another Neptune bearing job...

[yogitunes]

nothing out of the ordinary....had two that I got locally, needing bearings and seals.....and over the past few days, got them rebuilt, drastically cleaned up, and running like new...

Easy as pie!.....

but while on a roll, there is the first set I got my partner as a housewarming gift back in 2001, the door boot split once(under warranty), and the dryer needed gas valve solenoids, other than that, no repairs needed in the past 14 years of heavy use....

but as mentioned, while I was at it, decided since these bearings were starting to make noise, I would tear this one down since all the tools were out.....

I expected to find similar grunge and gunk built up on the inside, as so many FLers do, but to my surprise, my own unit is remarkably clean inside, outter and inner drum, and boot areas....

granted, 99% hot or warm washes, bleach when washing whites, once a month cold wash for black jeans...sometimes softener added....nothing else special otherwise....

I have not touched anything yet, this is how I pulled it apart......one concern is there are stress cracks around the bearing area, so I might replace that outter tub, and the rust that is forming on the base panel....yet, these units are not in a damp basement....never any water on the floor, but may have to investigate for a small leak inside once I get it back together...the dryer is still in great condition inside...

 

[DigAPony]

rust that is forming on the base panel

Keep us posted if you find the source of that leak.

I have a Neptune 5500 that I picked up in the fall with the same interior base plate rust, primary on right side as viewed from the back, although your machine appears to have it worse. Perhaps from the detergent dispenser as there seems to be caked detergent on the rust?

 

[fordtech1]

These are so easy to repair I cant imagine why so many were destroyed and replaced with a new headache.

I once took the front off my 7500 model and found that the insulator pad they stuck on the front panel had warped out a bit and was rubbing a spot on the boot. I repositioned the pad or modified it, cant remember which so it would no longer wear against the boot. If it had been left that way it would have eventually worn a hole through it though. That was 5 years ago and no leaks to date. It is now on its 10th year without a failure and Im about to do a complete ground up restore with all new components I have collected over those 10 years and will have a brand new Neptune 7500 to go another at least 10 years. Ill be 70 by then if I live that long. Thats why I want to do it now before Im disabled and cant do it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The spider looks to be in very good shape, especially considering the spider discussions we have had lately.

 

[swestoyz]

Lookin' good Martin!  When I did the restore of my MAH3000 5 years ago, I did everything BUT the bearings, as they were still good then, and (cross your fingers), are still good 17 years after the machine was made...

 

What tool do you have to drive out and reposition the bearings?

 

[yogitunes]

Ben, I used simple tools from the garage....bearing pullers for an auto can work, and sometimes a rubber mallet and a blunt chisel....

I have done so many that I should consider buying a TonyTool, but so far everything I use seems to work.....but man I are they quiet when new ones are installed....

I open the bearings and pack them even more with grease before installing them, just for an extra measure of lubrication...

I expected some sort of build up inside of certain areas, but yeah, that spider was amazing of all pieces.....wish they all came to me that way....

I think if you catch them early enough, you most likely could use the same bearings and just replace the seal, and that's simple enough on it's own....but these people run them until the bearings shear apart, surprised most make it through all of that stress

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Spot on, Martin!

All you gotta do is replace the seal and most likely save the bearings. When they resold them back where I worked in Reno, the rear main seals were an automatic thing. Saved us a ton of grief since we were apart that far for overhauling anyway to do it properly for resale. The Tony Tool is an awesome thing...

RCD

 

[washer111]

Another machine that goes to show the effect laundering habits have on the longevity of washers today. 

As an example, "just chucking it all in" with some "generic detergent, cold water and fabric softener" will *clearly* lead to disaster. 

 

Great work, Yogi. Hope the machine gives you many more trouble-free years of laundering