yester year, my favorites are the more basic models. Any model with waterfall action and multiple load size options will always be my favorite.

Have a good one,
James

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The 500

James -

I am right there with you on the rarer machines. I have always been fascinated with the more simple machines and even the BOL stuff. That's why I've had so much fun with Lady I think because she is so different from what I usually go for.

The 500 has been really fun. This machine was pictured in my storage trailer back in March when I posted that round of photos (it had a roto-flex agitator on its lid) and was the second machine to make it out of storage. It is a standard capacity. The machine lacks the lid instructions and has a white lid because the whole top of the machine is merely painted vs. having been covered in porcelain (which would have been much better). That was a price-point / selling feature for Sears until they came up with the Dyna-Guard coating three or four years later. The painted tops tend to rust, but this machine had seen light use when I put it into storage so I was able to retain the original top and lid. They aren't perfect though - the agitator is really splashy so I don't use that machine for less than full loads. Maybe I'm not a particularly demanding consumer, but this machine has all I really need. I have enjoyed the waterfall filter, though it's splashing sounds have more than once tricked me momentarily into thinking the machine was dumping water onto the floor.

Still in storage is a 1980 200 series machine that I'm looking forward to digging into finally - it's really BOL - not even a water level adjustment, but similar panel to the 500.

We'll know more on Lady later today.

 

[mickeyd]

HI Gordon, your question: "So the Custom Care doesn&#39

brought a big smile. Can the slow spin speed on a vintage KM get any slower
Any slower and it would surely be drip dry. One advantage to the KM's notoriously slow spin speed is that water-heavy garments line-dry very smoothly because the extra water acts like weights. In fact, later, faster KM's offered the Hang Dry option for that very reason.

Your 75-70 is a real beauty; and broken record that I am, look at the lovely Suds-saver switch.

Maybe someday, we could trade Lady K's for a few seasons or a year; your bronze for my Aqua.

 

[mattl]

Scans...

I have scans but they are too large to post here. If anyone would like a copy contact me. Zipped they are about 8M.

Robert, I'd be glad to add them to the manuals section, but I don't know how. I've got them in JPG format for ease of use but could rescan and get it into a pdf format, if I can figure out how -- I use Foxit, I won't let Adobe near my computer.

 

[stainfighter]

72 Lady

I've only used one once back in the mid-80s. Avocado IIRC...anyway, this machine knows you want to restore her to her former glory. For this Lady to have survived so much near-death abuse is nothing short of amazing.
My parents had a MOL 70s but I do remember the plastic top series well.
Congrats for saving another beauty, Gordon!!!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Making progress -

Lady is making progress. I've been out of town for a week so was therefore unable to do any work on the machine, however I spent some time with it today with interesting results.

I'm still shocked at how quiet the machine is overall - I filled it with water and let it agitate on the most vigorous Vari-Flex setting and high-speed - basically all I heard was the water sloshing around and a hum from the motor.

Filling the machine revealed two pesky leaks - one from the valve that sends water to the detergent dispenser and one from the dispenser itself. Out of a very odd twist of luck, I had a valve that I bought by mistake on ebay about six weeks ago. It's now ready to go into the machine. The leak from the detergent dispenser appears to be from a freeze crack in the dispenser body. I'm going to try to seal that, however if anyone has one of these and wants to sell it, please let me know.

Hopefully next week I'll have some action photos to share of Lady's first post-resto wash.

Thanks all!

 

[70series]

Glad to hear she is making progress. Although I have never heard a 72 Lady run, I have heard how they are often quieter than washers down the line. Yours must have the skinny belt, which as I understand, is responsible for the quietness.

Your Lady is a beaut. I am looking forward to the photos.

Good Luck,
James

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Belt...

James,

Yes, Lady does have the skinny belt. This is only the second machine I've ever worked on that does have the skinny belt. I am not sure why I never saw one before this year, but it makes a world of difference in the sound coming from the machime. The other machine that has it is the '75 70 series that I pictured above.

I think one or two of the 80 or 800 series machines from Lady's era had the skinny belt too, but I'd have to consult a catalog or a schematic to be sure.

I was talking with my mother last weekend about this machine - she and my dad have taken a little bit more interest in the machines I work on now vs. the last time when I did so many in the 90s. Mom said "I noticed a neighbor's machine just humming quietly like that and wondered why mine didn't, but it was otherwise so similar, maybe it had that belt?" I was a little surprised. We both then wondered why WP bothered to make both set-ups. They could have just as easily put the narrow belt pulleys on all the machines (I doubt the manufacturing cost was any different) and saved the dual inventories. Maybe this was discussed here before, I'm not sure, but from what I'm told the skinny belt doesn't wear out very often (Lady's is original and looks fine), so it could have been a marketing point - "whisper quiet design, with a lifetime belt".

 

[kenmoreguy64]

A minor update:

I have installed the new flow control valve for the detergent dispenser, and this has solved the main leak. This is the part that I bought by mistake on ebay...must have been meant to be as I bought it before I had the machine! It had been sitting in the bag unused since 1985.

I have a new triple dispenser on the way to me as I was not successful in fixing the crack with sealant. I'm hoping this will arrive this Friday. Correcting the main leak revealed a smaller one that I had not originally noticed, coming from the bleach dispenser hose. I found one of those still in stock at a parts house, so that is on it's way to me also.

I am crossing my fingers that this weekend or early next week I'll have the leaks fixed and Lady all the way up and running.

 

[70series]

I am happy to hear you are receiving all the parts necessary to fix those leaks. It is good news that she will be up and running by next week. I look forward to photos of her. One of the dispenser in action would be perfect.

Good Luck,
James

 

[chaskelljr2]

1972 Lady Kenmore Washer (in Coppertone).....

"KenmoreGuy64":

Thanks for the update(s). I am glad that the rennovation of the Lady has gone so well for you, and that she will be up and running before you know it.

Are you also going to address that prominent dent that is in the front of the cabinet???? Or will you consider that a character mark for distinguishing that this is your machine???

I am looking forward to pictures as well.

Or if possible, could you have a friend of acquaintance over to assist you to shoot and post a video in You Tube??? I want to see the whole thing.... from loading it up, to you actually operating the machine, all the way to hearing this baby run.

Again....... congrats on rennovating the 1972 Lady Kenmore. You got yourself quite a masterpiece on hand. She was even a masterpiece back in 1972-73 when she was offered as a brand new machine.

--Charles--

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The dent

Charles -

The dent on Lady has been addressed, sort of....

Some of what you see on the front, toward the bottom is black dirt from where she was sitting outside in the rain and mud splashed up. I won't let myself do the fun stuff of cleaning her up until all is working properly. Some of the rest is where she traded paint with the white machine on the trip to the landfill. There is/was a real dent there though, and my solution to that happened when the machine was laying on it's front while I removed the transmission, etc. for inspection & cleaning, I stood in the cabinet on top of the dent and most of it popped back out!

Such technical savy, I know!

Close examination shows a lot of scars on this machine from when it was thrown to the pavement at the dump. From what I can gather, the machine landed top first, on the right front corner, and on the front corner of the lid. The top is compressed in somewhat which I'll never be able to fix without a body shop, and the lid is dimpled in at the corner. This drop bent the lid somewhat (which I also corrected by standing in it!), it put some scuff marks on the chrome panel top, and it compressed the whole top down about 2/3 of an inch and popped off a great deal of porcelain in the lid hinge areas and where the control panel pushed in on the edges. The lid hinges themselves were twisted like pretzels and the lid ripped completely from the machine. I found it under a dishwasher a couple yards from the machine. The drop shattered the flourescent bulb and the "barn door" was hanging loose. I was thrilled to be able to simply snap it back in place.

Magically, I found five new bottles of touch-up paint, two in the light shade and three dark. The match is so perfect on the dark porcelain blemishes that in some cases if I didn't point out where they are, most lay-people would never notice.

I hate that all this damage and abuse happened to the machine, I blame myself, but to be honest, I learned from it, and I appreciate this machine a lot more the second time around. If I ever was to find a replacement coppertone top from another machine, I may replace it, but all the battle scars give it character now, at least to me.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

whoops

Charles -

I hit the 'post' button too soon above, without addressing your video request. I consider myself having been asked to post a video, and I would like to do that. I have a camera with video capabilities, but it's lousy. I have a few other options, so I will see what I can do. I have a few other machines I should film as well.

I will be honest - the washer is so quiet that the video may not pick up much other than water flow and the various solenoids clicking. With it installed next to a wall, there will be some more noise, but I don't know how much. It is a bit louder in 'custom care' speed (motor hum).

I recently told a kind soul from this site that one could hear a mouse fart in my garage when this machine runs, so don't expect the usual Kenmore 'whir-whir', but I'll be sure to keep the mice away!

G

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Here's some updated photos that I forgot to post

First one....Lady fixed up a good bit, with battle scars tidied up and in some cases hard to find. The old Whirlpool touch-up paint I found is an amazingly perfect match.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Second pic

Money shot photo. Lady is new enough to have a plastic tub ring and a white Vari-Flex. The basket is glassy white, but when I got the machine it had so much caked-on mud and dirt in the basket that it permanently stained one of those yellow and green sponges.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

One more pic

One of Lady's battle scars I think I'll keep is the ding on the lid. It's amazing to me that this machine landed top and lid first on the ground and all it did was cosmetic damage.