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launderess

launderess

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Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage
Of the washing machine collectors club, I mean.

That nice UPS man just delivered a very heavy package, which was much larger than a bread box.

Since a digital camera is not at the ready, will skip the usual palaver of being coy and playing "guess what is in the box", and put you all in the picture. It's a vintage Hoover Twin Tub, model 0512, complete with manual. According to the seller the unit was only used once when new, then put aside. Of course almost everyone selling something says this, but the unit does have a "new" washer smell inside, and the metal wash tub is quite shiny and smooth. The manual has some numbers which read "R3 10-66", so one assumes the unit is from the 1960's.

Much as I would love to spend all afternoon investigating my new "toy", housework wont get done by itself, and dinner will want getting by those arriving home soon. So, will have to put things off until the weekend when I have some free time.

As this is my first vintage washer (own many other vintage appliances, but not a washer),what does one do first? Previous posts have indicated never to turn on an old washer that has sat unused without doing certian things first. May one ask what those things are? What should one be doing right now?

Must say for a unit that has been sitting idle for a long period the rubber hoses and spin mat are quite fresh and supple. Still smell like new!

Oh well, I'm off to have a cup of coffee and read through the manual. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Launderess
 
Congratulations! Will be interesting to see how it works...I myself have always wanted one as well!

I agree with Glenn; since the pump is generally the Achilles' heel on a Hoover Twinnie, I would put some water in it to prime the pump before running it.

--Austin
 
Thanks gang!

Have duly noted all suggestions, please keep em coming.

Finally removed the entire shipping crate, and sadly it seems one of the hard rubber wheels has shattered in half. Not unexpected as old rubber is prone to being brittle. Need to replace the wheel, but how? Have some wheels that we saved from the Malber "portability kit", but they screw up into an appliance, cannot tell how the wheels from the Hoover are attached. Don't prolly could run a quick test of the unit with plain water without the one wheel, but the unit is not level and lists slighlty towards the missing wheel side. Ideas?

Launderess
 
Congrats on the "full membership" - you should be getting your membership card in the mail shortly! Have you flipped the Hoover over to see what the other wheels look like? There are many wheel/caster options at your local hardware store, probably a company that sells nothing but casters in the yellow pages so you shouldn't have a problem finding something that will be either and exact replacement or very similar. Worse comes to worse, you can replace all four casters on the machine - nobody will be the wiser.

It would be wise to put some hot water into the pump before trying it out, while you have it flipped over investigating the mobility issues, check the washtub drain valve to be sure it's moving freely. You'll see a thin rod connecting the valve on top of the pump to the knob on the top of the machine.

Good luck - Greg
 
Thanks Gregg

For the tips! Have added them to my file!

Have ahd the unit tipped over and cannot see how the casters/wheels are seated. They do not seem to be bolted as there is only a sheath they are inserted into. Perhaps they are only "pushed" in? Don't want to take the risk of trying to extract one until I've found out for sure.

Yes, once one finds out how the casters are replaced, might as well go one and do the lot at once. All are the same age and probably brittle and going to go sooner or later. Though the shipping could have had a hand in destroying the first.

So far a limited test of the belts, seems everything is AOK. Not that one knows what one is looking for, but the belts are supple and all turning parts move easily. Will make the test of the drain pump as you recommend.

Now about that membership card. Think mine should be a special colour and design. I want blue, but not a Robin's egg blue, just a nice clean shade of blue. Somewhere between the color of the sky above Dover on a nice May morning, and the color of the ocean off Bermuda in July.

Launderess
 
Congratulations on your new machine! Hopefully you'll sort the caster situation quickly and I know you'll have a great time with it. Scott
 
A Few Problems

Put about a kettle full of hot tap water into the wash tub and waited for a bit.

At first the water leaked right out the bottom, but then realised the knob was set to "drain" instead of "wash/rinse". Once the knob was closed, leaking seemed to stop.

Trying to have the washer automatically drain is proving a problem. Set both knobs to "drain", and closed the extractor lid. While the extractor makes tons of noise (a quiet unit this is NOT), the basket does not turn, nor does the water drain.

Earlier checked the belts and all seemed fine, did I miss something?

Launderess
 
Replaced the damaged caster with one of the left over Malber's (they just slip out). Though not an exact fit, will do until can find better/sort out other issues.

Fixed the spinner's problem (the belt had slipped). Stretched it back on and now the extractor spins fine. The belt is slightly stretched out of shape (mayhap for being stationary for so long?), and probably will need to be replaced at some point.

Looks like the dreaded Hoover appliance gods were not on my side. Hardly or never used or not, it appears this unit has succumbed to the much spoken of "drain pump leak).

The rubber area just below where the wire from the pump open/close connects, has rotted, and needs to be replaced. Not sure if this is a seal or not, but it is very moist.

Next there seems to be water leaking from the lower third of the pump. With the aid of a compact mirror and torch, can see the water us leaking from the back of the pump (lower third)just below where the extractor hose attaches to the pump.

Am I "burned or what"? Will this unit need a new pump?

Launderess
 
Laundress if the water is leaking from the center shaft that is more of a problem. If the water is leaking from between the two pump housings, you can take it apart and cut a new seal with cork available at any auto parts store. Do you have any way of taking a posting of the problem pump?
 
Unimatic

Thanks for the suggestions.

No digicam on had at the moment, but will work on getting some snaps. Apparently this type of pump was called a "double decker" pump and common on Hoover twinnies.

The water is leaking from where the two "halves" of the pump join together. And as stated previously water does not pump out of the machine, but drains slowly by dripping out onto my floors! Grrrrrr!

There are a few suppliers of "pattern spare" Hoover twin tub pumps in the UK. Am on to them to see what is what and if those pumps will fit my unit (model #0510/serial number 44132). If these will work may order one and have our appliance guy do the work.

Am not that technical minded, and the hoses to the pump are held tightly by some sort of strongly bent wire. I tried to get the dain hose off eariler (was going to try and fit a modern longer drain hose, as the Hoover's is way to short for my needs), but could not get it to budge.

May end up calling in our repair guy and have him see if any modern pump will work and let him also give the unit a once over. Am sure after sitting unused for 20 or more years the unit needs some lubrication (it makes a horrible noise when the spin break is engaged, and the impeller makes an odd sound when stopped). These sounds may be normal to Hoover twin tubs for all I know, but think someone should hear them.

Launderess
 
The odd sound is probably the result of a dry impeller shaft, IMHO; it might need a good layer of grease. The impeller shaft and mount essentially form a "bearing" when the impeller is in place; while not a true bearing, per se, it keeps the water from leaking out. I have a Monitor tabletop impeller machine, and had a Maytag twin-tub, both with this arrangement.

Since the Hoover's impeller is designed to be removeable/replaceable (I've seen replacement impellers on eBay in the UK on a number of occasions), it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same as well.

--Austin
 
strongly bent wire clamp

It's probably a Corbin clamp. There is a tool that can be purchased to get these off easily, or you can wrestle them off with a large set of pliers. I hate them, always replace them with screw-drive type when I find them in cars or appliances.
 
Picture of Hoover Pump

Here is what the "pattern spare" Hoover pump, sold in the UK looks like.

Mine sits on a square metal base and the top (valve that attaches to the wire which opens and closes the tub drain)is black not white.

Have posted several feelers on the Twin Tub Club forums, and waiting to hear back. IIRC these pumps consist of two parts housed in plastic, one being the impeller. Forgot what the other was). According to the posts I've read on the Twin Tub forums it is rare for both parts to go out, and taking apart the pump usually will tell the tale. Being of limited technical ability, don't know if I could even get the darn thing out of the washer, much less open. Once open not sure what one would be looking for anyway.

Westy,

How does one remove the impeller, and apply grease? Wouldn't it be easier to give a squirt of WD-40? That I can do! *LOL*

Kenmore,

Thank you for the information on Corbin clamps. Googling I see what they look like and the wires holding the hoses to the pumps are certianly Corbin clamps. Will see how much a pair of pliers to remove said clamp would cost locally. Would like to at least change the drain hose which will be needed anyway.

Thanks for the help guys!

Launderess

View attachment 6-3-2005-03-58-5--Launderess.jpg
 
Corbin clamps

They CAN be removed using what are commonly know as "water pump pliers" that have the long handles and the angled jaws. They don't hold as securely as teh actual tool made for teh purpose, but it CAN be done
 
someday I hope to as well...

I am jealous Laundress! This is the type of machine my S.O. won't have a major cow over me buying as it will be just off the laundry in our closet when not in use. Unfortunately our home does not have a basement for other collectibles so I live vicariously through the rest of you :-)
 
Pulsator Impeller Removal

Hi Laundress,
The Pulsator is easily removed: you will need a screw driver to remove the rear cover, you should then be able to see the belt pully on the back of the pulsator this hs held on with a single allen type grub screw simply slacken the grub screw and the pully should pull off easily, next you will see the pulsator shaft if it is not seized you should be able to push the shaft into the bearing this should allow you to pull the pulsator out of the bearing from inside the wash tub. To lubricate the bearing I would suggest standard household oil (WD40 is to light) taking care not to get it on the rubber seal inside the fromt end of the bearing. Re fitting the pulsator is just a reverse of the removal.
Providing the pulsator bearing is not leaking and the pulsator shaft is not badly worn this should allow it to run smoothly once more.
I hope this helps.
Best Regards.
Hugh.
 

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