For Better Or Worse It Is Mine - GE Mobile Maid

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Yay A New DW

We are all hoping it works, I could not imagine living without a DW.

You did a great job with the epoxy, plastisol repairs are often not pretty but they are not too difficult to make effective, just stay on top of any new breakouts.

DO-NOT try to dissemble the pump unless it has to be repaired, the pumps in these GE DWs are difficult to dissemble and repair without replacing NLA parts. If either hose connection [ one drain the other goes to the power-shower ] on the pump leaks these are easy to deal with as they are just held on with simple metal hose clamps.

It will be interesting to see how you like this DW once you start using it, it probably should be better than the D&M 18" machine. You should avoid letting it go through the heated dry cycle as this added stress on the old plastisol in the bottom of the DW is not a good idea. If it is too big an inconvenience to try to catch and stop the dry cycle a relay can be added under the DW so the heater will only be on during motor operation. You will need any extra heat that you can get with this DW if your incoming water temp is not over 120F, you could even wrap a comforter around the machine to keep in heat and reduce noise, LOL.

John L.
 
Great job, Launderess!   You'll be rebuilding washer tubs too before you know it...  

 

POR-15 or other products can be used indoors if there is good ventilation.   I've managed to not asphyxiate myself using it in the Ogden basement but I did have all the windows open and a couple of fans to help move the fumes out and it was when doing a very small paint job.  If you have a balcony or porch, that could be a good place to work also.  

 

And that tub looks much better after the cleaning - it looks like the machine did not get used too badly.   Anxiously awaiting the news of the first water tests! 
 
Congratulations. I happen to like these troublesome, noisy, controversial- quality machines (isn't that what some think of the Mobile Maids or did I extrapolate descriptions?). In any case, I'm glad you found something that appears to have minimal issues that you've already tackled. I am learning something with each appliance experience, thanks to this great support group. I hope it's not too loud - even if, personally-speaking, I tend to like a little noisier machine(I come from the Motor City, for sure).

Hope to see this MM up and running in video and thanks, as always for the witty remarks. :-) LOL.
 
Thanks All To Pieces

For all the kind words!

Checked the result of yesterday's labours earlier and the stuff set up hard as rocks. So now the only question is how the patching will react to water and so forth. Am tempted to pour about two cups of hot water into the sump to begin "bringing the ship to life" as it were but haven't decided should deal with the rust and hole underneath first. Will probably at least hit the rust area with a coarse cup brush and clean things up, just to see what one is dealing with, then go from there.

Am rather on the fence about POR-15 and other so called "rust preventing" substances.

From researching around various other site including automotive there are those who swear by Por-15, Rust Bullet, et al, and others who swear at them. *LOL* Some simply feel the best thing to do with rust is remove as much of it as possible, then patch and or otherwise rebuild the area. More claim that all these substances do is delay the inevitable and that often rust continues to grow under the coating and even eats it's way trough. What does seem important at least with POR-15 is the prep work. Unless done correctly results are not going to be up to par.

With warmer weather and thus often the place shut up because the AC is on am not looking forward to being sealed in with fumes from Por-15 or whatever while they gas off. Will see how things go; maybe can slap some waterproof duct tape over the hole (after abrading off much of the rust) and wait for cooler Fall or Winter weather for any chemical repair work. That way can leave windows open and even clear out for a day or so until the fumes die down.

Other school of thought is to simply remove the rust, patch with epoxy and perhaps hit the area with Rustoleum product and call it a day. If the inner patch jobs hold long as no new breaks in the Plastisol occur there shouldn't be any water leaking out. That should keep a lid on the rusting, and can always just keep an eye on things.

@combo52

Can count on perhaps one had now many times one has used "heated dry" for any dishwasher in my life. Just don't see the need as between a good supply of hot water and rinse agent things dry well enough on their own. Being as that may am way ahead of you in considering that using the heated dry on this unit routinely probably is not the wisest. It looks as if someone was playing around with the unit and or used heated drying too often as part of lower upper rack (the one that hangs off the back of the tub) is melted a bit on one side. Am *very* concerned about the patch job which is not far under the heater. Don't want to risk exposure to too much heat often.

According to the service manual I have for the Hotpoint version this machine inside temps reach about 180F or so.

Our hot water has been around 135F or higher the past several months. Don't know what is going on but it bodes well especially considering it will only go higher in winter when the boilers are on for heating purposes.

Kept the insulation blanket from the Frigidaire/Kenmore 18" before it was chucked. After washing down the outer cabinet and polishing things up will see if one can find away to wrap it around the MM cabinet at least the back and sides. This hopefully will help holding in some of the heat and keep the noise down.

Know from reading the owner's manual that came with my machine and the Hotpoint service books how to stop and restart the machine after resetting to "wash" again. These directions are given as part of a the process for cleaning the tub to remove stains/spots/scale buildup with various substances such as oxalic acid. In theory once one learns where on the dial the main wash begins can simply stop and reset the unit. If done before the thing dumps the wash water should get another cycle. However unlike my late Kenmore there isn't a temp sensor in this machine, so it will continue heating water for the entire "second" wash. That could result in water temps >160F depending upon several factors.

This machine has a 50 minute "normal/daily" cycle with about twenty minutes of that devoted to heated drying. Also according to the manual lid remains closed at the end of washing, thus no automatic "pop up" as with other Mobile Maids.

In general:

This Mobile Maid in some ways is more compact than the portable Kenmore 18".

Because the water and drain hoses are up front it can be pushed almost flush against a wall. Where the Kenmore required several inches of space in back and therefore stuck out, the MM makes a smooth line with the Miele and AEG washing machines that are in the same row.

From reading the owner's manual you can fit a boat load of dishes in these things! While the motor and heating will draw more energy than the Kenmore did, will only have to run this baby perhaps only once a week since it holds so many dishes. It may be one of those situations that the thing won't be run until one is out of clean things to use.

If the thing does workout plan on only running it during the day or early evening. Both to keep the noise from bothering anyone and to keep an eye on the thing while it is running.

Kept the top from the old Kenmore (it had to come off anyway to get at the hoses), and placed it over the patterned vinyl top of the MM. This will protect the surface of the latter as one keeps things on top including a convection oven. The Kenmore top is also easier to keep clean and being solid much less prone to damage than the vinyl of the MM.

Also kept the unicouple hoses from the Kenmore which may come in handy as one sorts out how to get the MM near enough to the kitchen faucet and sink. Another worry is that the quick connect on the kitchen faucet is the larger/fatter version that works with my Miele and AEG. Am not going to be swapping it out for the smaller style "GE" version each time one wants to run the thing, so again that needs sorting.
 
Thing Makes More Noise Than A Hooker If You Don't Pay

*LOL*

Spent most of Sunday evening and early Monday morning doing a final cleaning, waxing and buffing of the Mobile Maid. Tipped it on it's back to get at the rust spot and hole underneath and now that is sorted. Hole overall is about a nickel or quarter give or take. Will patch later this week with another type of epoxy am considering.

Wanted to swap out the short MM hoses for the longer uncouple saved from the Kenmore, but my luck on of the screws securing the front panel is stripped and stuck. Tried "Liquid Wrench", banging, several sizes of Phillips head and even normal screw drivers, the thing won't budge. Am going to have to either borrow or purchase some sort of extraction tool to get it out apparently. When it rains it pours.....

On to more exciting news?

Yesterday one had noticed each time the unit was tipped on it's back for work, somehow the tub got dirty. Reached down last night and felt it was water that had come up from the sump. Indeed the area around the seals was "moist". Am wondering therefore how long this machine went unused.

With that in mind poured four cups of hot water into the sump Sunday afternoon and went about my business. By Sunday evening noticed no leaks and that the water level remained same. With that in mind got the unit prepped and gussied up after giving up on getting the front panel off.

First thing this morning decided to see once and for all what the deal is with the unit. Wheeled it into the kitchen and although it is a bit of a squeeze can get around the thing enough to hook it up to faucet and so forth.

However we have several problems.

First after the Unicouple is attached and faucet turned on slowly water comes out of the "spigot" and goes into the hoses at the same time. Once you get to full flow no more "leaks", well not into the sink.

With the dial at "off" however once water is turned on full force you can hear it splashing out of somewhere behind the front panel. Since we cannot get the thing off cannot tell from where. However if the dial is moved past the first wash to "Rinse" the sounds and one therefore presumes leaking/splashing stops. Ran the machine through from that point until "dry" and couldn't hear or see anymore leaking.

According to the Owner's manual the dial should be at "Off" when connecting the hoses, so what is up with water leaking down? This probably explains why there is rust at the bottom of the front panel and how that screw became rusted tight.

If anyone can shed any light on what could be the cause of the "gushing" water one would be obliged.

L.[this post was last edited: 7/21/2014-08:13]
 
Relax

This happened to me too. When the water from the inlet solenoid is released into the siphon-break (to fill the dishwasher) it sounds like water is leaking. If you don't see any water on the floor underneath the unit while this is filling, that's probably the cause of the noise. It is unsettling and worries me a little each time I hear it. On the built-in Top Loaders, this doesn't happen because the solenoid is way in the back of the unit, connected to the frame, not the tub, and is piped over the top of the frame and into a small opening at the top of the tub, so you hear a little water gurgling, but not the gushing that makes you think there's a leak.

 

You've done a great job on this and done your due diligence. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Yes, it is noisy, but it's fun, quick and does the job.
 
Sadly we got lots of water on the floor

Well not lots but enough to make several large "wet" areas on the puppy "wee-wee" pad placed underneath.

Again cannot be sure but think the leaking/gushing stopped once the machine began operating. Say this because there are periods of respite from the noise (when the motor stops) and things are quiet.

Just remembered did not select a cycle before starting the dishwasher, but did so after noticing. Also what does the little asterisk mark just after "off" but before "wash" indicate?
 
leaks

The splashy sounds are as described above, the siphon break under the solenoid valve. It's approximately at your left knee when standing in front of the machine. To remove the entire front, take off the timer dial. Two screws down near the floor remove the front, then sort of swing it out from the bottom, it's got tabs near the chrome handle that hold it in place, just swing straight out.

Then you can put back on the dial, start up the machine without the front and watch that solenoid for leaks. My solenoid leaked for the first 3 or 4 loads, then I tightened all the screws that held it together and no more leaks. Watch and see how it openly sprays water into the funnel, you'll understand the sounds you hear.

Funnest Dishwasher ever. Everyone mentioned loud. It's also hot, since there's no double tub or insulation. All that HOT water is pounding against the very cabinet walls you see on the outside. It heats your kitchen while washing!

This picture is on it's side, sorry, but you can see the front of the DW with the front removed. It'll help you know what's going on(a bit). And you can see the wet rug. It took a while to locate and fix the vrious leaks, but now I've had no leaks since last October.

The link covers some of my repairs

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?48779
akronman-2014072107495603552_1.jpg
 
CheapAs# screws

Those screws are just simple sheet metal screws, nothing aligned or deep. Try a needle nose pliers to be able to exert out-force while also turning? However you get them out, just use a larger screw to replace it. They are hidden and just simple sheet metal screws.
 
Soak that screw with your choice of penetrating oil

Launderess - although I presume you did this, did you let a penetrating oil(rust loosener) set for a while, then try moving it? You have to let it set for a few minutes..you probably know all this, just in case... then as Akronman suggested, get a locking wrench, if possible, and turn it or use a longer screwdriver, with a good grip on the handle, and see if you can budge it. Here's another idea to make your own loosener, courtesy Popular Mechanics:

"A home brew concoction of 50 percent Acetone and 50 percent ATF may work well in some cases, but be mindful of the fumes. "

ovrphil-2014072111252909691_1.jpg
 
If you already own an electric drill, the bolt-removal bit (available at Homo Depots everywhere) only costs about 3 dollars. I've made a habit of dosing all the screws and bolts on vintage appliances with penetrating oil and allowing it to sit for a day before trying to remove them. It saves a little bit of frustration.
 
Have Used Enough Liquid Wrench

That the paint around said screw has dissolved! *LOL*

Tried again yesterday night and this screw is not budging. Am going to see if using a small vise-grip pliers will loosen. If not will borrow a Dremel type rotary tool to cut a gauge into the head so can try shifting with a flat head screw driver.

Actually do have two drills and screw extractor bits, but thus far they have failed as well. Don't really want to add to already good sums spend on this machine buy purchasing yet another tool just for this one job, so will see what can be done with what one has in house.

Ordered a new faucet adaptor "nipple" that fits the unicouple. The one which came with the unit is old, corroded inside and lacks any sort of screen. Maybe the force of our tap water is too strong for the machine? Am grasping straws one knows but until one can get underneath the front panel....

On a brighter note it looks as if the patching has held thus far. Checked for signs of water leakage when machine was tipped over to work on the stripped screw and things were dry as a bone. Am going to use a different epoxy on the hole underneath as it is tight. Due to all the wires and such aiming even a small epoxy laden spatula may prove difficult and create a mess. Will use one of the better tube "two part" things one kneads together like plumber's putty.

Regarding sound; don't find the MM that bad. Then again am coming from that DM designed Kenmore which wasn't exactly whisper quiet.

Heat loss: yes this thing throws off quite a bit. Soon as one can find a way of doing so without damaging the newly polished finish will put on the insulation blanket taken from the Kenmore. For the top have a few yards of old knitted cotton padding that one uses to keep the heat in our various countertop convection ovens. Will just lay it on top after starting the unit up. That way can simply take it off and replace as needed to open or close the top.

Question about the leaking:

Noticed when one plugged in the dw there was humming at once. When water was turned on it began to "leak" out of the bottom of dw. However once things began to operate leaking appears to stop. Could the water problem be caused by the timer control being "on" (which would explain the humming sound IMHO) but not in proper place to begin a cycle?

Owners manual says to turn the dial only until one hears the machine start. For certain cycles it also advises to go beyond the first wash.

Plugged the unit in again to test and there isn't a humming. However this is after allowing the DW to run a cycle the other day and shut off on it's own accord. Am wondering if the timer dial was not where it should have been as a result of all the movement over the past several weeks. [this post was last edited: 7/22/2014-17:10]
 
Launderess,

It's been awhile since I've been under my MM, my daughter has been using it
for several years. The screws that hold the front panel, do they go thru the
main body? I can't remember. If so, is it visible on the backside that you
could get a vise-grip on it to turn it?
Bill
 
Hi Bill

Screws are in the corners just slightly to the left and right front wheels. Aside from turning the thing upside down cannot see how to get at them with any sort of pliers, even a vise-grip. Tried last night and just couldn't "see" what one was doing enough to make it work.

Just tested the MM again by hooking it up to the faucet but leaving it unplugged and yes, soon as water is turned on you can hear it begin dripping onto metal (bottom of front panel) inside. From the "wee-wee" pad placed underneath the water is coming from the left side of the unit. So it is either the hoses or solenoid. Water spots are not exactly at the extreme left corner, but more towards the middle.

If cannot get the darn screw off with a vise-grip from the front will have no choice but to go with a Dremel type tool or simply use an extractor. Either way that screw must come out so one can get under the bonnet.
 
Just Took A Small Flashlight And Peered

Into machine after lifting up and out the unicouple hose set.

Can see water drops on the part of those that is coiled over the "holder" inside and around the connection to the solenoid. This at least tells me the area where water is coming from. Hopefully it is a matter of tightening up some screws on the solenoid. Or, removing the hose connection adding a new washer and or some silicone tape and then screwing it back tightly.

Am here to tell you can see some rust on the inside as well. Mostly right around the vent area which is probably from years of hot steam escaping from the machine. The bottom insides of both the front panel and cabinet are likely rusty as well if this leaking was going on for any lengthy of time while the machine was in use. Still nothing probably nothing a little sanding and then treatment with a rust product shouldn't fix.
 
I've been watching this thread with soap opera-like interest. The input from AW's resident surgeons has been awesome.

Launderess, I'm cheering for you and your Mobile Maid. Hope the time and effort are rewarded with a 'save,' and that your patient doesn't wind up written out of the storyline. Either way, you have legit AW restoration bragging rights.

(cue suspenseful organ music and cut to commercial)[this post was last edited: 7/23/2014-11:08]

frigilux-2014072310472308202_1.png
 
So Now One Has Street Cred? *LOL*

Well that is something anyway. Tee-Hee!

When one thinks of the two other Mobile Maid dishwashers listed recently (Goodwill out west and on CL in MA)that one allowed to pass for this unit could sit down and weep. The one out west sold for $5 and seemed in much better nick than what I've got. Ditto the one listed for a hot minute in MA that also sold for not much money.

If one cannot budge this screw with a vise-grip am just going to drill it out and be done.
 
Sometimes One Becomes Sick & Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Picked up a tool extractor thingy this evening and went to town on that stuck screw. Well needless to say the thing did not "extract" a darn thing. Another ten or so dollars down the pan. As this point am hot, bothered and quite literally fed up to the back teeth. It didn't help today's weather was very hot and humid so was that uncomfortable as well.

Right then! This dishwasher want's to play rough house, so be it!

Took the good sized metal drill bit and simply drilled down the screw. For good measure took that some kind of piece of extractor and drilled right down below the head and into the "screw" piece. Grabbed my needle nose pliers and as if opening a bottle cap flipped the screw head off. There was a clang (screw going flying) and a bang (release of pressure that was holding the MM front panel on), and that was that, the front was off.

Of course when one does such things it leaves the rest of the screw still embedded inside whatever. At once saw why the darn thing was so stuck. Apparently someone replaced the thing on an angle. That plus time, rust, and moisture literally sealed the deal. Will have to wait for a vise-grip on order to arrive and see if we can sort that bit out as well. Failing that the remaining bit of the screw will have to be drilled out as well.

Now back to our continuing saga of "Launderess & The Mobile Maid"

Once the front panel was off things were pretty much what one expected. Dirty, rusty in spots but overall not that bad. Schematic diagram is glued to the inside of front panel. Bottom was cleaned out of God only knows what sort of filth. Lower half of inside and out of front panel will require attention regarding rust and paint, but that is small beer.

Checked screws on the solenoid and they were tight as a drum, so did not mess about there. Wheeled the DW over to the kitchen sink and hooked up water. At once it became apparent the leak was from around area where hose screws onto water valve. Removed same and used a spray of water to clean the screen on WV (did not know how to remove it and didn't want to mess about in case of damaging the thing), and got out my Teflon tape stash. Long story short a bit of plumber's tape, replacing and tightening of the hose sung, and Voila! The trick she is done. No more leaking, at least for now by my tests. Made things sung but didn't want to risk stripping the thing and or snapping the WV off the machine. *LOL*

It is late, am tired so won't do a test until tomorrow. Well since one has already tested the DW and for leaks probably isn't much more to do than run a maiden wash. Will take and post some snaps of underneath the front panel if anyone is interested.
 
Leaking GE MM DW

YAY You got that terrible screw to let go, and stopped the leak.

Note Teflon tape or plumbers putty should not be used on hose bibs, the threads are there to hold the connection together not seal it from leaking, the sealing is all accomplished by the rubber washer in the hose cupping.

Now the NY dinner parties can resume and the performance tests can begin.

John L.
 
Good show!

When I work on things sometimes you have to show it who the boss is, and other times you have to walk away for a while and think about it.

Eventually the solution will come to you.
 
I need my head examined

The problem with the one out West, which I bought, BTW the sale price was $6.00, NOT $5.00, thank you very much, is

a). no idea what condition it's in other than what I've seen in a couple of photographs

b.) bought it on the hope that there's a Rinse dispenser in there and have no idea if it is, and

c.) teaching it how to drive to Connecticut. 

 

Other than all that, I'll let y'all know how it is when it gets here.

 

A Top-Loading Portable in the East is worth at least two in the West.
 
Max, You Sly Puss!

@bajaespuma: So it was *you* that snapped up that Mobile Maid from out West. Putting me off the scent as it were...... *LOL*

Up until the last minutes of the auction was seriously contemplating putting in a bid as well. I mean a MM for <$10? How could one say no? But given shipping quotes one was getting to shift the unit from Conn to NYC didn't fancy thinking about what it would have taken to get that DW. So this makes what? Your fourth Mobile Maid? Where will it all end I wonder. Tee-Hee.

@Everyone Else:

Thanks for the well wishes guys!

Model number for my unit is SM301A3 and pulls 10 or 12 amps (cannot read the plate clearly).

Unit is put together and in it's cubby so pictures of inside are on hold. For one thing have spent a bit too much time with this dishwasher forsaking other projects that urgently need my attention. *LOL*. Want to run the unit a few times and see if anything is happening I don't like thus giving a reason to open. Can understand *just* how someone would have put that screw back in sideways. Unless one missed something the MM front panel does not remain "clipped" in, so one has to hold the thing whilst reinserting screws. Wasn't easily managed yesterday with the unit upright so had to tip it again on it's back.

Next time one goes in want to address the spots of rust on the inner cabinet and front panel. Given the hot and humid weather the AC is on a least part of the day and thus aren't going to be shut up breathing fumes from paints and rust products. Am not too sure about POR-15 so want to do some research. Apparently the rust simply remains "encapsulated" under the stuff, but like a cancer still lurking about.

For now am enjoying not having to put hands in hot water several times per day, in particular after dinner or before bed. Once the thing is full will run a real wash cycle to see what there is. In particular want to see how my Cascade "Complete" (old formula with phosphates" does with this machine. Have a decent stash of the stuff nabbed from various sources before the big switch in formulas. If it does not give satisfaction will have to decide what to do; that is sell the stuff on and purchase something else, or try and *make* it work.
 
Note Teflon tape or plumbers putty should not be used on hos

@combo

Really? One had no idea. Used the Teflon tape because one sees so many excellent restoration job by members doing the same. Well, live and learn, that is what I say. Will keep an eye on the machine to see if the tape causes any problems...
 
Leaking GE MM DW

The Teflon Tape will do no harm [ or good ] but some plumbers putty and other sealants could be detrimental to 50 year old nylon water valves etc. and again it does absolutely no good.

Glad it looks like you have a DW again, I have long though a DW is one of the most important appliances in any home, I would gladly spend over $10,000.00 dollars if I had to not to wash dishes every day by hand and if it cost more that that I would have to think seriously about having a full time house keeper.

John L.
 
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