First timer changing belt on 1973 Kenmore C110.470200

[pixelhack]

This is like that kid's game GO GO STOP, but it is more like STOP STOP GO. I'm constantly thinking I see a light at the end of the tunnel but its a train...I would have been a goner if you folks hadn't kept pulling me off the tracks.

The gears in the transmission are ok and with all the help I have gotten here I have now found most parts. The gasket came off without much trouble, I think I can reuse it with a little bead of RTV on one side during install.

I was wrong about the gear fork spring. It was probably a few washes away from breaking into pieces.

I was wrong about the agitator shaft and it is pitted right where the upper seal sits. No luck finding a shaft which I think is part #285036. I suppose I could slather some JB-Weld on it and file it down. (In the good old days I would weld it up and turn it in a lathe but I have zero access to a shop now.)

Current challenge is getting the basket off, I have no wrench for that lovely nut that sits on top. I'll play with it a little then chisel it off if I don't have any luck with it.

I have started looking for a transmission but I think it is harder to find things like that here in Canada. For at least 10-15 years I have been driving past a used appliance store that would have a row of machines lined up on the sidewalk on a sunny day. Of course today when I go looking for it I find that during covid it has disappeared and there is now a tattoo shop there.

 

[114jwh]

I used a giant vise grip plier that fit around the nut once before I had a spanner wrench. I locked it in place then hit it with a hammer once the nut had been soaking in WD40 for a long time.

Where in Canada are you? One of the Canadian folks may be able to recommend a shop depending on where you are to help try and locate an agitator shaft or transmission. 285036 was the shaft but there was also a kit that included the shaft 285037.

 

[pixelhack]

I am in Vancouver. I have called around and haven't had any luck so far. I learned that if I say I have already called AMRE and Reliable Parts that most of the time they say they can't help me. One guy laughed out loud but he was the most helpful and gave me a couple hints that I already got here.

 

[pixelhack]

I got the basket off and also think I have found all the parts I will need.

I even managed to get the nut off without cutting it. After a lot of tap tap tapping on the nut with a punch it started to move.

Should the tub come out or is better to work on it in place?

 

[114jwh]

Great news that you managed to get all the parts you need. What kind of shape is the outer tub and the centrepost in? Often the tub bolts and the outer tub grommet are sources of leaks and in need of replacing during a rebuild which involves removing the outer tub - but depends on what kind of shape everything is in.

There are some great rebuild threads of belt drive machines on here that should help you during the process and what to watch out for if you haven't had a chance to review.

Keep us posted on how everything goes and if you run into roadblocks.

 

[pixelhack]

The bad news is they cancelled my parts order and I need to find parts again. So I have learned that even if you ask directly if they REALLY have the part you can't tell until you actually ORDER the part.

The good news is that I think my basket and tub are not too bad. I have posted a couple of pictures of the tub before cleaning, a picture after cleaning the tub a bit, the drain hole before cleaning and a picture of surface rust on the basket.

I have been looking at lots of rebuild threads but frankly a lot of stuff doesn't make sense until I have an AHA moment. Until then a lot of things go sailing right over my head. It could take me a few days to realize when I have asked a stupid question. For example when I started this journey I thought all I needed to do was replace the belt...

 

[repairguy]

That sure looks like a large chunk missing on that center post in picture 2.

 

[pixelhack]

That is an excellent point about the center post. I will give up on this machine now since I am still missing parts.

The good news is that using what I learned here about agitator removal with ratchet straps I have gotten the agitator off of a ge washing machine that has been sitting off to the side in the basement. That agitator proved impossible to remove a few years ago. I had been following some really bad advice from a free example on an online help-for-hire website which said you have to twist the agitator off. Turns out it pops off if you pull up. That ge washer has a transmission that probably needs a rebuild too. That transmission (WH38X10002) is unobtainable and not meant to be serviced but I found a youtube video that says you can fix it...LOL.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

 

[114jwh]

Sorry to hear the parts didn't work out and the not so great news about the centrepost. It could just be an illusion on the picture but it almost looks like its a bit crooked or is it just me?

Curious, do you have a picture of the control panel on this machine? If you are attached to it you could save it and if you found another belt drive in decent shape down the road you can sometimes swap the control panels with a little wiring modifications.

Good luck with your GE!

 

[pixelhack]

Kenmore memorial

Saving the control panel is a great idea. Oddly enough (but perhaps not so for readers of this forum) I felt obligated to try to bring my Kenmore back to full strength due to all the faithful service provided over the years. While I don't think I will ever find another in good shape for her control panel to sit on, I will save the faceplate and knobs on the control panel and mount it on the wall in my workshop like a plaque. Or better yet I will save the whole panel and put a couple of spare 4x6 speakers I have inside for a new workbench speaker.

I did have a couple of ideas I will never get to implement. One was to put a zinc strip in the transmission for cathodic protection. The springs in the transmission appeared to sacrifice themselves to protect the gears from corrosion so why not put something in to protect the springs? The other idea was to put a heat shrinkable adhesive lined tubing around the center post.

 

[combo52]

Reply 28

Things I won’t get to try on this washer.

Your third suggestion of sealing the outside of the center post to prevent further corrosion is probably a good one we have done that.

There’s really no need to try to keep transmission parts from corroding, etc.. Those transmissions are still a dime it doesn’t used I just put a good one in as long as you can keep water out of it it’ll last forever and nothing is gonna last no matter what you do if you have water in it, you might extend it a little bit.

Let us know what you find wrong with the GE.

John

 

[toploadloyalist]

Would you happen to have photos of the washer in its entirety (console, agitator, lid instructions)?

 

[pixelhack]

Other than pictures of the old belt I didn't take pictures of anything except what is already here. What were you interested in? My brother took it away yesterday to make something or other for woodworking. I could see the wheels turning in his head after I showed him how the transmission works. The console is coming back after he looks at the wiring.

 

[toploadloyalist]

I listed those things at the end in parenthises.

 

[pixelhack]

No more pictures at the moment, this diagram gives an idea what the console looks like though. No lights, bells or whistles on this one.

I think the agitator was called a super roto swirl.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Sufficient enough fore me.