GE Filter-Flo

[yogitunes]

Sometimes you may need a helper to hold the tub while you are removing the bolts.....

you can try to hold the tub with one hand and remove bolts with the other, but the machine does not always want to cooperate with you.......

looking forward to pics of the control panel....

 

[panthera]

Hi Bob,

Sorry, kinda stressy week. Three of the five kids got sent to social services, parents stripped of all rights for ever.
Review court said only six months.
Only.
My folks are in their late seventies, they so don't need to be raising kids.

Anyway, we got everything out (I am totally paranoid about bolts set in plastic anything) and are now cleaning the tub, boot, agitator 'flume', agitator, transmission bearing (the plastic cap under the agitator) and agitator cap.

Will have it all back together in about 15 minutes and then, we shall see what we shall see.

Thanks, all!

 

[yogitunes]

you may want to spray some lubricant (WD-40) on the bolts too.....sometimes they get stuck or a little bit of rust on the tips from underneath.....we don't want them to snap off for you, it's rare but can happen....

 

[panthera]

Yay!

Thanks to y'all here, we got it. Bolts were tight, but with both of us working on it, we got it. Plastic just plain scares the you know what out of me.

We checked the boot very carefully, found no leaks. I think it either came loose because I foolishly had it transported on its back or when they did the clutch they didn't tighten it enough.

Either way, a million billion thanks to all!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Good! Another saved from the scrap yard.

 

[yogitunes]

Glad it all worked out.....

most times you can transport these machines on their back/sides with no problems......I always have......but theres that one in a million that has an issue and pops off.....

now the fun begins.......I know.......I have 6 of them........between the filter flo....the mini-basket/mini-quick options.......multi-cycle, variable speed options, IMO a machine to fit every need........not to mention the spin/spray and the clear rinses.....heavy duty enough to handle just about any fabric/textile you can load into it.....

Enjoy Keven......keep us posted

Martin

 

[panthera]

Well,

Because I have never read anything but that all GE filter-flos have pin-hole leaks, we leak tested.
Guess what!

A-Yup.

So, going to pick up some radiator epoxy. It's in just one single area of the tub, just by the boot and so small I probably could do it with silicon. BUT, experience has taught me, where one is, there are more waiting to go.

Thanks again, folks - honestly, the difference in quality between this machine and new GEs is like day and night.

 

[a440]

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Nice clean looking GE!  These are fun!</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Glad you were able to do an easy fix!</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Your Amana Radarange is the exact one that I am using now.  Great Range.</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>

 

[cfz2882]

filter flo outer tub pinholes

filter flo pinholes in the outer tub seems really vary-must depend on how
good of porcelain job was done that day along with the water machine is used
with-my very high miles'81 has no pinholes and none developing that i know
of,but my much lower"milage"'80 rim flo does have one-kinda weird to watch
a water drop form in the middle of nowhere on the underside of the tub!
Smashed up '83 i grabbed at the dump for parts did not have any rust but a
'75 had several pinholes,enough to really leak

 

[panthera]

Oh, yes

We picked up the Amana years ago. Got an enormous amount of help from several folks here - those dratted switches, left and right of the door have to be timed just right.
It gets used in summer on the patio.

We'll get the pinhole then let it run for a while.

Thanks, all.

 

[a440]

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Hopefully no pacemakers!  LOL!</span>

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Brent</span>

 

[panthera]

No,

No pacemakers.

Went to Home Depot this morning to pick up a marine epoxy (or, at least, something rated for continuous water and solvent contact).

Oh, my paws and whiskers. It's the "B' team on Saturdays. Sheesh. Mr. TooD-U-M-for-Words tried to sell me solvent weld for PVC. It does produce a water tight connection, 'tis true...just, for steel and porcelain?

The woman in paints, thank goodness, helped me in the end.

Right now, the Naval Jelly is exchanging carriers like mad, we'll see what things look like in a few minutes. I really was SO pleased that there was next to no rust...but, gosh, it doesn't take much for a pinhole leak.

Was this GEs solution to the filter-flos running forever otherwise? Built in self-destruct sequence for any machine which ran too long? They could easily have stamped a slight hump in around that boot seal, forcing iron or steel objects which came to rest on the tub bottom to be flowed away and ultimately down the drain.

 

[panthera]

epoxy 'set'

Well, it will still have to cure, but I hope it's well enough done.

The fine print on epoxies is always interesting - this one is rated for continuous use under water and OK for potable water. Most of the easy to use ones say they are water proof - until you get to the 4 point type at the bottom of the fifth page of instructions.

 

[panthera]

One more coat

went on after that picture - the rust flecks fell in from my tools, I left them. They're on top of the second coat of epoxy and I was afraid of disturbing it.

We'll know in 2 hours, 45 minutes whether it took or not!

I can't say how much I appreciate the help.

 

[yogitunes]

Keven

better a little safe than sorry.....and since you have it open and torn down, run a bead of sealant around the drain port too, just for safety.....

the filter inlet is usualy self sealing with that plastic plug holding it in place, although sealant wouldn't hurt there too......

I would just hate to see you get it all together after this and have a small leak come from one of these areas........

looking good otherwise.......and you didn't think you knew what you were doing....your too modest

 

[panthera]

Good tip, Martin

I just haven't a clue about GE Filter Flos. And when clueless, I ask.
You folks helped and I do appreciate it.

Someone had already - and fairly recently - sealed the problem areas you mentioned. Rather well, too. I suspect the boot coming loose and the pin-hole leak are two totally separate situations. When we cleaned things up, we no doubt dislodged the crud which was blocking the pin-hole leak.

I don't think this washer was used over much. It doesn't show the usual heavy wear on plastic parts or scuff marks on painted steel. There were at least two separate repairs done of which we have evidence - that sealing you recommend and the rebuilt clutch. Still, there's just not the massive build up of dirt and dust and lint you normally see in a Thumper which has been in use this long.

Which is my next question - how can we find out just about when she was built? Would the serial number tell us?

Thanks everyone!

 

[panthera]

Maiden Wash!

Well, the epoxy held and she's washing up a storm.
I certainly am glad we got things cleaned out - both the inside of the agitator and the 'agitator bearing' (the plastic cap over the bolts) were absolutely filthy inside. Not with grease but with dirt...or dawg food...or dawg poop.

There's a standing order in for these machines by several breeders and kennels in the area, not hard to understand why! I picked it up right after it went out on the floor and before they had called the next on their list. Pure luck!

Thanks, again, to all.

 

[macboy91si]

1986

Wow this is the same series as my SpotScrubber model. Do you have a console shot. Also did you say this was a standard capacity or the large capacity model? -Tim

 

[panthera]

Tim,

I think ours is two or three steps down from yours although, yes, the design is similar. What do you suppose the era was on these? Obviously, they were towards the end. GE should have never stopped building good machines!
Instrument shot coming right up:

 

[andy]

Food for the eyes...

That's a great looking GE filter-flo. Those were, and still are great old washing machines, and I am thankful there are still quite a few out there, still going.

I know they used quite a bit of water, but the quality in those is as good as gold. Hang on to it and if it ever should break down, have it repaired, no matter what the cost.

The new washers sure aren't anything like those.

Andy

 

[yogitunes]

Very nice Keven

everyone all together...OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

that would be the standard capacity tub, first clue would be the water level switch on goes to "large".......it would say "ExLarge" if that size was available...still fun just the same

heres one, in ExLarge capacity I am constructing for someone........these would be about 1985ish......

 

[yogitunes]

This is the panel change that went into the 90's...and the end of the filterflos....

actually a "rimflo" design with the double agitator....no more mini-basket....now "handwash"

 

[panthera]

Thanks!

But, oh, my - that final panel design was not to my taste.

That must have been about the era GE started saving money by cutting corners on everything?

Things are tight, washing results are good, final spin results quite surprisingly good - turnover outstanding and filtration great. What on earth prompted GE to drop a brilliant design (which must have paid for itself long since) and go with trash and junk?

 

[retromania]

Panthera: You got you a good 'un. I love the filtration system on those older GE's. My aunt had a set back in the early 70's with a mini-basket. Was that an extra or did it come standard with the model?

 

[retromania]

Washer lover: What is a burp up filter. Please tell me a brand name. Thanks.

 

[hydralique]

Keven . . .

<span style="font-size: medium;">Congrats on finding this and getting it running well. My parents have a similar Hotpoint from the mid to late ‘80s that has never had a repair and is still washing away; I think these machines are a close match for DD Whirlpools in terms of reliability. No leaks either that I’m aware of, although the outer cabinet has some ugly rust spots – evidently those paint and porcelain guys at GE had their good and bad days.</span>

 

[retromania]

Kevin: I agree with you there. Trash & junk!

 

[mtn1584]

Please forgive me, I was just kiddding.............

Panthera, I am sorry, I just wanted to see your washer. I can say with 100% certainty, that that model you have was manufactured in 1990. In 1991 they went to an all black panel with just the "GE" logo on the left hand side. I wanted to buy this washer in the worst way, my ex wife and I were buying a house in 1990, and when I went to buy this washer in 1991, it was no longer available. I was really dissapointed. I love this console, 1989/1990. Best of luck to you, and enjoy your new washer.
Mike

 

[gansky1]

Very fine washer, Keven. Parts are readily available for the most part though it wouldn't hurt to stockpile a few for posterity, the troubles are fairly predictable. Clutch, pump, etc. are pretty reasonable. I love my 69 FF, very nice washer - the best, obviously, for pet hair. Good save!

 

[macboy91si]

Well Keven

Mine is a 1986 and my 86 GE ad that came with it has your exact console in it. Your machine is the TOL "standard capacity" w/2 speeds and the mini-basket. The next step up was the 1 -speed ex-large capacity. The "Large Capacity" it refers to on the control panel is just GE marketing label hype. This is small tub machine and the "Ex. Large Capacity" labeled machine is the deeper tub models. A great machine there, sort or rare in it's own rite.

 

The silver/orange/red on black started in 85 I think. I'm sure the differences from 85 to 86 were small, the SpotScrubber was introduced in 1986.

 

-Tim