GE Washer Dryer Combo saved

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Well, I decided to throw caution to the wind and try a 120v test. While Hubby checked my life insurance coverage, I hooked up a highly questionable two-wire supply out in the wet garage...

Well, the son-of-a-gun actually does run!!

 
Discovery and Dilemma....

I must admit that I did not expect the motor to start up so readily. The tub seems to be turning quite easily in 'tumble' mode. I manually advanced the timer through the cycle and I could hear the fill solenoids engage. The pump solenoid engaged and the pump ran smoothly. I heard the spin solenoid buzz but the tub did not accelerate to the blindingly fast 200 RPMs.... And as I had not hooked the 240v supply up, I had no way of knowing for sure if the dry function would work...

So here's the dilemma: Should I try and do any further work on this machine? I bought it as a 'parts donor' not expecting anything to work on it. My gut instinct is to grab the thermostat and swap it with the one in the Kitchen Centre (and investigate and hopefully resolve the timer power issue on that machine).

However, I think I should try a 240v test on 'Project Syracuse' to make sure the darned thermostat even works...

I have a lot of projects on the go, so needless to say, I'll be under pressure to 'get that bloody lot out of the garage' by fall. I guess I should just move down to Ogden full-time... LOL

Thoughts? Suggestions??
 
My 2 point 673 cents worth.....

 

 

Congrats Paul on scooping up another combo!  

 

My thought, as unpopular as it may be, is you bought this as a "parts donor" so use it as a parts donor.   Strip off all the useful / needed bits and say "buh bye" to the rest.

 

The cabinet / chassis, while restorable, looks pretty rusty / rough and would be a lot of work.   You said yourself you already have a lot of projects on the "to do" list, so why add another "major" project to it?

 

As Robert and others have said "You can't save them all......."

 

Kevin

[this post was last edited: 6/17/2013-14:05]
 
Combos raining down from Heaven

If it were a Maytag, John combo would be on a flight to Montreal right now.

You're retired now, and remember when that shop was almost available, and you fantasized about taking the dive and going into restoration full bore.

Well, Mister Paul Turquoisedude--that's what this customer would call you--could the Universe be any more clear of her intent for you, with this clue ?

Restored by you, this manna from above, a Vintage, General Electric, Under-counter, Automatic Washer-Dryer Combination could yield a small fortune in today's market.
Go for it.

And the new shipper Jackie from Washington State has a pick-up next month in Montreal. A practice run for your future Shipping and Receiving Department of the Turquoise Dude's Appliance Emporium. Aworg Karma is now fully at work.

And Hubby could be the Customer Host and PR vice president. (You would, however, have to check shipments to make sure he wasn't secretly adding bonuses to the order from your unappreciated private collection.) Chuckle.
 
Paul,

It's great you got this. The whole kitchen was a priced very low for someone that would have wanted to restore it. Apparantly, few had interest in doing so. Now you have plenty of spare parts for yours. Strip anything you might need and scrap the rest. There's still more antique appliances than people that appreciate them.

Most people only want something if it's very clean and in working condition, even then, they rarely want to pay the price to have it in that condition.
 
I have to agree with Kevin and others...

You have a great looking one right now. I'd possibly hook this one up and see what works and what sparks/squeals/grinds then take what you need for yours and possibly find homes for the good stuff you don't need. I usually think about saving all the machines I can but not everyone can go to the party. SOMEONE has to stay and be a parts donor. That machine could save who knows how many machines by being a donor...

RCD
 
Paul, I have never restored anything but go with your heart.  If you want to try to save it go for it.  There may be many combos out there.  I have only seen 1 in real life.  arthur 
 
Paul

do you know if the pump has its own motor or is it clutched to the main motor?

 

If all those components are working by just powering her up then I'd say you have a daily driver there, she lasted this long running and probably was retired because of the timer issue. That can be fixed. I'd restore this one for two reasons, she has the amazing cast iron transmission and the OMIT button both very rare. Well three reasons she also has the Red Danger Spin Will Robinson timer. Well FOUR reasons, she has the 3 baffle system,never seen that on a GE before, myun has the 4 baffle and as you well know mister later combos all have 6 for piece by piece washing!! So there are FOUR good reasons your other machine should become the parts donor----Heavens!!!

rare is rare.

 

I can't get over how LOUD she is.

Myun, the motor to tub belt is snapped , the motor is quiet and the tub turns easily enough but I have to take the whole thing apart to get at that belt. Haven't had the time yet.

 

 
 
Well...

After reading the other posts, especially Jon Charles, I find myself on the fence now. Either Way you go, you know we'll support it but... Two would be pretty cool. I didn't realize that the second one has those rare features, but then again, I've never had the pleasure of working with one... Yet...

Ooohhhh, hard call!
RCD
 
Paul -

I have restored a couple total ugly duckling machines, one that wasn't even worth anything as a parts donor, and nobody else wanted it.

Restorations are fun as you well know when you have the time, energy, patience, parts, etc. BUT, from my experience, using the machine that was an absolute POS and would have stayed that way and been destined for the crusher is usually among the the most rewarding to use later on.

If this beastie that is teetering on crusher fodder would be a joy to use when you're done, maybe you might want to consider that as you weigh the choices.

Good luck with whatever you decide!!

Gordon
 
Restore for your store.

Consider how many fellow clubbers and friends would pay you a small fortune if you decided not to keep it.
The lust in the air for combos these days is feelable.

Loved all that myun Will Robinson stuff, Jon. Now you've got my lunch wiggling. And another please "OMIT."
Can't get enough of it.

By the way, around here "myun" is high Irish dialect.

So Paul, when will the Hubby Court Decision be coming down?
 
EXTRA GE COMBO

I would continue testing the dry system to see what parts are worth saving and recycle the rest. As Travis and others pointed out after you get done restoring a GE  under-counter you would be lucky to get anyone to give you even a $1000 for it and you will have more than $3 to $4 thousand invested in time alone and most importantly you may need parts to fix and keep your machine running.
 
Going with my gut feeling....

And that says test the timer and the thermostat - if the timer is more reliable than the one in the kitchen Combo, well, it will become the replacement! Likewise for the thermostat.

I have a horrible feeling that this latest combo will leak like a sieve, but I will at some point try a water test just for the thrills of it...

Oy, do I have a project list for this summer!
 

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