Learning my ABC...

[turquoisedude]

So, let's go back in time...

This weekend was what I figured would be my last chance to get the ABC apart and hopefully fixed so I made darn sure I left myself enough 'machine time'!  I still had lots of stuff to do (MIL and first nephew arrive tonight!!) but on Friday, I took the 'ol ABC apart again. 

 

Experience is truly a great teacher - I got the son of a gun apart in 1 hour 15 minutes!  Phil was heading down to visit and hop over the border into Vermont and caught me working on the machine... LOL   But what I was really trying to do was get to the lower tub boot... 

 

[turquoisedude]

I am very lucky that the boot was still intact and fairly supple.  I had visions of a cracked or torn one... 

 

However the top of the boot clamp worried me somewhat.

 

[turquoisedude]

I cleaned the tub bottom opening thoroughly and, yes, you guessed it, added more blue goo to help seal the boot tightly. 

 

AND I found I had made a really good boo-boo when I took the boot clamps off in my first faulty inspection of the lower boot - there was a distinct flat spot on the boot where the clamp was meant to rest.  I did not notice that and when I put the clamp back on, it was not in the 'correct' position.  Foolish, foolish me...  The lesson learned here is take the time to inspect a part like this carefully. Otherwise, you get to do it all over again like I did!

 

[turquoisedude]

By the time Phil got down to Ogden, I'd poured some water into the tub.  It was holding - a most promising sign!

 

[turquoisedude]

I had thought about doing this, but Phil reminded me to put the tub back in and try a deeper water test.  Recalling that the overflow flood rinse is when I first spotted a leak the last time around, this was a must!

 

With a second dose of water, all seemed to be fine and dandy.  I was feeling relieved.  And hungry by this point... it was something like 8 PM Friday... LOL

 

 

[turquoisedude]

On Saturday, I was busy with other stuff (like playing with a 'new KDS55... LOL) so I just let the tub dry.   On Sunday, I steeled my reserves of patience and began reassembling the drive mechanism.  

 

Amazingly enough, I got everything back together in just under an hour!  It was far, far easier this time - I knew what NOT to do and I had Hubby helping me hold the agitator shaft in place while I wrestled with the drive pulley. 

 

Of course, after tipping and pounding, I was scared something got worked loose again.  

 

Nope.  It held vater!!  Note the rarely-seen optional ABC Filter-Circulation-Flow hose... LOL 

 

[turquoisedude]

So, I just HAD to hook the washer up for a test...  All seemed hunky-dory!

 

[turquoisedude]

I watched with trepidation as the cycle advanced into the overflow rinse...  How would my boot repairs hold up??

 

[turquoisedude]

Oh yeah, baby!!  

 

I did my 'happy dance' around the garage and even sang a few choruses of 'Everything's Flowing Through Hoses' (well until the dog complained...).  I was pretty darn happy.  Even Hubby was impressed - he wondered out loud if the Altorfer Brothers might be hiring repair people... LOL  

 

So, it may not happen until after the visitors head back to the UK and I would like to do something special to celebrate our 25th Anniversary on the first weekend just the two of us will be back down in Ogden, but I'm itchin' to get the ABC down into the Ogden Laundry for a maiden wash.  Then of course will come the ultimate decision... Which washer will get bumped from its slot to make way for the ABC...  Decisions, decisions... 

 

 

 

[philr]

Next time I'Ll see it working!

 

[lesto]

Congrats! So glad it's working. That's a beautiful machine. Does the timer dial light up? Just curious.

 

[swestoyz]

Way to go, Paul!  Nothing like a "dry" Magic Minute! 

 

Ben

 

[washerlover]

Paul, I think you now really do know your ABC! Great job and can't wait to see it in action with a load of laundry! Thanks as always for sharing.

 

[jetcone]

Great job

Paul, very thorough indeed! You'll get lots of years of fun out that machine. I want to mention you should coat the clutch shoes with some vaseline, you can poke it up in there with an ear swab. Very important to clutch operation in these machines as the clutch needs to slide otherwise you'll burn out the motor with a full load going into spin.

 

And if it gets heavy use then redo this once a year.

 

=Jet

 

[turquoisedude]

Thanks everyone!  I'm really anxious to get a load of laundry in this...

 

Les:  this model of the ABC doesn't have a lighted dial or control panel, alas.  If it isn't considered sacrilege, I'd like to add at least a panel light.  This console deserves to be lit up, I think!

 

Jet - thanks for the reminder about the clutch!  I had a read post you had put up about your ABC that mentioned to do this.  And I will!  

 

 

[volvoguy87]

Decisions.

All that moving to swap out a washer is a pain. I think you ought to save yourself some frustration and just drive that old ABS down here to Cincinnati. I'd keep a good eye on it for you!

Seriously though, that is some very impressive work! Keep it going!
Dave

 

[turquoisedude]

ABC Update

So, I had a houseful of in-laws for most of August which meant I wouldn't have a lot of time to futz around with washers.  BUT I managed to squeeze in a little time for a test of the ABC with laundry in it.  I didn't show the wash part of the cycle, 'cause I was checking for leaks and didn't want to interpret a splash from the tub as a leak.  

 

I was less than pleased with the test... I did not like the way that wash tub leaned to the right and I really did not like the thumping I heard.  That 'thump' had been an issue for a while methinks... The cabinet was definitely bowed out on the right side just about where the bumper is.  Trouble is I didn't notice this until I cleaned the cabinet (which was very much worth it - the original finish is still remarkably good). 

 



 

And oh yeah... I still noticed leakage from the around the damper plate under the cabinet.  GGGGRRRRR!!

 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

So, back to my doctrine I went...  The 1955 Kelvinator manual made mention of centering the tub by adjusting these spring clamps, which I tried with no real luck.  That tub was still listing... 

 

[turquoisedude]

However, I also had a 1960 Kelvy manual and for that model year, there were 4 of the spring clamp supports, not two.  I also found it odd that like the '55 manual said, my '57 ABC had the clamps at right angles.  Even odder, there were actually three brackets to hold these clamps on my '57 and surprise, surprise, there was no clamp on the left side of the tub... 

 

Well, I figured I had nothing to lose, so I put the one that had formerly been on the rear of the cabinet on the left side. 

 

[turquoisedude]

And it sure seemed to look better after that!

 

Now, I didn't take any more pictures from here on in (I was hiding in the garage...LOL) but I still had that confounded leak.  Again referring to the 1960 Kelvy manual, the number 1 cause of a leak from the tub bottom was identified as a drainage issue...  It also suggested that perhaps the agitator boot was loose. 

 

I knew the pump was working well enough, but it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks that I was using a new style of drain hose (2nd photo) that is kinda narrow.  I swapped it for a larger diameter one and when I tried a full cycle test, I still observed some dripping but I also noticed that water was running out of the drain hose during agitation.  Why?  The agitator boot was not just loose, the blasted thing came off during the first wash test.  

 

Needless to say I was kicking myself for that!  With a little struggling, I got the boot on much more snugly AND I tightened it but good.  Two more cycle tests revealed no 'new' leaks and I was elated...  

 

I'm not going to get back down to Ogden until the Labor Day long weekend (damned washer convention in Beltsville...LOL) but when I do get back there, there is TON of laundry waiting for me and hopefully the ABC is going to pitch in.  Stay tuned!