Early HOH Door Gaskets

[elginkid]

Since the Early HOH door gaskets are getting increasingly scarce, is this something that could potentially be replicated like the seals that were done for the Westinghouses? Volvoguy87 and ClassicCaprice, and I all have the early HOH dryers and they all need that particular seal. I have one new unused one that could be used for that purpose, and frankly there are a lot of these machines still left, and I've never encountered one that didn't need that seal.

Wes

 

[turquoisedude]

I don't remember where I heard or read this, but I believe the original ozone lamps in these dryers caused the gaskets to deteroriate (some kind of reaction is my best guess...). I'd bet that a 'Tag dryer that's made it this long is likely on its second gasket already, hence the rarity of the part...

I have the same situation on my DE700 that's out on loan in a store display - I didn't have an ozone lamp in it but was able to sub a C9-base bulb that would be used in a bathroom vanity fixture.

 

[classiccaprice]

odd thing is...

My DE702 doesn't have an ozone bulb and has the same issue... Perhaps it's the high heat of years being next to the halo? I know I'd be very interested in having this part re-manufactured. I hope we can find someone to do it!

 

[dnastrau]

Universal seal material; modified seal from another applianc

Perhaps something from a supplier McMaster Carr might work (see link).

Someone also suggested modifying a pressure cooker gasket and perhaps a front load washer gasket could be cut down.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[bluejay]

I used this on my Maytag dryer

I had to replace ours. I'm not quite sure what was holding it together. It fits many of the DG/DE models (I have a DE700, which isn't listed but seems to fit okay). I don't think our dryer has had an ozone lamp in quite some time, but I'm pretty sure our seal (or what remains of it) is the original.

http://https//www.appliancezone.com/ShowProduct.aspx?ID=871

 

[classiccaprice]

Bluejay

I couldn't get your link to work. Could you repost?

 

[bluejay]

Well, that was odd.

Yeah, the colon was removed from the link. Sorry about that.

http://www.appliancezone.com/ShowProduct.aspx?ID=871

 

[d-jones]

Parts like this gasket should be easier to make than most others. Since the part is extruded the die is very simple, being little more than a plate with the desired profile cut into it through which the gasket material is then forced. Remember those Play doh devices we had when we were kids that squeezed the Play doh into all kinds of interesting shapes? These gaskets were made using the same principle, though obviously with more complex machinery. Just for grins I measured one of my gaskets to see what the approximate dimensions were and this is what I came up with, though I didn't cut it in half to get a clear view of the profile so it's not completely accurate. But in spite of that it's such a simple shape it's hard to believe there's nothing out there already that would work as a substitute. The part in Jason's link is your basic 06 series gasket, so I'm surprised to hear that he was able to make it work. I have a few of those laying about at my folks house, so now I'm going to have to have a closer look at them.

 

[combo52]

Door Seals For MT HOH Dryers

I dough the deterioration of these has much to due with the O-Zone lamps that were used of some models of these dryers, it is much more likely that the old type rubber that was used is just old, also on this dryer design the door seal is also in a fairly hot location.

 

I should think that it would not be that difficult to come up with something that works for these dryers, after all it does not have to be watertight. The wide flange is somewhat important to protect tumbling clothing from excessive wear and this area often wears away first, I have had success by turning gaskets over so they can continue to be used. But unfortunately the cost of making rubber parts like these is going to be very expensive, so it will likely be better if one of us can come up with a workable substitute. Fortunately the 1/2 dozen older MT dryers in our collection all have decent door seals and since I do not intend to try to use one of these slightly dangerous dryers as a daily driver I dough that I will ever have to replace any of them.

 

[gansky1]

Does anyone know offhand when Maytag discontinued the ozone bulb? I had a 641c that did but have never seen them in a 700 or later series.

 

[qsd-dan]

Does anyone know offhand when Maytag discontinued the ozone

My 641C and PA641C have them but neither my 1964 DE700 or my 1962 DE701 do. I'm guessing they were discontinued around 1960/1961.

 

[kenmore71]

In looking through the parts lists it appears as though the 6(7)41s had them but the 6(7)42s did not.

Also, it appears as though the early d700s has them but the d701s & d702s did not. I could not find any reference to their elimination in the 1960-62 "Let's Talk Service" bulletins, but that doesn't mean anything. I would say that 1960-61 would be correct and that it was feature that just kind of silently "went away"!

 

[danemodsandy]

Silently Going Away....

....Used to be a pretty sure sign that there was some sort of major problem, as in problem that could cause bad publicity or lawsuits.

So, I have to wonder what the problem was with ozone lamps. It must have been something fairly dramatic for the feature to have been so summarily yanked.

 

[combo52]

O-Zone Lamps

I never heard of any problem with these other than they could cause nasal irritation, and WP still used these on a few dryers as late as the 1974 models, Hamilton still had one in 1968 in its dryer. But more likely it was an almost useless feature so I believe that is the major reason for their disappearance.

 

[jetcone]

I haven't had any polio since

using my 1957 Charcoal dryer with the ozone lamp-knock on wood! Neither has Robert for that matter! I can't speak for Greg or Skyler yet.

 

Good point about how they just "slipped" away into oblivion. They weren't even offered as an expensive option after the fact!

Actually the nasal thing you speak of was only the tip of the iceberg. Ozone works by oxidizing , it will oxidize germs into oblivion however that also makes it very caustic to your lung tissue, something you won't feel until real damage is done. Ozone is heavy so it stays near the ground, in the 70's they used to issue ozone alerts and people were told to stay indoors on heavy days. So use your bulbs sparingly, for the basement vented dryers probably blew most of it outdoors but that vent was right beside little Johnny's swingset  and all the neighborhood kids were told to stay around there so mama could keep an eye on them.

 

Perfect Storm

 

[gansky1]

Hey! That confirms what we've been saying for decades. Maytag saving lives while Whirlpool was killing children innocently playing on the swings.

Knew it! Yay Maytag!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Ozone bulbs were put in dryers first by Hamilton who, after all, made the first dryers. They were added to impart a pleasant scent to laundry which, at that time, was washed in soap and might not smell so sweet dried at high temperatures with very little air flow. GE replaced the ozone bulb with a solid cake air freshener in the TOL 1956 dryers. As scented detergents replaced laundry soaps and scented fabric softeners came to be used, the need to remove odors from the laundry in the dryer disappeared. As perforated dryer drums began to be replaced with solid drums, there was a diminished opportunity to see the purple light or use it as a selling factor. That, coupled with the higher air flow made less of the fresh scent noticeable or necessary.