Hoovermatic "wash/empty" valve not working

[freyr]

Hello everbody,

I got a beautiful yellow made-in-Mexico Hoovermatic from my grandma, which she never actually used. Alas it hasn't worked as expected: even when the corresponding knob is set to "wash", water will flow from the washing tub into the spinner, thus forcing me to repeatedly drain the water from the spinner back into the washing tub. Now, yesterday, the knob is no longer functional, it won't even switch from "wash" to "empty", it just spins without end.

I have never repaired a washing machine before. Some people have suggested that I check on the condition of the diverter valve, but I'm not sure if that even is the correct name of the faulty part. What should I do and how should I tackle this problem?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[launderess]

" Some people have suggested that I check on the condition of the diverter valve"

That advice was spot on....

Weakness for all Hoover twin tubs was the pump. Later incarnations were slightly better, but overall sooner or later most pumps needed attention. This is why Hoover sold extra spare internal bits like diverter valves, seals, etc... separately. This enabled service persons or anyone else to repair or rebuild pump.

In library section you'll find Hoovermatic/twin tub material including service manual. Job isn't that difficult, back of machine is easily removed, then can diagnose what's going on from there. If it comes to it pump is also easily removed and taken apart.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?43100

Hoover Twin Tub Question

Found a coppertone Hoover Twin Tub today on Craigslist. Ran over this afternoon, still dressed up in my "big boy dress-up clothes" from work. Met the guy who had it at a worksite. Within five minutes we unloaded it from his truck and into the back of my jeep. I will be posting pictures...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[launderess]

Another thing

Hoover twin tubs don't like sitting unused. If things go on too long seals and bits in pump dry out and can become distorted to point will not do job properly.

Back in day when spare parts to rebuild if not entire new pumps were easily had this was less of an issue. Today however with spares becoming more and more difficult to find....

You can try filling wash tub with water (hotter the better), letting things sit several hours or overnight. Then try draining to see if diverter valve will seat properly. Sometimes a good soak will rehydrate things to they go back to some sort of normal.