Just got my first wringer washer, and it needs a little work so I need some help

[mstone]

Thank you both for your replies about the agitator! I will look into these cleaners.
And Stan, I know right!?! It does look like a piece of a ship wreck! I think it is a combination of soap buildup and rust, but also sawdust and other junk that fell down its drain as it sat over the years. It looks to me like it sat outside for a while and so could have gotten extra clogged from that. As for the pump, I think it is actually still usable. The stuff on it is very brittle and not hard to break off. The impeller is still underneath it and seems to me to be fully intact. I have not cleaned it yet but will show you when I do. Maybe I could soak it in some acidic water to disolve the soap? Like citric acid. I wanted to show a pic of it just because it is so intense!
Good idea about filling the tub and plugging the hole! I will do that! I am hoping it holds water! I know i had filled the machine with a small amount of water to test if it leaked before i bought it, and it was fine before i started messing with the pump and its hoses. However, I did not fill it higher than the start of the drive shaft of the agitator, I am pretty sure.
Yes, sort of. The wringer locks into place but it does swing toward me when it is turned on in forward mode, clicking all the clicks when it does. There must be something wrong with the index slide.
I have read the begining part of that thread twice and have it open on another tab to read further! It is a good thread! Thank you!

 

[mstone]

I just finished with testing my machine with water in it and agitating. After the first half hour or so I was eagerly ready to report that there were no leaks, but I left it running for over an hour, and when I came back to check for the last time, it was leaking water and oil right out of the breather hole. I had left a pan underneath just in case of this. It mostly leaks when the agitator is engaged and stops when it is not. Before doing any testing I was mentally preparing myself in case I did have to take apart the transmission, and coming to agreement that even if it worked I would still want to take it apart eventually, as there was grease all over the machine's underside. Now to go read that thread in full...

Photo 1 is before it leaked but while it was agitating, but after some wiping. Photo 2 is after it leaked.

 

[stan]

I've seen worse

There's only one thing I can think of to try.. Plummers goop around each bolt. This may stop the leak..as long as that's were the water is coming from?
My Maytag is about the same age as yours (1954) and on occasion it will leak about a spoonful of goopy oil through the breather hole. It's only once in a while, so l leave well enough alone.
Not sure about you wringer.. Maybe some of the teeth (gears) are broken off the index slide..You probably need a new one, but you got bigger fish to fry with the leak.
Let me ask you this.. Are you attached to the old girl yet? Or do you think you may be better off hunting down another? Don't want to discourage you, as they can be great projects, and can bring a sense of personal satisfaction. We here will appreciate your efforts and will cheer you on. But felt I had to throw that out to you.

 

[mstone]

Hmm. I am not attached to it really, however I am a bit invested just from putting in so much effort to bringing it from where I bought it into the building where it is now. I had to take apart the door frame and cut out a tiny piece of a stud and lift it multiple times 5 feet up on my own! Hah! It is a thrown together construction type of building not like a real wall. I also had to keep the machine discreet the whole time so no one at my house would know that I bought it.

I have spent $50 on the machine, so i am not too monetarily in deep for it. However, it is very unlikely that I would find another in great working condition for so cheap, that is also the square version and has a pump already. Also any one that I buy will need to have its transmission taken apart at some time or another to change out its grease, so I dont really see a lot of reason to go for a different one anyway. Thank you for the suggestion though!

As for the leak, it leaked large globs of oil and a lot of water through the breather hole in a short time, and I am thinking it is leaking from the agitator shaft most likely because it does have a small amount of play in it, and I dont see any water around the outside of the PU. At some points the leak was a steady stream of water.
The taking apart, cleaning, regreasing, and putting back together of the PU and the wringer drive dont seem too scary to me, but the finding replacement gaskets and other replacement pieces part is what scares me. I dont know where i would get any replacement parts, including the index slide, and any thick rubber gaskets. I could maybe find replacement circular gaskets, and could likely cut out new thin gaskets out of gasket material, maybe. What do you think?

 

[mstone]

Just checked and one of the teeth is broken off the index slide indeed.

 

[mstone]

Also this washer was close to down the street from my house which was cool, and it helped because I carried the washer strapped in to the trunk of my car, with a tarp over it for discretion. Haha!

 

[stan]

With Phil

And Dave retired, I'm kinda lost. There was a Amish groups that did repairs a parts.. I'll have to search

 

[mstone]

Thank you! And oddly enough, I found some parts that phil is selling on ebay still. I will have to call his number and not his store number next time i call him. When I called the store, a lady said he is retiring and selling off the last of his stock.
Also if I know what gaskets I need, I think I could cut out some replacement ones of my own.

 

[mstone]

Okay Stan, now I agree with you on needing a new pump. I cleaned it enough for it to turn, but one of its impellers is completely gone! Rusted off and destroyed. I am pretty sure, but not 100% that it will not work with only 3 impeller blades.
It really underscores the importance of rinsing the machine and draining all water when done. Also I believe the machine has been left out in the rain, due to the dark water lines in the tub... Poor thing.
I just count myself lucky that the tub, and the other metal parts are all in good shape, just not the gaskets and parts of the wringer.

 

[stan]

If your gong to restore

this machine...and Phil is winding down, I'd get a hold of him sooner rather than later.
He use to carry all the gaskets.. much easier than tying to cut your own, he may have a pump, and the tub to pump hose is unique, and hard to make due without a correct replacement, so get one if he's got one. Maybe a spare belt, and the index slide, agitator ect
If you've read Larry's thread, and your gong to go that route, your going to need to get or borrow a gulmite wrench to remove the tub bolts to seperate tub from the Power Unit.
Wonder if that pump would work with only three impellers! or would it be off balance?
Put it back in and let us know! LOL

 

[mstone]

I sent Phil an email a few days ago and heard nothing, however, I just sent him a message on ebay which seems like a platform where he is more active. I agree that it would be easier to just buy the gasket kit, however, if I still have this machine 40 years or so from now, and it comes time to do this maintenance all over again, I would have to cut them myself most likely. That doesnt matter now though if I can get the kit! I hope he has a pump. He actually does have a tub to pump hose for sale, but it is used, so it may not be in the best condition. Why is it so unique? Why cant I just make my own?
He also has the wide tub to center plate gasket, and the other one that fits in the groove, and a worm shaft pulley gasket, but it would be better to buy them all as a kit.
I hope he has an index slide also.
There are other ebay sellers with belts and agitators for sale, and both of those of mine are also in good shape so I will probably wait on those. I do eventually want a turquoise agitator though so I can switch them out for fun!
As for the bolts, I dont know where I would get that crazy wrench... I was just thinking of dremeling a slot into the tops of them and replacing them with normal bolts, however I cant be sure they will come out with that method.
If I cant find all the parts I need then I may have to go to a machine shop with the broken part and see if they can make a new one, if that is how they work anyway. I would have the pump impeller made out of plastic or silicone or something so it could never rust again!
And lol I will have to clean it up more to test it... but I cant test it with water easily lol, only to see if it runs.

 

[tinkr]

Possible source for parts. And my 2 cents worthof experience

I have read here on the forum that Lehman carries parts for wringer washers, although it is not listed in their store inventory. I called the phone number and she said they did (at that time)
This is the Amish store Stan was referring to.
https://www.lehmans.com/?partner_id...MIyKD5hOCC2gIVR5N-Ch1miAvTEAAYASAAEgLshPD_BwE

Also on Ebay there is a complete power unit ( gear box) Pricey at 170.00 with free shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ma...534534?hash=item1ca5403bc6:g:I0cAAOSwx2hasH3d

We restored a pink E2lp. And I was lucky to find (on ebay) a gearbox with plate as the one listed above.
At that time Phil had the index listed. And I bought the gasket for the gear box to center plate.
Large circular rubber gasket, And the rubber seal for the spline (tub seal) and small ring gasket that keeps the gryator from floating.

We made the other gaskets with material from auto parts store.

Removing the gulmite bolts is a PIA. we ended up cutting them off. And in removing the threaded part of the bolts, stripped the threaded holes in the top of the gear box. Yea a real bummer,
Gulmite wrenches.
Phil had one listed in june 2017 42.50 that did not sell. He may still have it.
I fear the seal from spline (tub) to gearbox has failed if you have water going up to the weep hole......
Phil has that seal listed on ebay now.

While searching for parts, another wringer was on craigs list. 50.00.
Call him and I explained how to start it and
and get the wringer to work. He was nice enough to see if it worked. It did and does.
Now I have 2. ( I am so fortunate)

With the knowledge you have now, a donor machine may be the ticket.
But still need the special wrench to get the
bolts off.
Daves repair is not in business, but here is link to his page that shows you what the wrench is and size of bolts required.
We got standard bolts with washers when we put pinkie back together.

http://www.davesrepair.com/Parts/MYT-38518-Gulmite-Wrench.htmI

I know there are wiser than I here on the forum. That may give you better advice.
Good luck.

can't beat a wringer for cleaning and getting laundry done fast.
Here's a pic of Her royal Highness. MISS PINKIE.
I figure her total cost was around 250.00 with parts and purchase.
Labor HA HA cant' put a price on that as
many many many hours spent on this project.
But I have a machine that will be running long after I'm gone.

 

[tinkr]

Your pump

Whitey lost a paddle off her pump. Found it in the bath tub. She still pumps fine.
If the others are not corroded through It is still usable, I would think. Get it as clean as possible and smooth paddles. I call them paddles don't know the proper name.

 

[mstone]

Tinkr, thank you very much for your helpful response!
I checked out this store and called their phone number for the warehouse, and their number for their store and pressed buttons for a customer service rep, but I dat on hold for a while and got no response. However, I did leave a message the second time i called and asked that they get back to me tomorrow. We will see if they do.

I heard back from Phil! And he listed the gasket set for me! Hopefully that is all of them that I need. I would think there would be a thick seal for the agitator shaft that I need that stops the agitator from wiggling. He also has a worm shaft seal, the two gaskets for the tub, and a service manual with parts catalog, all of which I will be ordering. He also had a tub to pump hose which I may get if I find out why I cant just make my own. I have asked him a few other questions about if he has any of the other parts I need available, and if he combines shipping (because it is adding up unnecessarily). However I have not heard back on those, so i think maybe I should just order the 5 parts now? Or 6 if I get the hose.

I saw that transmission for sale too, and thank you for showing me also! I believe it is too expensive, it is a bit rustyer than mine, and it has some leaks of its own. So it would also need a servicing. It is Best Offer but still would likely be over $120. Their description says "looks to be in good shape works good".

Is the rubber tub seal the one that would seal the agitator shaft? I think that is the only one I would be missing if I ordered everything right now. And also it is good to know that someone else has made gaskets for their machine with that material! I will do that for any the set doesn't cover.

When I aksed what parts he had, I asked about a pump, gulmite wrench and replacement bolts, and an index slide, but again have not heard back yet. I am trying to decide if I should just order what I can now or wait and see if he replies and order all at once.

And nice that you had a parts donor machine! That is always helpful!

And wow! That machine is beautiful! Looks pristine! I would hope for my machine to run well long after I am gone too, and I am only 22 hah!

And the pump, the other blades do seem a bit corroded, but maybe still intact enough? I would be much much happier just getting a new pump if I could, as its rubber wheel is also flat on part of it, and the pumps gasket is ruined now that it is apart, and also part of the hose connectors are rusted off.

I am very excited for the day when I can use this machine to actually wash my laundry! That will be so cool!

 

[mstone]

Also does anyone know what this long rubber plug is for?

 

[tinkr]

round gasket seal on ebay

This seal goes around the plate that bolt to the tub. I hope you can make out the grove in my picture,
Yes you will need it if you can get the bolts out.
If your machine is agitating Your gear box is working you just have water leaking thru the seal.

It looks like you have enough metal left on the pump hose attachments to use it. Finding parts is hard so don"t throw out something that might still work.
Also J&b weld would thicken thin areas if you have any. And cures hard and can be filed or sanded
Oh maybe that could be used to fix up your pump hose attachments. I have a lot of experience with J&B

Looking at the pic you are seeing the spline straight down. If you can make it out there is a washer at the base held in by a metal clip under that is the tub seal

This plate came in the pink washer it was so corroded and thin I used J&B the thicken up the tube the spline fits thru. I didnt use it on the rebuild because the gear box I got had one on it.

 

[tinkr]

OH the long plug. Yes I got that but.. sorry

Oh That I think is used to center up something. Its in the manual. I don't think we used it at all.

My allergy med makes me loopy. Hope I've made sense.

Oh for cleaning off grease I used ammonia outside with a fan blowing the gas from me. It works great.
And I used it straight.

 

[mstone]

Thank you tinkr, and you are making sense! Lol.
I ordered these 5 parts from phil today:
Thin groove tub gasket
Cork tub gasket
Service and parts manual
Worm shaft seal, as mine was leaking
And the gasket set that includes the trans and wringer gaskets

He did not message me back, but I saw their were other people watching the items I needed.

I still need a shaft seal for the agitator.

I will not throw any parts away, even after this project is finished, I just would rather find a new pump. I have never used JB weld before, but it sounds like a good idea. What is it? And could I use it to fix up the impeller and rebuild the 4th fin?

And weird, I dont know what that long thing is for but it is coming with the gasket.

I cant wait for the repair manual and parts catalog to come! That way I will know what parts are left that I need.

And what is the story with the tub to pump hose? I did not order that one because it would cost over $30 for a short hose. I need a new one and a new one of the drain hoses. Why cant I just make my own? Could I soak it in hot water to bend it easier?

Hopefully I will have all gaskets with this order, but I am pretty sure I will at least need an agitator seal.

 

[tinkr]

JB weld

2 part epoxy cold weld steel
https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-8265S-Cold-Weld-Reinforced/dp/B0006O1ICE

Drain hose I found the right size at Lowes. It is clear.
The tub to pump. I didn't have to replace. There"s an off chance that an auto parts store may have a hose radiator hose that would be able to work. That's a long shot.

Gorrilla glue stops leaks on a water mattress pad I have. And I put it on a hole in the Tub to pump on my white wringer and I use whitey
all the time with no leaks.

Working on vintage items is a challenge. You have to be able to think outside the box.

 

[mstone]

Hmm JB Weld sounds like some good stuff for the pump. It would be great to fill in the missing paddle with it.

The drain hose I am not too worried about finding. I would think home depot or the like would have black rubber hoses in multiple sizes. My tub to pump hose is completely ruined. It has multiple splits and I had to wreck the pump end of it to get the pump off, and I havent even gotten the other end off the tub because it is in such an awkward place. But once I take the machine apart it will be easier to get off. The splits it had already made me not worry about wrecking it.
I feel like i could buy some new black rubber hose and heat it while putting it on for it to fit.

And yeah! That is for sure!