GE FilterFlo issues

[avocado]

Hi,
I'm trying to address some issues with a WWA8500GBL GE FilterFlo. One issue is that it left some oil on the floor a while ago. Then the oil stopped. I assumed it was the transmission and that it had dropped all its oil. But it kept running. Well, now that I have the transmission out, the only oil on the transmission is some splatter on the side nearest the motor and there's lots of oily guck in the motor area. What other component over there could be responsible? Thanks.

 

[repairguy]

From the line on the inside of the machine cabinet I’d say either the water pump is leaking (through the weep hole in the pump or the pump shaft seal) or water is leaking onto the belt from somewhere else under the machine.

 

[cfz2882]

input shaft seal...

...is leaking and oil slinging off the pulley-the input shaft seal leaks when metallic debris that wears off of certain parts inside the transmission builds up on top of the input shaft seal and gets between the seal lip and the shaft-allowing oil to escape usually just clearing the debris and topping up oil will fix the leak for a long while.

 

[combo52]

Oil leaks from a GE filter flow transmission

Your pictures just look like a transmission oil seal failure coupled with a little bit a clutch and belt dust makes it nice in black.

I always figured that GEs were the messiest machines to work on, If it wasn’t the oil that would get you the black tape that used all over the wiring around the timer left all kinds of goo on your fingers LOL

John

 

[avocado]

I forged ahead with replacing the oil and the bottom seal. I guess I need to get the washer back together enough to hold water and see if I can figure out where the water leak is. It leaves a small puddle with each load. I'll likely replace the water pump regardless. Thanks for your help.

 

[avocado]

Tracking indicates that the new water pump should be here tomorrow so I yanked the old one in anticipation. Meanwhile, the only laundromat in town has no hot water due to some problem that's also waiting on a part. I'm running out of clean clothes.

 

[yogitunes]

I always say, if you only have one daily driver, you should have something like an Avanti portable as a backup.....

you can find them used from 50.00 to 100.00.....well worth the price of going to the laundromat....

I suggest the 1.6 or larger sizes....

your next step would be a wash board and a bathtub.....

 

[avocado]

Oops. Stupid me. I just remembered tomorrow is Memorial Day. I'll get the pump Tuesday.

 

[repairguy]

I agree if you’re going to have a machine of this vintage and plan to keep using it you should have a backup machine.

 

[goatfarmer]

Lets hope it's not the outer tub rusted out. Been seeing quite a few FF's of this vintage with that happening.

 

[yogitunes]

Brake parts cleaner will clean up that motor area nicely....

just lay down a bunch of newspapers to catch all the gunk....

keep us posted...

 

[avocado]

I had to add some hose clamps to help out the tired original clamps, and it took a couple of iterations to get the tub boot sealed, but it mostly holds water. There are a couple of rusty scuff marks on the inside of the outer tub where a wobbly inner basket has scraped it, but I don't see where any rust spots have perforated the outer tub. I probably should have left well enough alone, but I replaced the outer tub gasket. There was a rusty nub under there that I had to sand down with some emery paper. The link below goes to video of about leak test number 5 or so. It still leaks a few drops on the drain/spin cycle. But it's at the point where it will do laundry. I could have cleaned the inside of the cabinet better, but I didn't want solvent smell around the house.

 

[avocado]

I'm still not able to get through a wash at a high water level without water spilling over the top during the drain/spin cycle. My most recent experiment involved laying down some putty tape over perceived low spots on the rim of the tub. This helped. The amount of water leaked is not a lot. But I'd really like to find a solution that seals the top of the tub against the lid of the cabinet. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[yogitunes]

take out the four bolts holding the outter tub to the cabinet....

slide a small metal washer underneath each bracket and replace the bolts...

the top may take a little more effort to snap back down, but it will create a tight seal....

 

[avocado]

On the basis that one washer was a good idea, I added two washers and gave that a go. I also acquired a borescope so I could watch what was going on. Amazon was having a 'deal' on them so I sprang for the 30 bucks. Link goes to borescope video. The speckled surface overhead is the bottom surface of the cabinet lid. The gasket is on the left. You can just see some reflection off the edge of some of the washers I added in the cabinet corner up ahead. It still leaks, so I'm not sure what my next move will be. Maybe I'll try a third washer. Maybe I added too many washers and introduced a bow into the lid, so maybe I'll try taking out a washer. (I can't really see a bow, though.) Using the borescope I can see that if I put my full weight on the left side of the lid, it pretty much seals it. So maybe I'll think about fabricating a clamp to hold it down.