Hello there! I'm new and have a problem with a Visimatic...

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tuxedoronny

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Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Messages
13
Location
Boston
Hello all! My name is Ronny, and first off, let me tell you what a godsend stumbling onto this forum was! I'm 21, and from New England, and very much into antiques and other vintages whats-its, so when my beat-up 1980's washer up and died, I spent some time lugging things down to the laundromat, and occasionally using a washboard in the sink...(I can't exactly afford a 'new' machine on my college budget)so I took the opportunity to get a beautiful old wringer washer! It's a Kenmore Visi-Matic, and although I don't have a picture of it in person, I found a link to a similar one on here: [see link]

I hope it's ok to reference another thread! Forgive my if it's not, I will rectify it if so. Anyway, mine looks almost exactly like that, except with a white-colored wringer. I got it off cragislist for a good price, and I love it so far, it's in good condition, and everything works as it should... except one thing, it won't drain!

Now, I've been doing as much research on it as I could, and I believe I'm using it correctly... I turn the dial to engage the motor, then pull up on the "FILTER/DRAIN" lever, then hypothetically, water should come out the hose? Except of course it doesn't. Does it matter which way I turn the dial? I hope this is just a silly newbie mistake in operating procedure. Could be me, BUT it made the same subtle smell the vacuum makes when it clogs and melts its rubber drive belt, so that's a clue! (when I noticed this smell after a minute of no water exiting it, I immediately shut it off!) The pump outlet was HEAVILY oxidized when I flipped the thing over to change the hose (which was fossilized and cracked, being however-many-year-old it was) so that part could be seized... and reasonably easy to fix I surmise??? *fingers crossed!* Or! It could be some such drive belt or other rubber part is as badly aged as the hose was, which can/will need to be replaced. Again, I could just be using it wrong...

Anyway, glad to be here, and thank you very much in advance to anyone with some help/suggestions!

I hope to find some good answers on here,
-Ronny

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?35440_2
 
wringer

Hi Ronny, and Welcome. Very nice machine, sounds like the pump is not turning when engaged, Some one will come along that knows your machine, I'm sorry I don't! There is a wealth of knowledge here by other members and I'm sure your problem will be solved! Don't give up!

Stan

I have a Maytag wringer!
 
From what I understand about when pumps bind up, is usually them needing to be "cracked" loose again. Basically taking the pulley by hand or with a towel-covered vise grip or pliers for leverage, and turn the pulley. Sometimes they just get seized up from sitting for so long and I suspect this has happened. It happens to my Easy now and then if it is not used often. Just have to be gentle if using a tool as to not damage the pulley.
 
Thanks all!

Thank you all for the tips/suggestions and warm welcomes! And Brian, turns out that's EXACTLY what was wrong with it! I turned the machine on it's side, put a bit of oil on it, and sat there turning the pulley wheel over by hand back and forth for a good 15 minutes, but it finally works! It sure can move water too, hopefully it will only ease up with use. It does make a bit of a racket when the pump is engaged though, or is this normal? It doesn't sound bad, but it's very noticeable. I was wondering if I should hazard the chance of opening the pump to see if anything's stuck in there, like string/lint or does that even happen with these old machines? I know the NEW ones with their junky, Chinese-made, plastic-fantastic atrophied pumps get things clogged in them all the time, but this one looks like quite the bruiser compared to those... would it make sense for me to just take the drain hose off and fish around in there with a bent paperclip? Or again- like I said, does that even happen, should I just keep running it? (I'm so afraid to break it!)

Oh! Almost forgot two more questions I have; Do I have to oil this (regularly) in any particular places? I tried to liberally coat "everything that spins" when I was working on the pump with 3-in-1 oil I had, but I may have missed something important!

And: The dial has a timer up to 20 minutes or so when turned clockwise, but the other way just says "HOLD", does that mean if I turn it counterclockwise, it will run indefinitely? Is this any different than the normal run cycle aside from time?

Thank you very much for all your help!!! :)

-Ronny
 
I personally wouldn't open it up, just leave it as it is.  The noise may subside with usage over time, be patient.  As for oiling, someone with more knowledge can answer that question better than I. 
 
You're right... If I open it up I run the risk of: A)making a mess, and B)re-assembling it incorrectly and breaking it!

Also! I just did laundry with it and wow, what a great appliance! Sure does work better than my old automatic one! It took me a bit to master wringing out the clothes, but now that I've got it down, it's fantastic!

And once again, it's so nice how helpful and pleasant I've found people on this forum to be. Seems like all the "old stuff" forums have good people on them whenever I've checked them out, from the antique phonograph forum, the Packard forum, the old vacuum one (which I *think* is linked to this one, no?), whatever they're all called.

-Ronny
 
Yes, Vacuumland is a sister site.  Glad that your troubles are over regarding the pump.  Does your Visi-Matic have the Roto-Swirl agitator, and marbled wringer rollers?  Maybe post a pic or 2.
 
NOISY KM WRINGER WASHER PUMP

Often the reason for a noisy pump on these is a small rough area on the plastic pump drive wheel. If your has a rough spot that you can feel carefully hand sand it smooth again, there can also be rough areas on the rubber drive roller that can sometimes be smoothed out somewhat.
 
Sorry I missed this.

HOLD, oddly, means ON. So yes, on Hold, the motor runs indefinitely, and will idle, wash, or drain or both till you stop it. Hold is often used for wringing and draining.

 

These are wonderful machines, so powerful and flexible.

 

My LK Visimatic pump worked fine when I got it, but a few years ago, I found a Maytag that wouldn't pump just like yours, but I did what you did and Brian suggested, and she's been fine ever since.

 

When I was a junior in college, I inherited my Great Aunt Mary's GE Wringer and my housemates and I, five of us, all happily did our laundry at home. No one would have dreamed of going to a laundromat. Delighted to learn that another college student has discovered the joy of conventional--that's the fancy name for wringer--washing.

 

A very warm welcome to you.
 
Pictures

Ok, I finally got around to taking some pictures! Now, they're too big to fit in the upload, and there are a few of them, so I dumped them in photobucket, I'll try and post the direct links here. And I'm not sure, but I do believe it has the marbled rollers and Roto-Swirl agitator that polkanut mentioned!

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/009.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/010.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/011.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/013.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/014.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/TuxedoRonny/Visimatic Washing Machine/015.jpg

If I can resize these at some point, I'll try and edit the post or make a new one if possible!

Oh and P.S. Thanks for the info, mickeyd! Glad I'm using it right!
 
@ TuxedoRonny

I can't get these pictures to open for some reason am I doing something wrong can anyone help?
Tks
 
links

I don't think (or know) that I can make clickable links in these posts, did you copy and paste the links into a new tab or window? It works for me that way.
 
Oh, and I almost forgot to ask! Is there any way to tell what year this was made? Or at least does anyone know what years this series was in production? Thank you.
 

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