How to repair/replace rollermatic spin shaft key

[lebron]

Well I got the tub out of my rollermatic, now I need the information on how to put it back together with the spin shaft key in the right place. They key actually looks like it isn't broken, I took a picture of it but didn't turn out.

First of all how does everything look? Anything broken?

 

[lebron]

And here is my guess as to how it would go back together... could someone give me the key part number so I can go and compare the two and make sure mine isn't broken. thanks.

Rollermatic, any progress on getting your agitator apart??? that's all i need now and I can start washing. ( o and I need to buy an agitator but a broken cone won't stop me from using the machine

 

[gyrafoam]

Well, I don't know what model you have but in typical GM style that key could be #5438895 or 7536489 (depending on the model).

 

[joelippard]

Jed,

Here's what you need. It's a copy from an old post I did.

For those of you who have been reading on my post about my Frigidaire tub change will know that I need a new spin shaft key for my Rapidry 1000 as the key was never present when I got the machine. I was fortunate enough to receive a donor machine from a fellow club member and when I parted that machine out it had the original spin shaft key in place.

I say all of that to say that on a hunch I took the key down to ACE Hardware and they had a ton of them in their loose hardware bins. They refer to them as Steel Key,
3/16 x 1 1/4, Item number 2160-5
I bought 4 of them and wanted to post this information into our site archives.

 

[combo52]

KEY

You are looking at the spin shaft key the agitator shaft is in the bottom of the spin shaft its part of agitator shaft lower bearing I don't know if it can be replaced with out replacing the complete spin shaft call if you need more details John

 

[rollermatic]

your shaft looks fine

to me (no joke intended), same as all of mine look when i strip them down. water seal looks good from a distance, i have not found a problem on any of mine either. they are not exposed to water like a 1-18 or a dishwasher seal, neither do they turn at nearly the rpm as a dishwasher motor nor as much so i would guess a rollermatic water seal would last a good while. lets face it the water level never gets up to seal level in a rollermatic even when it is throwing it's water so thats good!

your outer tub looks good compared to a couple of mine and mine cleaned up and repainted beautifully so you are in good shape there!

yes, looks like you got it back together correctly, there is not that much to assemble. tub goes in, tub nut goes on and then bellows start.

unfortunately i still do not have an answer on how to loosen those stuck agitator nuts off the pipe nipple part. you and i have the identical problem here. i have had mine soaking in pb blaster for a week or so here.

i find when i am stumped the best thing is to walk way from it for awhile, weeks even, and then come back fresh to tackle it again. i have been working on my kd-12 and my sears top loader this week, and a frigidaire dryer.

i am going to try holding agitator nut in a vice with a 1/2 inch socket and extension. then i will try to turn nipple with a vice grips. i am also going to apply heat to the nut using a propane torch after i wrap inside of jetcone with roofing tin flashing as a heat shield. last thing i want is to melt that agitator! when i work on it again will post results here.

good luck with it, keep me posted if you discover how to get that nut off that pipe nipple.

 

[saltysam]

Did you get the agitator shaft key problem taken care of?

Lebron,
Were you able to see if the bronze keyway that holds the agitator shaft in place during agitation and spin is still in place? This is a bronze bushing with the keyway machined into it that is at the bottom of the entire shaft assembly. You will have to tip the machine on its side to get a good look at the bottom of the spin/agitator shaft assembly. if the keyway is stipped out in this bushing the agitator assembly will spin and ruin the water bellow and the oil bellows. Wanted to point this out before you got too far with the assembly. If you have any questions I can send you some pictures of the bushing I'm reffering to.
Mark

 

[lebron]

Mark thank you. I have heeded your original advice but I wasn't able to put it into action because I really have no idea what I am doing. This post helps clear things up. If you would send me some pictures that would be just great. I'll take some pictures of my mechanism too.

 

[gyrafoam]

Hey Lebron------

"you're welcome" for the part numbers you requested.