fixing 1966 Whirlpool

[1966_mustang]

Hey does anyone know where I can get parts for repairing these older belt drive machines? If I could get parts I think I could fix this thing my self. Can you still get most of these parts through appliance parts places these days?

Any help would be appriciated..

thanks

 

[1966_mustang]

Well let me ask this...

I have been reading through a number of post reguarding replaceing the centerpost bearing and seals on the BD KM and WP and it sounds like a HUGE job...
Is there someone who is willing to hire out and do this job? what would you charge for something like this?

 

[combo52]

Repairing a WP belt drive washer

To do bearings, seals, agitator shaft and spin tube, transmission etc and to renew and fix all water carrying parts, inlet valve, hoses water pump etc you are looking at around $400.00-$500.00 or possibly more. This is assuming the machine is transported to our shop, turn around time would be one to two months.

 

[swestoyz]

GTO's and Frigidaires

The honesty of the hobby –

This past weekend I held a gathering at my place, with about 15 or so people passing through the front door throughout the evening. One of the highlights is always the basement as it is the most hyped up point as past visitors always make their friends privy of the basement before visiting.

Once folks get downstairs, they love the panel lights, the different colors, and can always respect the history and memories provided by any vintage appliance. People grew up with their mothers or grandmothers using a conventional Maytag, or a belt-drive Whirlpool, or their aunt had a fun coppertone refrigerator in the kitchen.

Once the glitter and glam wears away, the conversation quickly turns back to me and the question is always – why. Why do I collect appliances? And the answer always comes back to – GTO’s.

I explain that I grew up turning wrenches with my father in the garage. My dad raced a 1970 Buick on the weekends, and would drag me along and taught me how to work on cars. Eventually as I progressed through high school and college, I was buying old beat up cars and dreaming of restored GTO’s and Firebird’s. I quickly realized though that the cars I admired were out of reach for a poor college student, but knew someday I would enjoy them again once I had an established career.

By pure luck a good friend ran across AW.org weeks after it went live in 2004 and told me I had to check it out. Besides Pontiacs I had also collected anything vintage that looked fun. It didn’t take long for me to remember playing with my mother’s center dial Maytag, and her nagging about leaving it alone while I was opening up the lid just enough to see what it was doing.

Appliances quickly replaced automobiles – they have motors, transmissions, water pumps, electrical components, suspensions. Everything a car has but in a small, convenient box that can be stored in a basement. Plus you could have many vintage appliances in a smaller space for pennies compared to a vintage GTO. Few people let others drive their vintage cars, but who cares if others wash their laundry in a vintage washer! I was able to get my hands dirty again and enjoyed seeing something come alive from the dead.

The morale of the story is, I was lucky to have been born into a house where my dad taught me how to troubleshoot and work on old cars. If you are mechanically inclined but have not worked on a washer, and while rebuilding a belt-drive Whirlpool/Kenmore is a large task, it is certainly no more difficult than say rebuilding a GM Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission out of a 1970 Chevelle. Yes you’ll need to acquire service literature, replacement parts, and the proper tools to complete the task – but it is achievable.

If you are not mechanically inclined and find a task like this to be completely overwhelming, then vintage appliances may not be the right hobby unless you have the resources (aka CASH) and are able find a reputable repair agency who can find the parts and would even touch an old machine like a BD Whirlpool.

This isn’t intended to discourage your from perusing your dream of owning a vintage appliance, but meant to put a perspective about the depth of the hobby. We are all here to enjoy watching these machines work, and some of us are willing to get our hands dirty and learn something along the way.

Ben[this post was last edited: 2/21/2012-10:31]

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Very well said Ben!!!

I can agree with everything you said, and have a little bit more to offer.

There are a lot of folks here who are into cars AND appliances. Very ironically, I was just thinking this past weekend as I worked on two Kenmores how much more fun they can be at times vs. working on a car project.

As Ben said, an appliance is an easy to get your arms around project that you can contain to your basement or garage, and finish if you're lucky in a day/weekend/or some other short period of time, provided parts are in-hand, etc.

Without hijacking this thread, below is a Mustang project that took nearly 3-years. It shouldn't have, but it did. It had a satisfying end, but the lag and wait time will make me think twice about doing this again.

The pic below is a 1986 Mustang LX 5.0. The damage doesn't look that bad, but whatever the car hit was low to the ground, and took out the K-member, driver's front suspension, part of the floor pan, steering gear, etc. A LOT more than it looks.[this post was last edited: 2/21/2012-10:30]

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Over the course of three years (October 2004 to summer 2007), a body shop buddy of mine put his staff to work on my car when they had nothing better to do and were just sitting around. It's a good cheap way to get great work, but requires LOTS and LOTS of patience. Any snow, rainstorms, or weird weather, I always knew the Mustang would get pushed off to the back corner for weeks/months.

I had to source a replacement fender, door, fender liner, rocker panel, K-member, wheels (it had non-stock stupid rims on the other three), trim, and some mechanical work. The body shop foolishly took the door molding off the replacement door, leaving me to find a replacement when NOS stuff is gone and the part long ago NLA.

Now the molding is in reproduction, so we'll finally put the last touch on the re-do, but this is not a project for the impatient.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

So....how does this relate to appliance work and in specific, a belt-drive Whirlpool washer?

Well, the first thing is an enthusiast should know the product they want to work on. Know it in how it is supposed to operate, what is normal and what isn't. Either that or be ready and open minded to learn as you go.

Then, yes indeed, access to parts is always good, or as Ben said, having the resourcs to find and keep a good service person willing to do the work.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE to restore these machines when the mood strikes. If not in the mood, it can be a royal pain. Acquiring them is the fun and easy part. Keeping them running is not always easy, and if I couldn't do the work myself, I can see where another Mustang-like restoration would ensue that would drain my enthusiasm.

The best part of working on appliances, especially ones which I have loved all my life in all their forms and variety, is envisioning a project, and making it happen, and not having to wait three years while the interest level turns into a big pile of stress. Echoing what Ben said...this is something I can do myself. It is often more fun to take a piece of crap and make it into something desirable, at least for me, vs. finding something mint and merely collecting it.

I agree with what John said too -- restoring that '66 Whirlpool, or any washer like it, could take some time, time to locate parts, and time to do the work. Taking the machine apart, removing the time-worn offending parts and replacing them, especially the bearings and seals, will eat up time and money if you're paying someone to do the work.

For you 1966_Mustang, since I think you already are restoring a car, you probably know the drill. I would say to take your investment in this machine, try to work on it yourself, learn, and then do what you can your self. This is cheaper and more satisfying to someone who knows what restoration is.

I can help locate parts. I may have something, and I may be willing to share. If not, there are resources here to help. The best thing you can do is to get to know people here.

Good luck!

Gordon

 

[juice61]

bd parts

Most mechanical parts can be found.
The store where I work has many.
Timers and switches are harder because
They are model specific.I have a center
Post remove/install tool which makes
That job much simpler.model number
Is helpful but not absolute.

 

[goatfarmer]

Great timing, Ben!

Funny you should mention GTO's, and washers. This past Sunday I started working on my 68 GTO, which has been sleeping in the garage for about 8 years. I've decided I'm going to drive it again this year!  I had to remove some washer and dryer parts sitting on top to open the hood.

 

 And I have the 66 WP washer that Mustang is wanting to rebuild. Great advice, nothing I can add.

 

[1966_mustang]

Yall are SOOOO Right!! As My name says it ALL!! I have had about 6 Old Mustangs that I have fooled with for the past 20 years.... This last one I have now Is a 1966 A code Fastback. Boy you talk about WORK!! I have done ALLLLL the Metal work on this thing! ALL!
1. New sheet metal under the hood
2. New Cowl-----$400.00
3. New Toe boards--100.00
4. New Dynacorn one piece floor pan.
5. Entire new trunk Floor------????.00
6. Two new Quarter pannels----1000.00
7. Two front Torque Boxes----100.00
8. Subframe connectors---
9. Doors----500.00

This has to be one of my toughest projects... The car is presently on Jack stands. Just an empty Rust free shell... I have worked a solid YEAR on this thing!!! and I am Exsausted!!!

I am not sure which is tougher working on my 4020 Tractor or the Mustang...
I bought this car in 2011 January.

So I am really worn out on this mustang and have many many miles to go... most of the hard parts are done... I hope.. So when my man up in Maryland offers 400 bucks to restore my machine... I don't even blink... I might just take him up on it and have him do it... I have so many projects!!

Not to mention I have a Linux Embedded software project I am working on... Now you want hard??? try follin with this GNU linux stuf!!!!

Yeah I am fairly certain and sure rebuilding a washing machine will be by far NOT my biggest challange, but sometimes it's just you to sit back and let someone else do the work.....
Tonight I had to change 3 belts on my toyota tocoma truck!! I did it... but WORK!!

I don't know I might end up doing it my self anyway... but 400.00 bucks sure sounds like a good deal so far..

 

[bendixmark]

86 Mustang

I have that exact same 86 mustang with the tenhole rims in red only it is a convertible.I have had 5 of them over 20 years

 

[garyl]

Parts

Try Appliance Parts Center, 222 East 8th Street, National City CA for parts. He may have repair manuals for your belt drive. Replacing the center post bearings is not too bad, particularly if you have the tools, but I've known many people who just use a big hammer and a piece of pipe to remove them, then carefully tap the new ones in with a bigger piece of pipe. Put the bronze bushings in the freezer first to shrink them a little. I've never tried the "cave-man" method, as I bought the removal and installation tools first thing when I started my business, I'm just passing on the info. If the spin bearings are not loose, just remove the belt, then the transmission bolts and drop it down a little. Removing the agitator and tub nut and mounting block first. Lube them with turbine oil and put it back together. You will have to drop everything down far enough to lube the lower bushings, then push the spin shaft up high enough to hold the oil on the upper bushing when you lube it. You can get a "Zoom Spout" plastic container of turbine oil at hardware stores. Belt drive washers are easy to work on, don't be scared of them.