Hi, I am attempting to fix an oil leak on my daughter's Hotpoint Empress (she is the lover of vintage machines so this is her login). I am attaching some photos of the dismantled machine. Our first major task was to remove the tub and gearbox which I could not get out in one piece as the wringer shaft was locked into the side compartment. We solved that by making a special tool to undo the central nut on the agitator which had become so oxidised that it was almost welded to together. That done, I now have the motor/gearbox/agitator out on the workbench to work on. I have rigged up the electrical connections and it runs beautifully quiet and smoothly.
Having cleaned it up to trace any oil leaks, it does not appear to be leaking from the bottom (cork) gasket, so I want to be more sure of the problem before I crack that open. It seems more likely that it is leaking during operation from the top-side shaft driving the agitator as that area was badly oil-and-dirt coated before cleaning. But first I would like some advice from those of you who have more experience with these machines. What I would like to know is:
1. Where do you fill the gearbox with oil, and how do you check if it is sufficiently full? I can measure about 2cm oil depth by removing the nut on the top/middle nearest the motor and using this as a dip hole. Is this enough oil? We believe that earlier in its life we did top it up, but may have over-filled it and this could have made the leak more evident if it expels oil when over-full.
2. It would be useful to know the purpose of the various nuts on the top and side of the gearbox casing. The two on top look as though they might adjust or be involved in the main bearings for the gears. The assembly on the side looks like a bearing adjuster for the motor shaft.
3. In the final photo, there is a small rubber top-hat shaped disk attached to the agitator shaft where it emerges from the gearbox. This was about 1/4" above the gearbox when I was cleaning, but assuming it was in part a seal for that bearing, I pushed it down onto the top of the gearbox. However, as a push-fit, I can't imagine this is going to be an effective seal against oil leak from that bearing, but may be more intended as a dust-cover. Does anyone know?
4. I have not been able to remove the agitator shaft from the gearbox. Removing the 3 nuts attaching the outer shaft to the top of the gearbox is only half the story. I think the square piece at the top must be removed - perhaps by drifting out a centre pin (there appear to be 2?). I may need to remove this so if anyone knows how please let me know.
Any help/advice greatly received. I will also need to find some new rubber mounting bushings when I re-assemble - and perhaps the rubber washers sealing the shaft to the tub.
Having cleaned it up to trace any oil leaks, it does not appear to be leaking from the bottom (cork) gasket, so I want to be more sure of the problem before I crack that open. It seems more likely that it is leaking during operation from the top-side shaft driving the agitator as that area was badly oil-and-dirt coated before cleaning. But first I would like some advice from those of you who have more experience with these machines. What I would like to know is:
1. Where do you fill the gearbox with oil, and how do you check if it is sufficiently full? I can measure about 2cm oil depth by removing the nut on the top/middle nearest the motor and using this as a dip hole. Is this enough oil? We believe that earlier in its life we did top it up, but may have over-filled it and this could have made the leak more evident if it expels oil when over-full.
2. It would be useful to know the purpose of the various nuts on the top and side of the gearbox casing. The two on top look as though they might adjust or be involved in the main bearings for the gears. The assembly on the side looks like a bearing adjuster for the motor shaft.
3. In the final photo, there is a small rubber top-hat shaped disk attached to the agitator shaft where it emerges from the gearbox. This was about 1/4" above the gearbox when I was cleaning, but assuming it was in part a seal for that bearing, I pushed it down onto the top of the gearbox. However, as a push-fit, I can't imagine this is going to be an effective seal against oil leak from that bearing, but may be more intended as a dust-cover. Does anyone know?
4. I have not been able to remove the agitator shaft from the gearbox. Removing the 3 nuts attaching the outer shaft to the top of the gearbox is only half the story. I think the square piece at the top must be removed - perhaps by drifting out a centre pin (there appear to be 2?). I may need to remove this so if anyone knows how please let me know.
Any help/advice greatly received. I will also need to find some new rubber mounting bushings when I re-assemble - and perhaps the rubber washers sealing the shaft to the tub.
