Another 1/18, different problems...

[pulsator]

I hate to start another thread about 1/18 issues but I didn't want to hijack the other thread! I just recently aquired a beautiful 1/18 in harvest gold and a MINT Maytag A806 in avocado both from Dwight (Captainmoody) but the 1/18 needs a little help! First issue is a loud thumping noise on agitation, but only on high speed. I'm wondering if this is the infamous "cone hop" or something else? You can kind of hear it in the video I've posted below but the sound seems to be drowned out by my other issue: that god awful squealing sound! It only does it on agitation, it purrs like a kitten on spin (as close as a 1/18 can get to purring like a kitten) but the agitation makes this sound on both low and high speed. To me, it seems to be the same pitch no matter what the speed. Any clues on either problem?

 

[joelippard]

I'm going to say

that it sounds like there is something up with the pump, possibly the machine just needs to be run heavily for a bit.  I didn't really hear cone hop but I do know they are louder with a lower water level as in your video.  You can check the cones by pulling on them to see if there is play in any of them, otherwise it's likely some excess play in the agitator shaft.

 

[yogitunes]

I had one that was sitting in a basement for a long while.....stuck in agitation mode......and it did the same thing.....mainly the thumping.......use hottest water possible to soften all seals

had to run several loads--meaning alot-to get rid of the FLAT spot on the roller....cleaning them also helps....first on the metal with a flat putty knife...and then to the neoprene with alcohol, you be suprised how dirty they can get.....

I had to put a little lube on the shaft, not rollers, going up and down....very dr from sitting......very loud machines......but with a little work you can get them to tune down to the "normal" sounds of these....

 

[akronman]

"Cone Hop"

I never heard it named anything, but yes, my 1-18, on low water and no clothes, crashes and thuds on the downstroke, it's all water level related. Either use half a tub of water even for testing purposes, or throw in some clothes.

 

That squeal--I do not know.

 

There's a learning curve with 1-18's, but they are great machines, excellent wash, incredible rinse, fine extraction, just loud throughout.  It seems like a 3/4 load of clothes, water at only 3/4, is about the best turnover. Once your clothes get in that tall ring area as opposed to the close-set rings, turnover slows.

 

You'll have fun

 

[pulsator]

Cone-Hop

The cone-hop issue has nothing to do with the low water levels, in fact, it gets far worse the higher the level! Here's a video of the Maxi water level. No thump on the low speed but the high speed is LOUD!

 

[pulsator]

The pump...

I don't think it's the pump making the squealing sound because on the spin it's completely silent! I could be wrong though?

 

[pdub]

This tool would help...

to find exctly where the noise is coming from. I need to get one of these myself as it would come in handy for both car and appliance noises that you need to isolate. It is reasonably priced on Amazon and an auto parts store might even have them in stock if you wanted it right away. See Amazon link.

As far as the knocking on fast agitation, the repair manual says: Thumping noise during agitate is due to improper spacing of Agitate Arm to Agitate Wheel or Wheel to Mechanism Support. Unfortunately it says: Install the agitate arm on the wheel using the 14405 spacer tool. It doesn't list the spacing measurements.

I am sure there is a 1-18 expert on here that may know more. Good luck.

Patrick[this post was last edited: 1/29/2012-19:45]

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-5888-Mechanics-Stethoscope/dp/B0037UUMO4/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

 

[combo52]

NOISEY 1-18 WASHER

The knock during agitation is sometimes caused by a worn or loose ball in the agitate arm. The squealing sound could be something in the pump, when the pump reverses and the foreign object will move away from the impeller in one direction and move toward it in the other direction. The other thing that would make an loud squeal on 1-18s was the rubber isolator in the motor pulley if it starts to slip. On the squealing sound I would just keep using it and if it is in the pump it may go away, if it is the motor pulley it will soon come loose and will need replacement. Be very careful if you try cleaning the rollers as if you get scratches in the aluminum rollers they will tear up the plastic urethane rollers, they are not neoprene as that is a soft rubber.

 

[pulsator]

Hmmm.... Okay, I've got a better idea of what's going on. It does indeed appear that the agitate arm/balljoint is loose. My thinking is that it's the plastic bushing in the balljoint. Does anyone have a part number for this? Are there two of them? One above and one below the balljoint? Are they the same part? Thanks for the help everyone! Here is a page from the service manual that shows the plastic bushing:

http://www.automaticwasher.org/SERVICE/FRIGIDAIRE_1-18/Mechanism-Service/006.jpg

 

[pdub]

part numbers

upper bushing is 1125671
lower bushing is 1125674

These were the original part numbers and may have changed.

 

[pdub]

Just did a search...

A-1 Appliance Parts appears to have both of these in stock. Shocking!

SEE LINK

http://www.a-1appliance.com/product/GAP5301125671

 

[pulsator]

Well, after adjusting the agitate arm's ball joint, it's nice and tight per the service manual but, the knocking during agitation is still there! I noticed that I can flex the agitate arm on the acorn shaped piece above it mounted to the agitator shaft... Is that normal? Does the acorn shaped piece come apart?

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire 1-18 agitate arm

The acorn looking thing is a damper, it has rubber in it and is not intended to come apart, it sounds like you need to replace the complete agitate arm. These are of coerce NLA, but you may find one, I have good used ones if you want to contact me.