A Ford in every driveway -

[jetcone]

And a Ford in every Basement !

 

 

Coming soon 1966 Philco-Ford "Flex-A-Wash" otherwise known as the "Hula Wash System"

 

 

 

[philr]

I know what these are! Lucky you!

 

[gansky1]

Hula Wash

I can't wait to hear what you think, the much-maligned Philco gets a Dr. Frigidaire lab test!

 

[jetcone]

Looks like she passed

her low water test today so maybe next week she'll go "deep tub" !!

 

 

 

[hooverwheelaway]

LOL. Washer HULA!

Are you going to have a Luau in the Philco's honor?

 

[ovrphil]

must be similar or ...mystery mounts

 

[mrb627]

The Original...

Calypso.

Malcolm

 

[turquoisedude]

OOO!   I MUST get down there to check this out... 

 

[toploader55]

Oh Gawd

I love those machines. Do they have the Juke Box Keyboard ???

 

[peterh770]

Look for the "clothing donut" when doing larger loads... Such a pretty machine, such wild washing action, such disappointing results...

 

[jetcone]

Phil

looks like we have similar models! You have the RH open lid I have the LH open lid. Your fill elements are blue mine are white. Is yours a W2G4? Mine is W2G4DK for the coppertone tutone paint.

 

And it looks like your rubber clothes guard is still intact? Just under the opening?

 

I can't wait to wash in this.

 

First we have a  problem Houston, metal flapping under the "Hulatator" a disassembly is in order. I know there's bearings in there that need lubing after Upteen years!

 

The knobs on this are beautiful heavy chrome unlike any other washer ! More like Marantz knobs !!

 

Well, we see iron deposits and looking down the throat inside the Hulatator we see ----- TAR ! And taking the Hulatator apart we find the skirt is RIPPPPPED !! 

 

Thats why it has a metal jingle on wash, the contact ring of metal is floating. On a Frigidaire this would be lethal !! 

 

 

[jetcone]

Look at the

swirl marks from some distant day at the beach !

 

 

 

[jetcone]

With

the tar and iron deposits this machine looks like it did duty in an auto garage washing rags. Tar is all down the wobbulator plate and bellows under the Hulatator !

 

Simple Green to the rescue !

 

Fortunately the tar actually protected the wobble boot from oxidation the rubber is stellar !!

But I find all the wash water flows in behind the Hula Skirt, very odd design. Thats why the tar is all around the center tub area.

 

 

[jetcone]

Simple Green

is your friend !!

 

Clean tubs and boots are happy tubs and boots !!

 

 

[jetcone]

A big shout out to Ben

and a big thank you! He saved the day with the very part I needed !!

 

- A Hula skirt !! I'd be sunk without this ! 

 

 

 

[jetcone]

Now armed with Doctrine in hand we can get back to

Reassembly !

Mounting the skirt is no easy job at the top end where it connects to the Hulatator !! Soap and water -  lots !

Alignment is key with Philco- the tub has to align with the hulaboot but they make that easy with a locating nub on the boot it only goes on the tub one way. Then the hula skirt must align with the hula cap so that the hula lock ring aligns with the holes in the tub. No twisting of the skirt is allowed. 

[this post was last edited: 10/4/2014-08:15]

 

[jetcone]

This machine has an

amazing engineering feature I have not seen in any other washers to date !

There are 21 stainless steel bolts that connect the tub, hula skirt, wobbulator all together and all these bolts are in the washing zone ! But Philco-Ford designed all of them to sit in blind holes in castings so none of the threads are ever exposed to wash water. It made it so easy to disassemble this machine after 50 years of garage rags !! 

And all bolts were cleaned and nickeled before reinstallation !

[this post was last edited: 10/4/2014-07:22]

 

[arbilab]

Who knew that.....

"Philco" was originally "The Philadelphia Battery Company"?

 

[jetcone]

they made

reliable batteries for crystal radios and I think autos too.

 

[nmassman44]

Thats a great find Jon and looks like a great restoration too! The water flow thru the agitator is no mistake...its for the filter and that pumping ring is what does the job driving the water thru the slots, into the filter and downward under the washbasket and back up the outer wall and back into the washbasket. I loved watching my aunt's machine when I was a kid. When the motor died, my uncle decided to just get rid of the machine...all it needed was a new motor, everything else was perfect. I hated to see that machine go to the landfill such a waste. I think it was an Imperial model. I remember the panel had numbers for the water temps and speeds and the panel under the controls lit up.

 

[washman]

I gotta hand it to you jet, you really know how to bring an old machine back to life.

Therefore, I think you have met the requirement to host a wash-in or at least load this and the marvelous SQ in a truck and bring them to a PA located wash-in. Or just rent a hall someplace with H2O hookups!

At the very least, put up some vids of this machine in action. And don't neglect the SQ. Please.

 

[jetcone]

Mike

thanks for the history- these machines are totally new to me! What you recall makes perfect sense.

 

We'll have to have a North East Chapter wash in and invite the surrounds states of PA NY Quebec , n'est pas?

 

 

[jetcone]

The renewed

Hulatator goes back in, the top gets a good cleaning! Things are shaping up.....to the virgin load !!

 

 

[appnut]

That blue tub is gorgeous!!!

 

[nmassman44]

Before I forget...when you load the washer for its maiden wash with you,loose is the best way to go to the top row of holes. Add detergent by twisting the top part of the agitator off and pull it out. Add detergent to the agitator column since it will get the detergent and any additive like borax, dry bleach into solution fast and it will work its way thru the bsket holes and into the washload. No residue on clothes. The filter will catch anything in the water. My aunt never had a pet hair issue on her laundry with this machine and she line dried. She used Cheer that was blue at the time, and alot of it I might add, so her whites had a blueish cast to them and a not normal one at that.
I look forward to a wash in at your place since your not far at all from me.

 

[nmassman44]

Oh and the agitator "nutates" at 575 -600 npm or nutations per minute...same speed as the spin on Normal speed. I will have to check my repair manual but if its a two speed washer then the Slow speed is half that I believe...This is also a spin drain washer like a Maytag or SQ machine. The other thing is that where the brake is at the base under the machine where the belt pulley is...there is a liquid in the assembly...I will have to dig out the manual in the morning.

 

[jetcone]

Thank you Mike

yes I read that part about the fluid too. And they don't tell you what the "fluid" is !! On mine the bottom drive elements were seized by "grease turned to varnish" so it wouldn't spin.  

To be specific from Doctrine - the cog must turn on the shaft not with it so that it lifts the brake plate off the brake much like the Helical Drive Maytag does. And the brake plate needs to be able to slide up the agitate shaft but again mine was seized with varnish.

 

Disassembly was again easy with this machine.

I lubricated the brake plate and cog with silicone grease never to dry out! I spins beautifully now !

 

But I took a gander inside the brake plate and saw the sacred fluid!! It's very very thick! And to my shock this fluid is still crystal clear and its been under a washer for 50 years ! No dirt at all in it !

 

How did that happen? - Like I've said before "Some machines just want to live again!" i.e. The bolts just jump off at disassembly , all the parts fit back together nicely, there is little rust.

 

And other machines you pour your heart and soul into and they just die at the first turn of the dial.

I love your experienced loading instructions and stories of Philco use bring them on Mike !

 

 

 

[jetcone]

PHIL

How do you like the matching dryer ? Thats next on the lab docket.

 

 

Getting closer >>>>>

 

 

[philr]

I can't wait to see them working! 

 

[jetcone]

Phil!

Get your butt down here ! Wash- IN !!