It's new to me AND it's a GE...

[turquoisedude]

And I'll apologize in advance for not having more shots of just the machine itself, but I've been having problems with my camera.  Hopefully that will be corrected on or after June 5th and I'll have some more complete photos to share...  

 

So, here's the backstory on this one:  In February of this year, I had Phil create a diversion at Jon (jetcone)'s storage area near where Rosalie's is made and I whisked a nifty GE AW5B6 automatic washer onto his truck.  Then I collapsed with a ruptured gut... LOL  

 

This washer has a lot of history behind it - it once belonged to Robert (Unimatic1140) himself! I may be missing some links in the chain, but the washer found it's way to Beltsville and John (combo52)'s Appliance Museum.  Jon moved the machine to Boston maybe a little over a year ago and had it in storage.  When he had to relocate a number of machines into a new storage unit, he generously offered me "joint custody" of this GE washer!   And as if I was going to say no...  

 

Now, as far as I know, Robert did all the hard work of restoring the machine to operating condition.  When I got it, it was working but the original motor-mounted drain pump had been replaced with a separate electric pump. All I had to do was connect this again and I'd be all set. 

 

Me, being me,  waffled and hesitated for a good while trying to figure out the best way to install the pump and keep it secure.  I didn't want a pump working loose during a spin cycle (nor did Hubby...) 

 

So here's what I had to work with.  The tub drain outlet was nice and solid; Robert had figured out how to power the pump which is ingenious - it could be fed from the leads to the reverse winding of the drive motor so that when it went into counterclockwise rotation the pump would get power.  

[this post was last edited: 5/24/2016-14:14]

 

[turquoisedude]

Here's the pump.  The first dilemma was that the pump ports and the tub drain weren't quite the same size. 

 

But I had an idea... 

 

[turquoisedude]

That reducing coupling came from a more modern washer drain hose - it seems to have been made for this pump!

 

[turquoisedude]

Now, the original pump had a boot that flared out to the top of the pump chamber, so the tub drain outlet pointed right down. 

 

Not wanting to pour water on the clutch, belts, and motor, I used this cobbled-together fitting to redirect water flow. 

 

[turquoisedude]

And by coincidence, that elbow happened to be the same size as the smaller end of the coupling I had put onto the pump.  

 

But, it's a little saggy... 

 

[turquoisedude]

I used a piece of scrap wood (actually some trim from the former Ogden kitchen) to help hold the pump horizontally.  Note the creative use of tie-wraps... LOL

 

I figured this would hold for a test, though. 

 

[turquoisedude]

But vould it hold vater?

 

YA!!

 



 

Sorry for the lawnmower racket, but Hubby offered to mow the front lawn so that I could mess with this washer!

I'll be posting a more complete water test soon.  I'll be away for a spell (sister-in-law's wedding in the UK) but when I'm back I'll have more photos AND you'll find out where I wind up installing the washer.  It's probably going to bump out either the '56 Whirlpool OR the '66 Inglis from the Ogden Laundry.  Stay tuned!

 

[turquoisedude]

As advertised...

Here's a short video of the water test.  No leaks and the pump did fine!  And I got to see the oddly-named GE 'sudskill' for the first time - woohoo!

 



 

So maybe while I'm away, I should start a poll to help me decide which machine moves out of the Ogden Laundry so this GE can take its place... Choices are the '56 Whirlpool, the '66 Blackstone, and the '66 Inglis.  The '56 Norge is in for the season now that I changed the water valve. 

 

 

[philr]

Nice! Another solid tub with a spray rinse! 

 

Is that a time-filled machine? I remember there was something on the agitator for the water level adjustment. How does that work?

 

[toploader55]

Hi Paul.

The 1955 (I think) you have (The single Center Dial) should have the same Suds Kill in the cycle. My Grandmother had that machine and as I recall it does the same thing.

FUN.

 

[turquoisedude]

Phil - that spray-rinse is something else!  The '53 should do that too (and I'm hoping that it will be the machine to be tinkered with AFTER the ABC...).  Although a solid-tub machine, GE's of this era have a water level switch.  Water flows into and then out of the tub to a pressure-pad switch at the bottom of the tub.  And there is indeed a flow-control in the activator in this model GE.  There is an adjustable sleeve in the center post - in the HIGH position, water will flow out through a series of holes in the activator shaft directly to the bottom of the tub; in the LOW position, the lower row of holes is blocked off and water will accumulate until it begins to flow out through the holes at the top of the wash tub.   I haven't quite figured out exactly how to use this properly, but in my test, I managed to get the washer to the small load setting.   In the 1953 models and forward, GE no longer used this method - the 'water saver' pushbutton was used to bypass the pressure switch to start the washer motor and timer.   Do I read TOO much GE Doctrine??  LOL 

 

Eddie - I do have a center-dial 'sudskiller' but it's a '53.  Gotta get that one going, too... 

 

 

 

 

[northwesty]

I had trouble with that 90-degree turn in the elbow when I did a similar repair as the water just didn't like it. I keep a stash of various curved hoses to get a more gradual turn but it would be hit or miss if it was the exact right size. Anyway I thought I would just throw that in there. Hope it works.

 

[turquoisedude]

90-degree turn

I must admit, I'm a little worried as to how well this will hold up under normal washing conditions...  I had not been able to find a hose with enough of a curve to clear the clutch assembly, though.   In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!

 

[stainfighter]

❣the video

My vote is for sidelining the '66 Inlgis. The video- a testament to industrial engineering

 

[lebron]

Great machine. Absolutely love these super early GE machines - fascinating!

 

[philr]

Yesterday I had the chance to see it working!

Here's the spin/suds kill, the wash video is still uploading (I'm wondering why it's so long, I started this hours ago!)

 

[turquoisedude]

Photos!

I got into one of my 'presto-chango-rearrango' moods on Monday and part of my plan was to get a GE washer back into the Ogden Laundry Line-Up.  Having a fully functional AW5B6 sitting in the garage had NO bearing on the decision.... And if you believe that... LOL

 

So here's a photo of the whole machine.  And if you might have been wondering, yes that control panel has been expertly repainted (which means 'not me'...LOL).  It's a real beauty!!

 

[turquoisedude]

No lid hinges to break on this one... 

 

Bonus - it has a lighted tub and a pilot light.  Soooo cool!

 

[turquoisedude]

Here's part of the test load Phil filmed.  But it looked kinda small so I added more clothes.   Yeah, I know ME! Adding clothes to make a full load in a washer...  

 

Well, it works beautifully.  This has to be the quietest and most vibration-free vintage washer I currently own.  Maybe Hubby will notice... *chuckle* 

 

I'm very impressed by the turnover that the aluminum activator generated.  It's one heck of a cleaner! 

 

Dr.Frigidaire is gonna have to drag me to the Supreme Court to get back custody on this one.... LOL