Bendix Pump

[pulsator]

Ok, I have a question for all you Bendix experts, how was the drain set up on these old machines? I just got a new cone washer for behind the little drain piston thing and a washer for in front of it. When I first tested it, the valve was closed and there was no water in the pump. So I dumped a bucket of water into the machine. Not a drop! So, then I turned the machine on and marvelled at it's tumbling for a minute or so and then advanced it into drain, it drain wonderfully without a drop, then the solenoid snapped back into the "wash" position sealing off the pump... Then the water came, dripping and dripping and dripping. My guess is that it's the water that came back from the drain hose... And I can't figure out how to seal it without getting the piston thing stuck! My question is, were the drain hoses usually installed below the pump? So that no water came back in? Or is there something I'm missing and the hoses were installed on a regular stand pipe? It just occured to me that I never saw where the hoses on Robert's machine came out so I just assumed! Thanks!

Oh yes, and I just thought I'd share my delight in the wonderful helpfullness of independent hardware stores! I walked into the store hoping to find a cone washer that I could cut and wrap around the piston and silicone the washer back together. Instead, when I asked where cone washers would be the guy asked what I need it for, I had the pump with me so I could find an ok fit. I showed him the pump and he asked to take a look at it, he took it back into the shop area where customers weren't allowed. Then I heard a grinder come on and I thought, "Ohhhhhh shit!!! He's gonna break it!!!" Luckily he came back and he had helped me remove the little block that holds the piston in place so I could just put the rubber cone washer on and make sure it works! The whole thing only cost me a total of 30 cents!!! Ace Hardware has just lost my respect entirely!
-Jamie

 

[pulsator]

Perhaps if I just installed a small check valve just after the pump?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Jamie that is exactly what I did on my 1947 Bendix. I had to seal up the original hole where the plunger/bladder was and then I used a KitchenAid dishwasher drain valve connected past the pump to open and close the drain valve. It worked perfectly and sounded almost the same.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Jamie & Robert, I don't pretend to be an expert, but I am trying to understand where the pump is dripping. The pump runs on the motor shaft so it's always in pump out mode when the machine is operating, as you know and the drain valve is what allows water from the tub to the pump for draining, as you know, but the pump always has water in it just like there is water when you release the latch for the screen before the pump (at least in my Duomatic) so I don't understand the reference to water that came back from the drain hose. Jamie, did you run the machine with really hot water to help soften the two new washers so that they will seal against each other better? Is the dripping from this valve? I obviously don't know what the problem is, but if you use the KA drain valve in place of the original Bendix valve, be sure that it is NOT from an 18 series machine. They were smaller than the drain valves on the 17s and would probably be more likely to clog. I hope I have not sounded stupider than I am.