Hotpoint Empress Help!

[kevhallett]

Hi, Not long owned an old Hotpoint Empress washer, the Old type with Octagonal Drum, with a heater.

Last Week, was half way through a wash, when it sounded like changing gear on a car without using the clutch, then it seized and there was a horible Motor smell and the Motor wouldn't turn, after wriggling the agaitator back and fourth by Hand, the machine now does one sweep, then makes the grinding noise and it stops. Also the drive shaft for the wringer has stopped turning.

Parts seem to be very hard to get for the machine, but my main question is: How do you remove the Agitator shaft to remove the Gearbox? There seems to be very little room to work on the Machine from Underneath. I need to get the gearbox off to assess the Damage, and then I'll know what I need to try and get (or get made)

Thanks in Advance

Kevin

 

[fido]

ChesterMike is probably the person to advise on this but usually you take out the gearbox from underneath, complete with shaft.

 

[ricky5050]

Have you checked the oil?

Hello there it may not be this but a similar thing happened to the smaller countess a relative owned. Perhaps it was laid on its side to deliver to you? The oil may have leaked. If you remove back panel you will see somewhere a small octagonal plastic nut that is high up on the gear box of its the same as the countess. Remove this nd pump some gearbox oil in. Leave it to sit over night and try it again. It may be more complicated but let's hope not !

Richard

 

[keymatic]

Hi Kevin,
Sorry to hear your having trouble with your Empress

I have just had a look in my Hotpoint manuals, and I personally think it maybe either the drive gear or connecting rod. The worm gear may have worked its way loose hence the agitator is stuck and the wringer drive not working, also if the connecting rod which connects the main drive gear to the segment gear has come loose this would also have the same effect.

I had a similar problem with my first countess, however i took the tub out with gearbox attached, as looking at the tub supporting nuts inside the tub they were never gonna budge. I took the base plate off the gear box and sure enough the connecting rod had come off due to one of the cir-clips working itself loose. One mistake i did learn was not to try and see the gearbox in action as with the gearbox inverted the stator was kept in and burnt out the winding..easy to replace, but also good to see the gearbox working. Wish i had filmed it now.

I have the manual with exploded diagram if you need a copy.
Good Luck
Keith

 

[kevhallett]

Thanks for the help,

Here's the old girl



Will take the gearbox and the tub out as a complete Unit then,

Will also try filling the oil up first, What Grade BTW?

 

[ricky5050]

I used car gearbox oil

But Keith is likely to be right as he has more knowledge of theses machines but checking oil is a wee bit easier , ha ha. Hope its simple. I'd love an empress !

Richard

 

[fido]

Kevin, your photo link didn't work but on this site you don't need to put up photos via Photobucket anyway, you can upload them from your PC.

Photo Storage

Store your photos and videos online with secure storage from Photobucket. Available on iOS, Android and desktop. Securely backup your memories and sign up today!

s366.photobucket.com

 

[keymatic]

Hi Kevin,
Good luck with it, as Richard mentioned..I would probably go for car engine oil, it has a good durability.
The tub & gearbox are quite easy to get out, although you may need an extra pair of hands has it will probably be heavier than the countess. I think there are 4/5 bolts holding the tub/gearbox to the main frame in the cabinet.
Any probs let us know
Keith

 

[kevhallett]

Thanks for the Advice, used to using forums that need a BB Code to post pics, probably why the link didn't work.

Here's the Direct Link

http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/kevhallett/2013-05-02195847_zps45766c39.jpg

Not got the pic on this PC as I took the pic with my phone, will upload it to PC if this doesn't work.

Thanks once again.

Kevin

 

[kevhallett]

Well the old Girl has gone on Holiday to a Friends workshop, managed to source a good second Hand Gearbox so all being well should be up and running soon, going for a minor refurb as well,the years haven't been kind to the original wiring.

Quick question, How do you remove the Agitator shaft from the machine?

Many thanks

Kevin

 

[kevhallett]

The problem with the machine was the main drive gear (run off a worm from the motor) had stripped due to an oil leak causing it to run dry, I aquired an earlier machine from 1951 with the intention of canibalising it, to my dismay the machine was an older type with a separate motor and the internals of the gearbox were different and also seized due to water having got in to the gearbox, I have now aquired another identical machine to mine (as spares) Mine has 1959 stamped on some of the parts so there must have been a change in design during the fifties.

Build is underway, and hopefully I'll have a working machine soon, biggest problem being waiting or rather the search for parts.

Fingers crossed.