Darn that Dominion

[turquoisedude]

OR "A Pox on Paul's Pumps"....

So last fall, I wanted to see how well a solid-tub washer would remove dog hair from Canyon's car blankets (retired folk...what can I say?)

The wash test at that time was a failure because the blasted Dominion washer wouldn't drain! I had theories about it, but did not get to tinker with it until last weekend...[this post was last edited: 12/5/2013-16:52]

 

[turquoisedude]

When I took the pump cover off (CAREFULLY this time...LOL) I quickly saw that my clog theory could be discarded. I now feared I had a repeat of what happened to the Canadian Westy shortly after I got it up and running again.

 

[turquoisedude]

Well, I was right... Like the Westinghouse, the pump impeller had detached from the drive shaft. So I picked up my local phone book and found the Dominion/Beatty parts and service department number - KL5-8736. When I called it they said the number was no longer in service, though...

Back to reality, I knew darn well that a replacement pump for this washer will be impossible to find. I thought a coat of JB Weld might solve the problem.

 

[turquoisedude]

Well it did work... for about one wash cycle, though...

I'll try this approach again when I get back down to Ogden next weekend, but in the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions for a better way to re-attach the rubber impeller back to the drive shaft, please let me know!

 

[turquoisedude]

It's not all doom and gloom, though...

While the Dominion was out for service, I finally got around to repairing the original water valve (thanks again, John, for the valve diaphragms!). I am thrilled to say that I now have the Hot and Warm options for washing and Warm and Cold options for rinsing again!! I still don't think I'm getting enough water into the tub, but I'll tinker with that when (notice I didn't say 'if'!) I get that pump back into service.

So, with two bad pumps now, I am almost afraid to use any of the other washers in the Ogden Laundry... LOL

 

[Unimatic1140]

Paul I had the exact same thing happen to my '52 Speed Queen earlier this year. I happened to have a new pump shaft kit, so I was able to replace just the impeller/shaft. Is the Beam pump on the Dominion the same size as a speed queen pump do you know?

 

[turquoisedude]

Robert, I have a feeling that it may be as the SQ pump clamp Greg found for me was a perfect fit. I am a little reluctant to take the pump out and dismantle it, though! I'm still licking my wounds from the Inglis... LOL

 

[Unimatic1140]

Paul this is an extremely simply pump to take apart. You pretty much take the pulley off and the shaft should pull right out. Careful of the seals and be sure to note which way they go on the shaft.

 

[swestoyz]

I'd be curious to know what the shaft diameter is for Paul's Dominion. The '56 Hotpoint needs a new seal and I figured I could use a Speed Queen seal. Unfortunately the early pumps use a different diameter than the later SQ pumps (60's/70's). And, due to the mounting and pump height differences I can't replace the pump for an SQ one.

Someday I'll figure out a solution, but for now, the Hotpoint is a pretty decoration in the corner of the basement.

Ben

 

[philr]

I often wish I had a machine that could inexpensively re-create any NLA part I that need just by entering the part number!

 

Or better, a machine that could re-create something I want just by typing the model number!

 

I'm working on that, but so far, it only recreates two-dimensional copies of the objects I want!

 

[turquoisedude]

So, after the success with the Maytag, I thought I should take a look at the Dominion again. I popped the washer on it's back and opened up the pump chamber.

I was amazed to find that my JB Weld 'repair' to re-attach the impeller to the pump shaft actually HAD worked! It was nice and secure when I checked it.

 

[turquoisedude]

And here's why it wasn't draining.... This bracket fell out of the pump chamber when I opened it! It must have been blocking the impeller - what it is and where it came from is a mystery, but I reassembled the pump and tried the machine again.

Here's the bad news: I can't seem to get the washer to spin anymore. It will agitate but when it attempts to engage a spin, nothing happens except for some very slight tub indexing...

Now this is going to be a challenge - I probably have less service and technical information on this machine than any of the others. I may just have to head back to the museum in Elora, Ontario where I found some Beatty/Dominion appliance information archived there!

I have some theories about the machine but I am open to all suggestions! My first impression is that perhaps the motor (already weak) is just not revving up to the right speed when it reverses to go into 'spin'... I'll have to take the cabinet off the machine to get a good look at the transmission, though. I'm just not sure when I'll get to that! There's a very sick Inglis in the basement repair ward and a replacement dry thermostat for a certain GE Combo that is begging to be installed, too!

Looks like 2014 will be a fun year for me... LOL

 

[turquoisedude]

Exploratory surgery on the Dominion

Still feeling somewhat defeated by my lack of progress on the Inglis, I thought today might be a good day to inspect, observe, and try to figure out just why the heck the 58 Dominion decided to stop spinning after all the pump issues seemed to have been sorted out...

I'm really out on a limb here because I have zero in the way of service or technical information about this machine. But hey, I've jumped blindly into these things in the past right??

After the grief with the Inglis, I figured this is the problem: the belt.

One nice thing about this washer - you can take the belt off very easily!

 

[turquoisedude]

The close-up is not good, but the 'shine' on the outer belt surface seems to confirm my theory. This is definitely a case where a smooth surface is not your friend!

 

[philr]

That bracket you found looks a lot like the one that holds the lid switch in place on a Maytag washer! 

 

[turquoisedude]

Now, why would a slick outer surface on a belt be the cause of not spinning?

I wouldn't have thought so either until I sat down and carefully watched how the machine operates.

The drive belt links the motor (not shown) with the pump pulley, the transmission pulley and a central drive pulley. The belt is looped with the inside surface of the belt around the pump and transmission pulleys, but the outside surface of the belt contacts that central drive pulley. When the machine is agitating, the motor is running clockwise - the inner surface of the belt still had some 'pull' on it, so the machine had no trouble washing. But to spin, the motor reverses and drives that central pulley to make the tub spin. It takes some force to do this and my theory is that the smooth belt just doesn't grab enough to make the tub spin.

Anyway, it's my theory for the moment and I'll know for sure later this week when I try to find a new belt!
[this post was last edited: 2/2/2014-14:52]

 

[turquoisedude]

Belt located! My source for belts, bolts, hex and unhexed screws, etc in Magog had the belt I need for the Dominion! Darn near ran out of gas after going there but that's a whole other story... So, I may just try to re-belt the Dominion tonight - keep your fingers crossed!!

 

[pdub]

Good luck with the new belt Paul.

I've been watching your thread with great interest.

Patrick

 

[turquoisedude]

Hear that 'bang'?

As in '...goes another one of my theories'!

Got the new belt in easily but the darned Dominion still won't spin. I had a lengthy discussion with Phil about this before I put the belt in (therefore it's HIS fault the machine won't spin...LOL) and he was asking me if there was some kind of a clutch or other mechanism that would also engage when the motor reversed for the spin. Well, that I don't know; what I do know is that if I'm going to find out, the cabinet will have to come off to be able to really see what other components might be used to make the washer spin.

Off I go into uncharted waters... WHEEEE! I'll post photos as I disassemble, I promise.

For tonight though, I'm going curl up next to Canyon and whimper ...

 

[Unimatic1140]

It will be just fine Paul, we've all been there, sometimes that's the only way.

There might be a clutch spring of some sort to grab the spin shaft to transfer power to it when the pulley is rotated in the spin direction. It will be interesting to see what you find!

 

[jamman_98]

Ok Let me take a stab at it.

There are some questions on the pic. Hope they are not too dumb but I love to solve a problem. Also could the spin issue be related to bad spin bearings? I know I've seen pics of Kenmore rebuilds on here with spin tube replacements so just wondering if the culpret is friction and not the belt. It could be a combination of the two. I admit I have never fixed a washing machine but love working on machines. Maybe this could generate some other ideas from the members.

Jamman_98
Joe

 

[jetcone]

Yes Uni is right

sometimes its the only way and what this all means is the classic washer world has opened new doors for you to grow.

 

Off ! with her cabinet I say!

 

[turquoisedude]

Dis-assembly day for the Dominion

I took some time to carefully examine the Dominion before disassembling it and figured the cabinet will lift off like a Maytag.

I started by removing the timer assembly and fill solenoid. I also disconnected the wires to the motor so that they would not get caught when the cabinet came off.

 

[turquoisedude]

Three screws on each side bolted the cabinet to the base. I also found a removable access panel on the front of the washer. Keep that point in mind for later - part of my new theories...

 

[turquoisedude]

Gently and carefully, the entire top, sides and front of the washer lifted right off!

 

[turquoisedude]

With the top off, I tried to give the wash tub a good spin by hand. I as had observed before, it took some force to do so. I tried rocking the tub slightly - I heard a slight 'boing' that sounded like a spring being released. After that the tub turned a lot easier but it still took some strength to turn it.

 

[turquoisedude]

The hunt for clues

I kept thinking about the 'Who Shot Mr. Burns' episode of The Simpsons where Chief Wiggum has a dream about Lisa giving him hints ("This suit burns better. Look!")

I had no such inspiration, but I tried to carefully note what might be causing my spin situation...

First observation: with the cabinet off, I could now see there was some kind of bar to hold the spring that is on the motor mounting. When the motor mounting is swung to the left, the belt loosens and can be removed. My first thought was this may be a belt tensioning device...

 

[turquoisedude]

The four springs that seem to hold the tub plate assembly suddenly seemed significant - this is one of the two on the front of the washer. These front springs were visible and accessible when I took off that front access panel... The rear ones were accessible when the lower cover plate was removed.

It begs the question: could they need adjusting by tightening or loosening? If so, would this have any effect on the washer's behaviour??

 

[turquoisedude]

Directly under the tub, you can now see a spring between the tub bottom and that central drive pulley. But it just seems to sit there - there are no other collars or a brake assembly that I can discern. Perhaps this was the source of the 'boing' I heard when I was messing with the tub...

 

[turquoisedude]

And yet another hitherto unseen spring! This one is under the pulley that I beleive is driving the cam shaft that makes the washer agitate. But again, what the heck is this supposed to do??