How much would you be willing to pay for a Keymatic 3224/3226 door seal?

[chestermikeuk]

Boots..

If the new boot is replicated exactly like the old which has a larger diameter on the inner tub and smaller hole diameter on the front cabinet and two inner pieces that join to both but are wider at the bottom and joined in the middle (to exact sizes) then all will be perfect …

You are correct in that it does have to be fitted a certain way with the large connected area at the bottom, There is a marking or dot on the Original Hoover boots to identify the top position !!

Here you can see it fitted and empty..

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?80055

 

[chestermikeuk]

keymatic

And here you can see how it drops and tilts back when full of water ...

 

[hoover3224]

Hey guys

Minuscule update for you, they’ve received my template door boot and have said they will look into having it made in silicone, like the newer machines. It’s thought that it may last longer and less likely to rot, tear or split as it’s more flexible and durable.

Would you all be interested in that or still prefer the old rubber style?

I personally would prefer silicone as I feel it’s a more modern material and more reliable, that’s just my opinion though.

Best wishes
Cam

 

[keymatic3203]

Hi Cam

I too would personally prefer a modern material that will be more durable and long lasting.

I also think and it's just my opinion, that they must be the original turquoise colour, If they were to be the modern grey colour the price I'd be prepared to pay would be much less, and those with good black boots may well not be interested at all.

Thanks again for looking into this,

Mathew

 

[hoover3224]

Hey Mathew

I did recently see a machine in Currys with a coloured door seal can’t quite remember the brand (could be Haier or one of the Arçelik brands) I immediately thought of the Keymatic. Whilst the colour isn’t the same it just proved that a coloured door seal could be still be made and that got me thinking about how the original colour could be incorporated into more modern materials. So whilst it’s a totally different material being used it’ll in fact look more true to the original than even the genuine black versions do.

I have sent a piece of the original turquoise boot with the black one to show the ideal colour I’d like them to make.

I would probably have half of each colour made because I’m sure some 3226’s would need boots too which of course would require some to be be black.

Best wishes
Cam

 

[keymatic3203]

Just checked

quickly in a brochure and the service notes and both show the 3226 with the light blue boot, but I'm happy to be proved otherwise, my 3226 came to me with a black boot, but then like the 3224s with black boots, they were no doubt replacements.

Mathew

 

[hoover3224]

You could actually be quite right Mathew, I’ve just seen a thread on here of a 3226 with the earlier turquoise body and that had the original colour boot and not black. I wonder if the all white 3226’s that came after still carried on with the original boot colour.

Cam

 

[gizmo]

black or blue?

My slightly torn boot that I have sent to Cam (the one that will be used as a template) is black and is Hoover branded, so black ones are original Hoover too. I'm guessing that the blue ones proved problematic so Hoover changed to a more durable black rubber boot?

I took measurements on the boot before I posted it to Cam and it is definitely asymmetrical.

It has HOOVER moulded in the rubber and also three dots in a line, I guess these are used to align the boot when installing. Anyone have a manual that refers to the dots?

Has anyone approached Qualtex about remanufacturing boots? I think they did the non-genuine ones back in the day. Might they still have the moulds?

Chris.

 

[gizmo]

So Cam has the black boot arrived yet?

 

[hoover3224]

Hi Chris

Indeed it has, thank you for your help in getting this process started.
I have also emailed you just now.

I will be surprised if nobody has already contacted qualtex as a few have mentioned it to me already.
I will message them and see what they come back with.

Best wishes
Cam

 

[hoover3224]

Hey guys

I’ve heard back from them, they’ve received the boot I got from Chris (Gizmo) they think they will be able to help us with our quest.

They need to send it to their tool maker to confirm prices, should hear back sometime next week all being well.

Best wishes
Cam

 

[hoover3224]

Hi all

Not sure if the interest is still there as I’ve not heard anymore from anyone.

I’m sorry for the delay in finding out the cost for a batch to be made.

I keep being given times to expect to hear back from them and it doesn’t happen.. I find it very frustrating when that happens. Rather annoyingly I have to keep chasing them up.
I’m now told a price will be decided this week.

As soon as I know what the outcome is I’ll post it on here.

Thanks
Cameron

 

[chestermikeuk]

Keymatic Boots

Hi Cam

The interest is here but until a price comes back and we can work out costs and divisions its a muted thread lol.

Looking forward to the estimate costs etc and then we can work out how best to proceed !!

 

[slowspin66]

Count me in as well

Cam keep us posted with the progress .

 

[hoover3224]

Hi

Well unfortunately I’d say it’s bad news, the quote is ridiculously high... £10,000 plus, and that’s just for the tooling quotation and not including production

I’d assume that’s really out of anyone’s price range, I guess I’ll have to shop around further.

Sorry guys!

Cam

 

[chestermikeuk]

Keymatic Boots...

Morning Cam

Thanks for the reply, more than the £3k Chris was quoted, the £6k I was quoted and now this...more work to be done me thinks.

Perhaps pursue the Qualtex link further ??

Many Thanks for your efforts !!

 

[hoover3224]

Hi Mike

I definitely thought they were over pricing it a lot.

As I’m sure you guys are doing already I’ll enquire elsewhere. I did wonder if maybe it would be cheaper to have them made in China?

I have emailed Qualtex but had no reply as yet, will see what happens.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, I’ll keep trying!

Are the prices yourself and Chris we’re both quoted for several of them or just one offs?

Best wishes
Cameron

 

[slowspin66]

Keep the faith

Cam about a year ago I was looking for a replacement pump valve for a Bendix LT . I searched high and low to see if I could get one and approached a chap to make me one . It was cost prohibitive£130 ish from what I remember then by chance I looked and found something in China for a couple Of quid and free postage !!!!!! They said it would take two years for delivery !!! In fact it arrived in about 2 weeks and was a brilliant match !!There will away around it there always has to be . Best wishes Darren

 

[keymatic3203]

thanks Cameron

for the work and effort you've put into this. All the best with what looks like a meticulous restoration. Keep posting your progress.

Mathew

 

[hoover3224]

Hey Mathew and Darren

Thanks for your messages!

I’ll definitely keep looking around at different rubber manufactures, I’ve enquired with a few in China too.
It seems the most expensive part is making the actual mould itself and not the door boots. I just find it really sad that a large number of these machines are out of action primarily just because they can’t have water in them.

My machine has been pretty much totally stripped, was so many minor faults that if ignored could totally kill the machine, I’ve got loads of pics to show you guys on here how I’m getting on so far if you’re interested?

I’ll keep enquiring about door boots for you all, hope we can get somewhere with it.

Thanks again
Cameron