Could this problem with the 1957 Lady Kenmore be related to the freezing temps @ night?

[Manoravenue]

Since we've started having the freezing and sub-freezing night temps here in Fresno, CA, the trusty '57 Lady Kenmore in the garage laundry area has started doing strange things: Fills fine, but then acts as though it has troubles getting going with the agitation speed and trouble getting the lint filter waterfall going. If it's a hot water wash, about two or three minutes into the cycle, it then resumes stellar operation! If it's a cold water wash, it seems to take longer to try to resume normal operation, and it also is trying to spin the tub while its agitating. Then, just before it's really supposed to start spinning, it will stop for a few seconds, then commence the actual spin cycle just fine. One Saturday, I waited until about 3:00 pm for laundry day to begin, and I didn't have any problems at all that day, but last Saturday when I started at 10:30 a.m. and it was still Frosty The Snowman weather outdoors, I had the problems mentioned above. Hopefully this doesn't mean a transmission is getting ready to go out. Thank you to anyone who can offer an opinion.

 

[appnut]

Have ya thought about putting a nice warm lightbulb inside the tub for those coldnights? My sister had a GE FilterFlo that would do strange things when her garage got below freezing, a very poorly insulated post-WWII garage. She began putting a 60 watt bulb in the tub of her washer on those night so that the residual water in the outer tub wouldn't freeze.

 

[jamiel]

I had a washing machine in a similar situation (closet off an unheated garage in Chicago right next to the house) and just used a spotlight for about an hour before starting laundry

 

[Manoravenue]

Cold nights

Thanks for the replies. Never would have thought of the light bulb solution. I will try that this Friday night being as Saturday morning is usually laundry time... and let me tell you, from one who doesn't get out much, if at all, it will be the most excitement I've had on a Friday night since I-don't-know-when!

 

[sudsmaster]

Probably a good idea to keep the washer warm, anyway. I would imagine that water freezing in the pump might crack it...