rollermatic
Well-known member
hi paul
enjoyed your pics and your post here!
enjoyed your pics and your post here!
Dude, where's my combo?
- Thread starter turquoisedude
- Start date
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And now, almost a year later....
Not to steal Jon's thunder on his progress with the 1955 GE Combo, I nonetheless decided it was high time that I took another run at my 1956 one from the Kitchen Centre.
Look familiar?
Not to steal Jon's thunder on his progress with the 1955 GE Combo, I nonetheless decided it was high time that I took another run at my 1956 one from the Kitchen Centre.
Look familiar?
I gave myself a tight deadline this time - I was willing to devote one more day to the combo and try and figure out where I hit the wall last may.
My plan was to test the timer, check that power was being fed through the timer to the elusive tan wire that was supposed to power the timer motor and just for the heck of it, swap the jury-rigged 1959 dry thermostat that I cobbled together last year with a real 1956 version (the one I extracted from that ill-fated combo I got in Syracuse last June).
The clock was ticking and hubby keeping time...
My plan was to test the timer, check that power was being fed through the timer to the elusive tan wire that was supposed to power the timer motor and just for the heck of it, swap the jury-rigged 1959 dry thermostat that I cobbled together last year with a real 1956 version (the one I extracted from that ill-fated combo I got in Syracuse last June).
The clock was ticking and hubby keeping time...
I'll follow up with some video evidence soon, but by golly, I got the combo running again!!
The timer wasn't running because of 'black timer motor death', a plague that any of these 50-something machines cannot fend off... Slight problem: I didn't have a 'spare' Ingraham type motor to replace the one in the combo (which is actually the second one I put in...EEESH). I had to make a tough decision quickly - I cannibalized the 1955 GE stand-alone dishwasher and swiped the timer motor. Poor dishwasher...
I managed to get the 'new' thermostat in pretty quickly after I had done some basic cycle testing. Experience has been a good teacher.
And.... well, on the first cycle test last night, everything seemed fine!! The washer did what it was supposed to - filled, washed, drained, rinsed, spun, and DRIED!! The tub was empty so the thermostat cycled off after about 15 minutes. I was turning cartwheels and celebrated with a honking big rye and soda!
The timer wasn't running because of 'black timer motor death', a plague that any of these 50-something machines cannot fend off... Slight problem: I didn't have a 'spare' Ingraham type motor to replace the one in the combo (which is actually the second one I put in...EEESH). I had to make a tough decision quickly - I cannibalized the 1955 GE stand-alone dishwasher and swiped the timer motor. Poor dishwasher...
I managed to get the 'new' thermostat in pretty quickly after I had done some basic cycle testing. Experience has been a good teacher.
And.... well, on the first cycle test last night, everything seemed fine!! The washer did what it was supposed to - filled, washed, drained, rinsed, spun, and DRIED!! The tub was empty so the thermostat cycled off after about 15 minutes. I was turning cartwheels and celebrated with a honking big rye and soda!
Still under a deadline, I got the combo back into place in the Kitchen Centre this morning. Now, you can't tell how well a machine works 'till you actually wash in it, right?
I threw caution to the wind and assembled an 8-pound load of table linens and a few t-shirts.
This is probably the biggest load I ever ran through this machine so far... LOL
I threw caution to the wind and assembled an 8-pound load of table linens and a few t-shirts.
This is probably the biggest load I ever ran through this machine so far... LOL
The washer ran fine and I did not observe any leaks, sparks, flames, etc.
Call it coincidence, but the Ogden building inspector just happened to come by while the test load washed. I am beginning to think the house is bugged... LOL
I got to test something that I had not previously been able to do: the off-balance reset! I probably twisted the leveling feet of the washer in one or another of the in and out of the kitchen centre cycles, and when the combo went into its first spin with a big load, it shook like crazy! But the off-balance mechanism kicked in, slowed the machine back to a 'tumble' for a moment, the back into the roaring 208-RPM spin. I was fascinated!
Better still, it went into dry mode automatically and cycled off...automatically!!
Call it coincidence, but the Ogden building inspector just happened to come by while the test load washed. I am beginning to think the house is bugged... LOL
I got to test something that I had not previously been able to do: the off-balance reset! I probably twisted the leveling feet of the washer in one or another of the in and out of the kitchen centre cycles, and when the combo went into its first spin with a big load, it shook like crazy! But the off-balance mechanism kicked in, slowed the machine back to a 'tumble' for a moment, the back into the roaring 208-RPM spin. I was fascinated!
Better still, it went into dry mode automatically and cycled off...automatically!!
Now, I was timing the dry cycle carefully. I was astonished that it took 1 hour and 18 minutes to dry!! That cursed Magic Chef in town is faster... LOL
Still, the clothes were nice and soft and dry!
I am still reeling that I got the combo working at long last!!
I was watching the dry cycle and remembering the cold December night when the Kitchen Centre and refrigerator arrived in Stanstead. I had to go to the freight office to clear the unit through customs and I got my first look at it. I remember going right to the washer-dryer! I had never seen one up close at that point, if you can believe it.
What a long journey this has been, but wow, am I happy!!
Still, the clothes were nice and soft and dry!
I am still reeling that I got the combo working at long last!!
I was watching the dry cycle and remembering the cold December night when the Kitchen Centre and refrigerator arrived in Stanstead. I had to go to the freight office to clear the unit through customs and I got my first look at it. I remember going right to the washer-dryer! I had never seen one up close at that point, if you can believe it.
What a long journey this has been, but wow, am I happy!!
YAY For Fully Automatic Washing AND Drying
Congratulations Paul, now you will never have to make trips down to that old laundry room in the basement again, LOL.
You have now joined the elite small number of AW folks that have a fully functioning classic combo.
Congratulations Paul, now you will never have to make trips down to that old laundry room in the basement again, LOL.
You have now joined the elite small number of AW folks that have a fully functioning classic combo.
philr
Well-known member
So you had it back in place! Great! I hope it will work for a very long time!
aldspinboy
Well-known member
Paul what a accomplishment!
Having a truly nice time when I was at your place in the morning wash,
was a great experience.
I never knew that it drains more then several
times and fills as it washes is that correct ?
Does the heating element glows,
when in the drying mode ?
Can you stop it after the last rinse,
and spin the load in...lets say in your
Frigidaire top loader then return the load
to dry ?
Congrates on your achievement.
The GE center is truly a beautiful appliance.
Darren k
Having a truly nice time when I was at your place in the morning wash,
was a great experience.
I never knew that it drains more then several
times and fills as it washes is that correct ?
Does the heating element glows,
when in the drying mode ?
Can you stop it after the last rinse,
and spin the load in...lets say in your
Frigidaire top loader then return the load
to dry ?
Congrates on your achievement.
The GE center is truly a beautiful appliance.
Darren k
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
Congrats! I admire your skills perseverance. Be proud and FWIW, I think you've earned a bit more than one Rye & Soda for your work.
Jim
Jim
hippiedoll
Well-known member
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
turquoisdude!!!
what an interesting thread. as soon as i started reading, i was hooked!! i loved how you laid out the details and added the pictures & videos. i think i served myself 2 cups of coffee while reading this thread about your GE washer/dryer combo.
WOW!!! finally after such a long "refurbishing" journey. i am soooo happy that you got your combo baby up and running!!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it sure is a BEAUTY!!!
and i bet it's all kinds of fun to run/use too!!!
thanks for sharing and keeping us all updated on your progress.
i am soooo happy for you & your success!!!!
)
turquoisdude!!!
what an interesting thread. as soon as i started reading, i was hooked!! i loved how you laid out the details and added the pictures & videos. i think i served myself 2 cups of coffee while reading this thread about your GE washer/dryer combo.
WOW!!! finally after such a long "refurbishing" journey. i am soooo happy that you got your combo baby up and running!!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it sure is a BEAUTY!!!
and i bet it's all kinds of fun to run/use too!!!
thanks for sharing and keeping us all updated on your progress.
i am soooo happy for you & your success!!!!
)
Congrats Paul
Combo restoration is a long long process. We are coming into the home stretch together on these that is cool. I notice your '56 has the newer style boot too - another unique thing about the '55s -boy they sure changed a lot of this machine inside of one model year.
Combo restoration is a long long process. We are coming into the home stretch together on these that is cool. I notice your '56 has the newer style boot too - another unique thing about the '55s -boy they sure changed a lot of this machine inside of one model year.
norgeway
Well-known member
Beautiful!!! Im firmly convinced
These old appliances,properly serviced, are safer than modern plastic junk!! As for your colorful language...honey, you didnt grow up with a Dad who was a WW2 Marine Corps combat veteran!!LOL..I know bad words that will peel paint!!LOL
These old appliances,properly serviced, are safer than modern plastic junk!! As for your colorful language...honey, you didnt grow up with a Dad who was a WW2 Marine Corps combat veteran!!LOL..I know bad words that will peel paint!!LOL
ovrphil
Well-known member
Impressive, interesting, nail-biting, and one hell of an adventure in bringing a somewhat complex machine back to life. YOU rock, Paul. You should be reeling for a long time. It's PPP - persistence patience and PARTS. Fun thread to read with happy endings. Awesome job.
Still tinkering....
Ah, does it ever end?? I guess because the GE Combo never kicked into 'spin' when I first installed it in the kitchen centre, I never correctly leveled it. I still need to do that, but I threw my back out again last week, so that will have to wait a while.
In the meantime, here's what happened when I tried out the first load of clothes last week!!
Ah, does it ever end?? I guess because the GE Combo never kicked into 'spin' when I first installed it in the kitchen centre, I never correctly leveled it. I still need to do that, but I threw my back out again last week, so that will have to wait a while.
In the meantime, here's what happened when I tried out the first load of clothes last week!!
robliverpool
Well-known member
Would it even be worth getting the spin sorted seeing as it only spins at 200rpm. Wringing the clothes out by hand would prob have more of an effect. Really nice machine but how could they call that a spin?
Kewl Paul !
Ahh clean GE clothes again! Like seeing a dinosaur walking.....!
Ahh clean GE clothes again! Like seeing a dinosaur walking.....!
strongenough78
Well-known member
I'm curious as to why the spin is only 208 rpm. Is there a way to tinker with it to get it to spin faster?
