Another Timeline

[toploader55]

A neighbor of ours on the Cape had one.

Quite the Overflow Rinse. I believe it's start to finish on the Rinse Cycle.

That Rinse Water will look like a Crystal Clear Brook running down from a mountain.

Now I can say... "Can you bring "ONE" of them down to play with ???? Hmmmmmmm ???

 

[turquoisedude]

Todd:  Amazingly enough, this AW450 pretty much did start up when I plugged it in.  I did have to change the power cord, but that's probably a good thing to do anyway on a 60-something year old washer.   I was extremely lucky but I also think that the Norge washer transmissions were built like the proverbial brick s.... er, schoolhouse, yes that will do...   Of course, we'll have to see what happens with the first water tests - I'm hoping that I'll get that far this coming weekend.  

For me to find two Norges in relatively short order and to have both of them come back to life so quickly is making me think it's time to start buying lottery tickets... LOL

 

Eddie:  Depending on how Chris reacts to having another washer in a million parts in the garage, I may be the one needing to visit the Cape for a few weeks, never mind the Norge!!

 

Now, I've gotta get really brave and start working on the other machines in the 'project area' in the garage - I think by now, I should stop being scared of the GE's....

 

[gansky1]

The transmissions were built well and one of the reasons they were so noisy.  That and bolting it to the bottom of the wash tub inside the echo chamber/drain tub was another!

 

The lower bearing sounds good in spin but like mine, yours has a little shimmy-shake while agitating, too.   I replaced the lower bearing in mine with a used one I had and it's better but not gone completely.   

 

I used mine over the weekend for a load of whites and you could just see the dirt running scared out of the socks when that agitation started.  If the noise doesn't scare out embedded dirt, that giant agitator does.

 

[turquoisedude]

The 'not too much progress report'....

After a very hectic week (Hubby was delayed in Brazil due to theft of all his luggage, iPhone, travel docs, passport, etc) and when he finally got back on Thursday, he learned of the passing of a colleague at the University of Montreal and he attended the funeral Saturday. 

 

So, we only got down to Ogden on Saturday afternoon; I still managed to get a few things done with latest Norge.  

 

Reassembly was the word of the day... I put the pump back together again. The gasket was shot so I used the Permatex flexible gasket compound to make a new one. It seemed to hold water, so I put the pump back and installed a new drive belt. 

 

I also took the opportunity to clean out the hard-water scale from the fill flume inlet.  I hope this will reduce potential splashing on the water temperature selector light bulb.  I don't want this Timeline to cause anyone to flatline due to accidental electrocution!

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

With Hubby's help, the cabinet was set back onto the washer frame.  That, probably more so than removal of the cabinet, is definitely a two-person job.    I re-installed the agitator also.  I managed to do that alone... LOL

 

I didn't put the Timeline cycle control back in at this point; it was a good opportunity to clean the plastic lens.  It's going to glow nicely.  

 

I also gave the back panel on the Timeline a cleaning - it's in amazing shape!

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Here's the challenge in putting a Norge cabinet back together...  The part of the fill flume that goes into the tub has a soft foam gasket that has to be compressed good and tight to be able to re-attach the funnel.  The Norge doctrine doesn't say so in as many words, but it's a bit of a pain; fortunately, there is an illustration showing how to wedge the flume into place and this was a great help.  Amazingly, I managed to not damage the funnel in any way during re-installation.  Phew!

 

[turquoisedude]

But by the time I got through this, the whines and whimpers that signaled someone wanted their supper got too much for me to ignore.   Canyon, on the other hand, just sat there patiently watching me...  LOL 

 

So, that's all for now.  I'm hoping this coming weekend will allow me enough time to get the new water valve and cycle control (with new light bulbs, bien sûr) installed and the wires all reconnected so that I can at least get a couple of tests done.   

 

Oh, and I found a date stamp of 1-15-55 on the Timeline control - looks like I got me a '55 model and not a '54 as I had initially (and incorrectly) guessed.    Stay tuned!!

 

[toploader55]

How dare you re-assemble before feeding the Hund. LOL.

That expression is priceless.

I think the last I saw a Timeline up close and personal was in 1964.

They are Beautiful Beasts !!! "Knock on any Norge".

 

[turquoisedude]

So....

I did manage to get the rest of the Norge put back together and got some further testing done yesterday.  

 

I'll start with the good news; I managed to get the wiring all back together again and the lighted Timeline is stunning!   I goofed with the bulb size for the water temperature light, though.  I used a 4 watt bulb instead of an 8 watt one and it definitely isn't enough to brightly light the amber and red lenses to indicate warm or hot wash.  

 

[turquoisedude]

I installed a new water valve and it seemed to work fine.  To be fair, I was only using cold water though!  It filled the tub nicely anyway. 

 

[turquoisedude]

And we had agitation!  Notice the lack of noise from the pump now.  I guess having some water in there flushed out the last of the residue that had been rattling around.  

 

 

[turquoisedude]

BUT....

Sigh... It SEEMS fine, but note my reaction when I looked at the back of the washer!  Ooopsie, indeed!

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Water was just cascading from the bottom of the outer tub; most of it was flowing right through the center shaft where the transmission drive is.  I suddenly realized why there had been so much rust on the top of the main transmission pulley...  Water had obviously been gathering there for a while before I found this washer!  

 

If I had been smart enough to pull out the inner tub when I had the cabinet apart, I'll bet a turquoise Mixmaster that I'd have found rust damage to the outer tub.  I'm going to guess it's pretty bad damage, too, given that the machine looks as if it has seen plenty of laundry duty.

 

However, I did buy the machine as a parts machine and this will be its fate.  I was in a bind as to what the heck I would have done with it if it had been 100% intact and operational.  

 

I am trying not to take this one as a failure - I learned a heck of a lot about servicing Norge washers between this one and the '56 that came from Massachusetts.   In all probability, I'll swap the console from the 55 onto '8 of 56' - I'll get a more reliable Timeline cycle control and a lighted panel that way.  And the 55 console is turquoise, too...  

 

With other the other parts, that lower-mileage '56 model should be around for many, many years to come now.  Well, I hope!

 

 

 

[washerlover]

What a Shame -- But Valiant Effort!

Hey Paul, you are a real trouper! Thank you for the great videos and all of your time and effort to save such a great machine. I truly envy you guys who really have the know-how to (try to) fix these magnificent machines. I'm just a novice and have learned and gained so much inspiration from folks like you on this website. Please keep us posted -- bittersweet that this will be a parts-donor but at least it will help keep other Norge Timelines going strong!

 

[hippiedoll]

OH SHUCKS!!

I was really enjoying seeing all your progress on this Norge. I'm so sorry for you, about that water leaking from the outer tub! I share in your disappointment. But it's good your keeping a positive attitude & remember your original plans for this washer to be a parts washer.

Still though, an exciting find & such great progress!!
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on such a neat find!
)

 

[toploader55]

Just can't have enough TimeLines around.

I really want to run that machine. So many childhood memories.

 

[turquoisedude]

Ah, but you're welcome to come and play with the '56 anytime!  I may get my act together and have the ABC at least partially restored by then with any luck...  

 

[gansky1]

Gravity drain!  Just put it next to a floor drain and make sure it's grounded

 

Could the outer tub boot be ripped?  That was the case with mine - water all down the center.  I can give you the Volkswagen u-joint boot part number I used to fix my Timeline, worked perfectly.

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Greg, there is a very good possibility that the boot is ripped.  I'll take the tub out and have a look-see...  

 

Nifty that a Volks u-joint boot can be used as a replacement.  Thanks for letting me know (I'll want that part number for future reference for sure!!)

 

[toploader55]

VW U Joint Boot.

Who was it that said... "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" ?

 

[turquoisedude]

Greg?   (ducks and runs....) 

 

[philr]

Someone just posted this on Flickr.

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Question about the tub bolts....

So Hubby just shrugged his shoulders and sighed - but the '55 Norge is staying in the garage for a spell and will be one of two major summer projects for me this year. 

 

I'd like to get the tub out of the washer to inspect the tub boot (and if it's bad, I'll be looking for that VW U-Joint seal!).  However, I don't know what this kind of bolt is even called, let alone what kind of tool I'm going to need to remove the bolts. 

 

Does anyone know what these are called? I found no clues in the Norge manual I have; could these be called 'clutch' screws?? Where would be a good place to find the tool needed (automotive or industrial tool sellers)?

[this post was last edited: 6/13/2016-15:24]

 

[ken]

Looks like a clutch head screw. I know there are screwdrivers available because I have a set. Maybe there are bits available that are used with a ratchet wrench.

 

[mrb627]

Screw Chart

Is it one of these?

Malcolm

 

[turquoisedude]

Ken, Malcolm - Thank you!!  It looks like it is a 'clutch' screw indeed.  

 

Now, let's see what kind of a funny look I get from the folks at the local Crappy Tire when I try to buy a screwdriver that can remove one...

 

[ken]

If you use a screwdriver and the screw doesn't come loose with the force from twisting using just the handle you could try a pair of vise-grips (locking pliers) on the shaft to give more torque. If you try forcing using the handle you could end up breaking it off the shaft.

 

[combo52]

Clutch Head Screws

Hi Paul, I don't think that you need to remove any of those screws to replace the outer tub boot, I think that you can lift out the inner tun with the transmission once you disconnect drive line parts below, Greg  can let us know for sure.

 

Those CHSs are screwed into pot metal and the likley hood of ever getting them out is nil.

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks, John!  I re-read the section of the '57 Norge service manual and it does say that the entire transmission and tub can be removed as one unit after having loosened a couple of set screws.  I didn't really look carefully at the spin shaft and tub brake area on this one -  I'll have to take another run at it this weekend.   

 

So many washers, so little time....