Discovery in a restoration always makes me wonder

[mayken4now]

How did they do their laundry? (detergent, softner, water temp etc.)

Were they clean or nasty folks? (keep the machine wiped off, clean under the machine from time to time, lint filter etc.)

Was the water hard or soft? (usually a crusty or not choice)

Anyway, once again, I decided to restore from the ground up (which I will post pictures of once it is done, this week) and what I discoverd is puzzling.

Take a Look. The texture is soft. The feel is grease. Not soapy with water applied. What could they have done to cause this type of build up? I know the folks, that I bought the machine from. They CLAIM, this A806 was only used for 5 years and just sat in their garage for the last 20. Ok the machine is a 1979. Just take a look and see for yourself. Come to a conclusion or discussion, would love some feedback on the buildup evidence.

Steve

 

[toggleswitch]

RV type anti-freeze for pipes/plumbing?

Fabric softener?

 

[thirtyater]

Oil residue from a leaky tranny?

 

[thirtyater]

Oil residue from a leaky tranny?

 

[panthera]

I was thinking anti-freeze, too

When I put my machines in storage, and wasn't able to drain everything, I always added some anti-freeze. Looks like this stuff.
Don't forget the "minor" vandalism of children. I was working on one of my niece's A108 last summer, had to pull the timer motor (those dratted dogs! like that was so not a case of planned obsolesence...).
Left the wires attached (but, paranoid as I am, had high-res digital photos of everything) and warned everyone not to let the kids play with the machine in the three days we were waiting for parts.
Got back to her; they'd let the little monsters rip every single wire off the timer, some had been reconnected in the wrong places...thank goodness I thought to chop off the plug before I left.
Added an hour to my work - A108s aren't exactly rocket science - but damn, who knows what happened in that garage the last 20 years?

 

[christfr]

ha ha dont you just love all the goo you find in your machines? know its nasty but its better then dead mice

 

[mayken4now]

Talking about the scum build-up on the tub. Not the trany oil that was put there by me. I changed the tranny oil and used the tub for support with putting the tranny back together.

Steve

 

[christfr]

soap scum is just nature of the beast. aint it icky ha ha