A Kenmore from Kenmore (Ohio)

[akronman]

Anyone familiar with Akron OH knows we have a neighborhood named Kenmore, where I bought a 1972 Avocado Kenmore washer, heavy duty, dispenser for detergent, bleach, softener, etc, a lighted console. Plugged in and running at the estate sale! Pic#3, I've never seen a Kenmore with that HUGE dial.

 

[moparwash]

Great Find!

Nothing like one close to home!

 

[akronman]

and:

VARIFLEX!!!!!! YEAH!!!!

In photo 3, what's the solenoid valve for? This is not a suds model. IT is a self cleaning filter model, other than that very routine Kenmore for the time, so I don't know what the solenoid is for.
And note the flourescent light starter. IT runs when the machine s on, but I''ll likely rewire it to a switch where I can choose.

 

[mrb627]

#3 Solenoid = soap dispenser

Malcolm

 

[DADoES]

 
Solenoid assembly is presumably for the detergent dispenser.

 

[appnut]

Same color and model of washer & matching dryer on the set of Knotts Landing in the Fairgate laundry room.

 

[akronman]

That makes sense

I never had the "flow through" type before, cool, thanks.

This has the lighted console and all the dispensers and COLD option and Soak options, but it's no Lady. How high up the line is it for 1972?

And when did the larger size tub come out, this one isn't.

Seems like with that huge, easy to read dial, and all the switches, it's darn flexible.

IT'll be in the garage a week or two, then I think it's a plug-n-play excellent machine.

Also, I pushed in the drain hose plastic piece to make it the skinniest possible to get out the basement door, but why the hose out near the top? (Pic 6, hole upper right, next to the name plate) All my other Whirplool and Kenmores(and I'm getting plenty of them lately) have the drain hose (and suds) coming out near the bottom. Hmmm??

Pic 4 and 5, look at that HUGE DIAL!!!!

 

[appnut]

this was fairly high up in the line given Vari-Flex and an "alphabet" washer!!.  Although I'd personally prefer one with all the features but not alphabet washing. 

 

[yogitunes]

because of the hose and check valve configuration for a self-clean filter set up, those hose ports exited the top, manual filter machines usually exited out the bottom.....

when they changed to the self clean filter mounted to the outter tub, then the hose exited out the bottom as well...

before that change, you knew at first glance if it was self cleaning or a manual filter...

 

[yogitunes]

note.....the self clean filter on this model has been prone to breaking open and leaking.....nice unit, trapped lint well, but operated by flexing the bottom to trap, or clean itself.....hence the weak spot....

the replacement is a flexible rubber unit, definitely more durable....

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful - one of my favorite KM panels.  This had the best of the alphabet and properly marked dial for at least a little more flexibility.  

 

[revvinkevin]

Self clean the filter is prone to breaking open & leaking...

 

 

Yes, this is very true.  However in my experience, it doesn't just leak, it dumps the entire contents of the tub, very quickly!  This happened on a Kenmore that I had, was washing a load of whites, full tub of hot soapy & bleachy water, when the bottom of the filter busted out and the entire contents of the tub dumped all over the garage floor.   Fortunately this happened in my garage as opposed to the house.  

 

Otherwise, very nice machine congratulations!  Never knew they made that (timer display window type) design with a fluorescent control panel light, that is awesome!

Kevin

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Very low use unit!

Mark,

I was going to answer a bunch of your questions, but Martin/Yogi beat me to the answer about the drain. It was only about a year or two later that the tub mount filters came out and the cabinet mounted ones were gone.

Your machine looks to be a very low use example. The pump is likely original (made of black plastic) and mixing valve looks to be as well, with the blue valve body. Higher use machines by now usually have the newer yellow valve, the replacement filter that Martin mentioned, and a newer tan bodied pump, or at least one or two of those things. Congrats on a cool find. Since you seem to be enjoying belt drives, I am glad this one has some different features that are new to you.

As to this machine's placement in the model line, for 1972 it was just below the Lady. There could have been a model or two leftover from 1970 or 1971 still in production, but there was no better model than this one in the new for 1972 other the LK .

The large capacity models wee already out when this was made, however they did not become mainstream until 1974 when most of the upper line was changed over.

Good luck with your machine!!!

Gordon

 

[kenmoreman]

Cone filter

Yogitumes is 100% correct when he states that the filter was prone to leakage. When they failed they flooded the cellar or kitchen. They were also prone to clogging so you would have a no pump situation. As a retired Sears Technician I can't tell you how much money Sears made replacing these on non warranty calls. Obviously there was a problem. The replacement filter didn't look at all like the old one. It was a major design change. This machine was a great featured washer that was pretty dependable in it's day.

 

[bajaespuma]

Detergent dispenser flow

Is that big solenoid in picture #3 that you guys are discussing, is that the "Side-Check Valve" that you all were talking about in my 1966 Lady?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Ken,

No, the side check valve is mounted on the left side of the outer tub. The solenoid/valve in pic 3 is the valve that controls flow to the detergent dispenser.

The side check valve is easiest to access from the top of the machine. The inner basket must be removed.

 

[delaneymeegan]

 

 

 

If you're concerned about the filter, you could remove it and the side check valve, and replace that valve with a tub mounted filter, then replumb accordingly.

I used to do that, back in 'the day'.  Take a sudsaver model, remove the valve, the old filter, and the tub valve, then replace with just the tub filter.

OR 

convert a washer with a manual clean recirculating lint catcher to a self clean filter by changing to a 2 port pump, ditching the (usually filthy) lint filter, check valve, and replace with the tub filter and replumb. 

 

One of the benefits of the drain line being up high on a machine is it acts as a anti-siphon device. 

 

[bajaespuma]

Then what does the side check valve do and if my problem is that water is going through the detergent dispenser when it shouldn't be, why would I bother with the side check valve?

 

[kenmoreman]

Detergent dispenser not completely shutting off

You should take the solenoid valve assembly down and inspect and lube it. Any small piece of debris holding it open can also cause it to keep water circulating thru the detergent dispenser. You can easily inspect it if you remove the whole assembly. It's worth looking at.