Kenmore washer

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Bob, this is the model I helped my mom pick out in 1975 (they apparently didn't sell well; knobs above the console indicate model year 1974).  I'm pretty sure this machine was one notch below the Lady Kenmore.  Features included Quiet Pak transmission, Soak Selector for soak only or soak with automatic advance into wash cycle (which deployed the automatic detergent dispenser), and an extra rinse setting.

 

It was a great, super quiet machine that served her well for 25 years, needing only its original skinny green belt replaced and a new, improved filter to replace the sort of bellows type that developed a leak at a flex point.  I went down to the Sears parts house for both items and performed the work.  The filter was a cinch compared to the belt job.

 

Anyone who is in the area and has been looking for a belt drive Kenmore should grab this rare model if they have a hunch about why it appears to have an issue with the neutral drain operation.
 
Hi Ralph, I consider it infamous because it was only made for 1974 and 1975 and had the selector knobs oriented on top of the panel. It is a rare machine these days. If it wasn’t so far I’d go after it although I have a very nice example from Todd.
 
James, I really wished we could have bought the matching gas dryer for my mom's washer.  Instead, the highly inferior matching dryer to the replaced Snorge washer remained in place for another 15 years or so.  Its ignition module was noisy, like pencils were tumbling around inside the drum, and it also created static on the TV screen in the adjacent family room as long as the flame was lit.  To top it off, about ten years before it was given the boot, that dryer started producing the smell of diesel exhaust inside the house.  I was the only one who thought anything of it, which meant that dryer wasn't going anywhere as long as it still ran.
 
Just contacted the seller and got an immediate response. It doesn't spin, so likely a wig-wag issue.

If I can figure out a time, I may go pick it up, but at this point that's a long shot. Anyone in the area should grab this one before it ends up at the curb.
 
Kenmore's never spin with that much water in the tub. The water level has to drop so the pressure switch changes position and engages the wigwag to shift the slide bar to drain mode. Repaired 100's of these thru the years..... its more likely the pump is seized or the belt broke. Could also be a burned out wigwag or broke shifter.... We also had a LOT of trouble with the timers on those models....
 
Dean, thanks for sharing that good troubleshooting info. 

 

I'm glad to see so much interest in this rare bird from Kenmore's line-up.  It's full-featured but has an understated console like the models further down the line.  I always felt that the LK models from this period were over-wrought with half the console covered with keys.  Interestingly, my mom's machine never had an issue with its timer.

 
 
If this is indeed a "Quiet Pak" washer, be aware that some of the parts are different and do no interchange with a standard Kenmore. The belt is different, so is the motor pulley and clutch pulley...and of course the pump pulley. Timer problems with these models were situational.....as they were often sourced from different timer manuf.. If they were timers from Singer, we replaced every single one that came into the shop....
 
Update for Melvin

I finally had a chance to pick this up this past weekend. Haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet, but it's certainly not a non spin issue.

Because it's cold up here, I brought RV antifreeze to put in it before we moved it out of the basement. It still had a good 4-5" of water in it, so we moved it to get that out before putting in the AF. It took an extraordinary amount of time to pump out that relatively small amount of water, so that's obviously the reason for the no spin.

Now I just have to figure out the cause of that. I'm hoping it's something as simple as a sock or something made it's way into the outer tub and is blocking the drain port. That's not my usual luck however to have things go that well, but it's nice to dream.

Anyway Melvin, once I figure out what may be going on with it, if something happens that I decide to NOT keep it, I'll gladly hang on to it long enough for you to arrange a freight service, if you were still interested. It's such a unique style that it needs to end up somewhere that it will be appreciated.
 
Mark thanks so much for reaching out. I’ll gladly take it if it doesn’t work out. I would replace the water pump first. At 50 years old most of these washers need a complete mechanical rebuild to be dependable.
 

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