IT'S ALIVE, IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!!

[toploader55]

OMG !!!!!!

I just ran the Unimatic.
No Leaks, It Pulsates, It Spins 1140 !!!!! No Groans, Tub Brake Works, Pulsates with no indexing. And is Sooooo Quiet.

But there is One Problem... The Timer doesn't advance.

So, What's Next Unimatic Experts ?

Thank you so much evryone for all the tips on Start Up and Wiring.

Oh BTW Robert, I got the Pulsator up and the Bellows feels Perfect.

Seems like he got retired because of Timer issues.

Are Timers and Control Dials still around ? Or will I have to send it somewhere to be fixed ?

 

[Unimatic1140]

I probably have an extra WO-65-2 control dial laying around here somewhere, but you will have to find a timer motor from another timer and replace it onto that timer.

 

[toploader55]

Thanks Robert

I'm excited beyond belief.
Do you think that will be a next to impossible to find part ?

Of course I have to ask this... Would any type of lubricant like WD-40 free it up ? Or is this just a simple case of it being toast ? Eddie

 

[Unimatic1140]

Nope its toast. Although I have seen them suddenly start on their own. Those early little round black timer motors are very problematic. The later ones from the 60s that are shaped differently and are silver seem to hold up better. You should be able to retro-fit one, but you might have to build something with hardware store parts to hold it onto the old timer.

Do you have any old timers laying around?

 

[toploader55]

"Do you have any old timers laying around ?"

The only timer I have is for a Mobile Maid from around the late fifties.

Just finished Filling up the Tub with Hot Water and let him set about 20 minutes. Started him up, and again No Leaks during Wash or Spin. I replaced the washer in the "Elbow" of the Original Drain Hose and even that is fine.

 

[toploader55]

The Testing Lab

Garage is doing nicely until I finish testing the Fill Solenoids as they sound like they're working fine.

Just want to make sure there are no leaks at all before moving him into the "Show Room". LOL

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Houston, we have liftoff! YAY!!!

One word: VIDEO!!!

How about a picture of the timer motor for the rest of us?
Any markings on it will help as well...

RCD

 

[toploader55]

Picture of the Timer Motor

Here's a pic of the Timer just before I wired the New Plug.
I'm going to track down some one that has a video Camera that I can borrow. Then it will be the learning expierience of posting it. Haven't done one yet.

 

[lebron]

Wow that is great news! It's not often you see that. My Unimatic sounded like an absolute trainwreck when I first got it. Congragulations! and good luck getting the timer fixed.

 

[toploader55]

Thanks Jed

I just refilled it by hand as I have no plumbing in the garage and it's sooooo quiet.

As Robert said "Although I have seen them suddenly start on their own" , Maybe it needs to wake up after being asleep for so long. LOL

 

[bajaespuma]

Congrats, but I'm still kicking myself

I know that this is pointless but we had, in the family, a 1950 Unimatic, a 1958 Unimatic, a 1947 Hamilton Dryer, amongst others vintage machines too painful to enumerate. I know all you kind guys have said that you've all been there too, but, why, oh why, did I let them slip away(not that my completely unsympathetic family would have allowed storage of all those old appliances)? And, correct me if I'm wrong, but do I understand that all those 1958 Unimatics were Suds Savers??

It's sort of like realizing that you had a Stradivarius in the attic but just had to clean house for company so you threw it away. Only AW'ers will understand.

I would love to have one of those with its cool black "live water action" coffee percolator basket agitator and it's sinister dark blue speckled tub. Ah well, Kismet.

Will have to do a graphic of the "Mona Lisa Smile" pair. On the list...

 

[turquoisedude]

Fantastic News!!!

Wow Eddie, I am thrilled to hear that the washer started up and runs (I thought it might!!). Congratulations!! You must have down cartwheels down the street....
That timer motor looks awfully familar - it looks like the ones from the 56 GE WasherDryer Combo, Dishwasher, and the 1950 L5 Westy washer. I had to replace dead ones in both the washers and I got the replacement motors from Midwest Timer in Michigan. Give them a try!!
Thanks for the pictures and I can't wait to see the videos!!

 

[mickeyd]

What a great shot of the open water, and if your flawless lu

your fills will be leak free too. Eddie, isn't the WO-2 a dream?!

 

[toploader55]

Thank you Everyone

Yes, It is quite the machine.

Paul, I'm sending Midwest Timer an e-mail right now. Thanks for the tip.

Mike,
Tomorrow is Solenoid Day. I'm hoping for the best. I'm keeping my fingers and eyes crossed. LOL Eddie

 

[swestoyz]

Eddie - congrats on having a functional machine! As I mentioned before the WO Frigidiares are my favorite and I'm glad to hear that it doesn't need much - mechanically anyway.

Robert is spot on with those black Ingraham timer motors - they just didn't seem to last. However the later grey Mallory timer motors seem to have withstood the test of time.

I inspected two identical Maytag 2-14 timers (AMP) - one with the black and one with the grey. The escapements appear to be almost identical with the exception of motor mounting screw holes. The holes exist for both the Ingraham and Mallory mounting styles.

If you had the parts from a grey Mallory timer you may be able to swap them out. IIRC the out of balance arm goes through the escapement? I can't remember exactly. This would require you to keep the original escapement if the donor motor came from a different machine.

Ken - here is photo of my WO set - love them! And, this dryer had Kirsten's hiny sitting on it

Ben

Ben

 

[swestoyz]

The only tricky screw would be the one that exists under the Ingraham's wire connections. At this point though, we'd take anything

 

[agirlsgottaknow]

Yay!!!!!

I'm so happy for you!!! I just knew he was gonna be good )

 

[qsd-dan]

Congrats! It's kinda rare to have a GM Frigidaire function nearly 100% without a lot of time and effort beforehand. Enjoy that 1140 spin!

 

[toploader55]

Hey Everybody

Thanks for all your replies.

After reading what everyone has posted, Yes, I truly feel blessed that the boy started up with no issues. I'm going to test the solenoids tomorrow and hopefully, they will be fine too. This has been a remarkable find (Thanks for that posting Laundress, I totally missed that one !).

I just can't Thank everyone here enough. This is a truly a remarkable group of people. Even though most of us never met, there is such a warm friendship here. Just ask for help and everyone is here for each other.

Well, I guess I'm on the hunt for a Timer Motor or something that will work. If anyone hears of anything I would greatly appreciate a "Head's Up" on a lead. I'm going to call Midwest Timer tomorrow and Modern Parts. Maybe they will have stumbled upon a Brand New in Box Timer !!! LOL

My Best to Everyone and wish you all nothing but Good Things.

And a Special Thanks to Mr. Seger for this Club. I never ever thought that I would be owning,collecting and re-living my Childhood Memories. Eddie