Frigidaire WO-65-2 rescued

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gansky1

gansky1

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Ben found a CL listing in St. Joseph, MO for a Frigidaire washer and found it was a WO-65-2! We had family in town this weekend but, when the pulsator beckons... I picked it up Sunday morning, only 1.75 hours from me. The poor dear was pretty filthy but seemed to perk up a bit and smile when I gave her a first wipedown. The first step in restoration is to bring back a little dignity!

It's in lovely condition, no oil leaks, motor shaft and pump are free and easy to turn. I tried a quick test but the motor capacitor is bad. Rather than stab at each individual issue, I'm going to put the time into a full-on restore so will try to get into it this weekend.

gansky1++4-22-2013-21-55-21.jpg
 
OOO! Great save, Greg! So nice to see that the original pulsator is still there, too. Hope the restoration goes well - can't wait to see more about this one!

Congratulations!
 
Now you'll have secure double rinsing!

Uhh, isn't the WO65-2 the first Frigidaire with overflow rinsing and not two deep rinses? Oh, and BTW, congrats!!!
 
WO-65-2

Great save Greg, it is amazing how many of these have turned up over the years, I got the same machine from my cousins about 15 years ago and it has only had minor problems, it seems to me by the time Frigidaire built the WO-65-2 model they had improved a lot of items and the Unimatic Mechanism was really about as good as it was going to get.  It also seems that a lot of these early Unimatics were often put aside for newer machines with little often really wrong with them, people that could afford this washer in the first place often were in a better position to buy a newer fancier machine than most consumers. And many other users just got tired of the tangled wrinkled clothing and the vibration problems that these washers sometimes had.

 

I really like this washer for washing really dirty loads of cleaning towels, white socks, underwear, etc., these loads I always wash hot and add LCB near the end of the wash cycle. And while this was the first FD model to have the overflow rinse instead of two deep rinses I converted mine back by using an older timer and timer dial because the two rinses do a much better job rinsing away the LCB smell that the overflow rinse does. The overflow rinse was a good idea for many users as it largely solved problems of soap scum residue on clean clothing when these washer were used with soap or in hard water areas.
 
For its age, that machine is in impressive condition! I'm glad you've found it (and another machine is saved from scrap)! 

 

Once you've restored it completely (if that is the path you will choose), I'm thinking it will look better than new. Good luck with all your work
 
This is

one of my favorites vintage appliances. While I don't have one, I've always been intrigued by them!
So happy for the save.
Good luck, and keep us posted with your progress!
 
I also have a WO-65-2 (1954) that I got about 7 yrs. ago. I use it like John said to do towels and whites. It has never had anything done to it except I had to have the timer rebuilt when I first got it. I also use Clorox added 5 minutes before the overflow rinse starts. I then just run it back thru a short wash cycle therefore getting 2 rinses to rinse out the bleach smell. It is my favorite washer and if loaded properly you never get the tangling. Glad you saved this one and best of luck with the restoration.
Bob
 
Never come across this before, a previous servicer had tapped the soft pot metal pump impeller around the screw to keep the screw from loosening and causing loose impeller syndrome and acute fan chatter.

This is a viable solution while replacement parts are widely available, but that is no longer the case for a 60 year old washer so I won't be doing it, but thought it was interesting.

I simply cut away the extra pot metal with a Dremel. This washer has sat dry for many years so the parts are coming apart pretty easily.

gansky1++5-5-2013-19-51-15.jpg
 
Current state of the workbench. The transmission parts are ready for cleaning, the pump gasket is cut and ready, water valve rebuilt. A long process, but it will be worth it to have a very reliable washer in the end.

I will put a new clutch torque spring in, a new oil pump and seal assembly and probably a new (or better) water pump impeller.

More to come!

gansky1++5-5-2013-19-58-23.jpg
 
Nice

thorough work Greg, as always. But how did you cut such a nice round pump gasket?? It looks original. 

In all the Unimatics I've worked on I have never come across a broken torque spring yet you and Robert seem to find them all over.

I wonder if it was a run of them sold in the MidWest.

 

You splurged on the royal purple - good on you! You won't regret how smooth it will run after 5-7 washes are done and its worked all in! Stuff is amazing in my GE , Bendix Duo's & Charcoal machines.

 

Those oil pump kits are scarce as hens teeth!!

 

Are you gonna change out the spin bearing now that its all apart??

 

 
 
I learned from Robert - he da man!

I will change the spin bearing but the only tool I don't have is the bearing removal tool! Robert & Fred will bring that with them next week and I'll have him inspect my work before we fire it back up.

Jon, it's easy to cut the pump gasket from new cork when the pump is apart as the templates are right there. I used the cover plate for the outside cut and the impeller for the inside cut.
 
Yet another broken torque spring!  They do make nice paper weights. ;)

 

I did some digging on Royal Purple's website, and they now make a synthetic version of the Non-detergent SAE 30 Air Compressor oil - 01513 Synfilm Recip 100.  This would be the synthetic comparison to the standard Air Compressor oil we've been using in the Unimatic mechanisms for years.  Now if they only made an SAE 60 and SAE 70 versions for the belt drive Whirlpool/Kenmore and Maytag transmissions.
smiley-smile.gif


 

I'm not an fluid engineer, but I'd be curious to know if the variation of oil viscosity would cause the oil pump efficiency to change.  I know that automotive guys mention that seals can be more leak prone with synthetics.

 

Ben

[this post was last edited: 5/6/2013-12:08]

http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Purple-Performance-Synthetic-Compressor/dp/B004PL9BVY
 
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