Longevity issues on Rollermatics and 1-18s

[fltcoils]

Are there longevity issues besides the brake, conecting rod and tub seal?

A clutch shop can relign the brake, imagine metalic linings
A machine shop can rework bushings, replace the nylon with torlon or arlon
I suspect newer tech used on modern CV joint boots might apply, might help the tub seal (bellofram catalogue?).

Are there other issues, inadequate bearings, magwire runs hot, etc that distinguish them as unreliable as foreign sports cars?

I'm used to designing so if there are obvious wear stress issues these can usually be overcome by design. I was just wondering where the weak spots were. I suppose I'd know better if I had one or worked on it.

case in point:
Anyone read the article about the fish monger with the million mile truck (85k mi/yr)? "The truck has had four radiators, three gas tanks, five transmissions and six water pumps, but the engine has never been overhauled...."

Now is that reliable or unreliable? You'd think one might begin to ask "Why is that radiator breaking?" etc after a while. Sometimes there's a simple solution. e.g. gastank rotting, undercoat it. Waterpump bushing wearing, decrease belt tension. radiator rotting, paint it. etc.

 

[joelippard]

Re: Longevity

Here is an example of GM/Frigidaire reliability for your information. My mother had a '69 Rollermatic. It served for 18 years sometimes doing 2 loads a day when I was a child. That washer never had a single issue until it was 18, and that was the timer. What I now know to be an incompetent repairman recommended it's replacement. It spent the next 2 years washing greasy rags in my dad's workshop before he decided to tear it down. Even until this day the motor powers an electric grinder in Dad's workshop...

 

[swestoyz]

Bill,

Take a look at the link provided. It is an article published by General Motors about the design that went into the Rollermatic mechanism.

I think you already hit upon it by saying that [issues] can usually be overcome by design. I also enjoy dreaming about hot rodding our washers - but also realize that most of the time that bearings, support mechanisms, inner and outer tubs, etc. were tested - and more importantly produced - for factory set speeds. Most clutch mechanisms on non-direct drive machines are effective at certain RPM ranges - for instance the GE clutch mechanism required multiple clutches with the clutch pack to achieve different speeds. I suspect this was the case that after many design hours GE engineers were are unable to find an effective single clutch to compensate for the different motor speeds and torque. Likewise many bearing materials are probably only good for 700 to 1200 RPM depending on the machine. But if longevity is not your goal - I think you have a great idea.

Too bad 3-phase power was not readily available to most residential locations as that would just tear open the envelope on effectively adjusting motor frequency for speeds, etc.

All it takes is time, and energy ;-) Looking forward to whatever type of monster you dream up.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2008/15446x7.htm

 

[tuthill]

just my two cents

I don't know much about older washers (that's why i'm here, to learn!) but it IS made by GM... I guess GM was different back in the day but I still wouldn't trust a product made by them.

 

[fltcoils]

single phase motor speed

Everyone knows about the fan speed controls, but I'd been looking and found a control for fans and pumps that changes the actual AC frequency. It's marketed by Control Research (called status) and costs a bit, but allows one to run a single phase motor slower or faster than normal. I've got one ordered for a pump at work and will know more later. Of course one also can always get the chopper type made for single phase ceiling ventilation fans, from wwgranger.

 

[Timonator]

Wouldnt Trust a Product Made by GM?

Why not? General Motors has more success stories than not over the years! sure as with any "BIG" corporations they all have faults and have made products that werent as good as others but . General Motors is not a "perfect" company by any means but Im getting TIRED of all this american product BASHING!! This country would have not have been here today if not for the big corporations that gave us jobs..money benifits! and some sense of security! The products we buy today are THROW AWAY thanks to the so called IMPROVEMENTS made by the so called OTHER countries..You NEVER see any vintage japaneese cars..appliances or any other things because they are used up and end up in landfills . BTW heres a picture of an INFERIOR AMERCIAN MADE CAR!! show me a picture of ONE 72 toyota or honda! that actually exists! SHAME ON YOU ALL FOR NOT SUPPORTING AMERICA AND AMERICAN MADE GOODS AND PRODUCTS!!! I'll take my chances on lousy GM and Ford products...american made appliances..what few are left...and support my fellow AMERICAN worker when their sons and daughters are called to war to defend us!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

View attachment 2-15-2008-12-15-42--Timonator.jpg

 

[dnastrau]

A clutch shop can relign the brake, imagine metalic linings

Just my opinion: I would probably stick to a normal organic-type lining as metallic linings are pretty hard on the metallic components that they ride against. That is one of the reasons why brake rotors on modern cars do not last as long as the ones did back in the '70's (metallic brake linings.) An "improvement" in lining type could potentially accelerate wear on other parts. Just my 2 cents.

I remember the Frigidaire machines well; the apartment that my parents rented in graduate school from '76 - '78 had all Frigidaire machines in the laundry room. I think they were Rollermatics since the apartment building was built in '68.

Andrew S.

 

[jaxsunst]

Yes, but do I buy a GM car built in Canada and Mexico, or a Hyundai that is built from start to finish in Alabama? Which is the American product?

BTW, I do own a GM car, and after 4 years it is falling apart (literally).

However, my Chryslers seem to last longer with fewer repairs, but how many American parts are actually on it?

 

[tuthill]

let me correct myself

the only GM product I would by is an older Frigidaire.. cars made by GM suck and it shows why they are in so much financial trouble right now and loosing lots of market share to auto makers like Toyota and Honda

 

[jaxsunst]

I agree.

 

[Timonator]

More on this subject...

I could go on and on but Im not. This country is losing good paying jobs! keep on buying foriegn products and yes...some Ford and GM products arent american because they are litterally forced to go with cheaper labor to compete with foreign companies the bottom line is when your working for wal-mart with no benefits and lower wages and your going through a landfill trying to find a part of your past Remember this Somebody other than your american neighbor got rich off YOU ! Blame GM Blame Ford...Blame the unions but ultimatley it comes down to YOU the consumer. Hondas and Toyotas break down too! I know for a fact they do! And Yes some are built here but all the profits go right back to Japan or Korea..remember that the next time a missle is pointed at the USA ! Of course you wont because you'll be too busy tooling around in foreign car living paycheck to paycheck ..

 

[filterflo]

Yeah! for Timonator.......You certainly said it very well. In total agreement with you, and you couldnt have said it any better!

 

[fltcoils]

I always appreciate passion....

for my part I like engineering and mfg from the Midwest/Chicago-Detroit. Remember that first automatic washer, Bendix, was made here in South Bend, my home town. I see nothing but things to brag about when I consider USA innovation and technology. #1 thing to remember is we're not victims, we're workers and innovators who find answers when other's cannot.

Tesla came to the US with his ideas, Westinghouse gave him $500mill for his ideas (todays $) and AC changed the world. They built the Niagra Adams power station hydroelectric plant in 5 years I believe, from Go design it to 735 Kwats delivered to Buffalo, done! That at a time when no one had built any AC power plant or distribution system before.

Sam Insull believed subscription peicemeal wasn't good enough, so in Chicago he took the risk and built an electric power infractructure, and again changed everything. He created the 1st big coal fired steam power generator plant, electricfied rural areas and promoted appliances for little guys, mom's and pops at home. In the USA, people taking risks and innovating. I'm proud of that.

I also like my Maytag, Newton Iowa, four young men started it. I also remember fondly the '55 Unimatic washer I used to watch, Ohio.

I don't own Whirlpool products, but friends design them 40 miles from here where it was founded in Benton Harbor.

My wife's car was the least expensive for 1987, a Dodge Shadow, and it is still running, in the rust belt, with 2 spots of rust. Built at the Belvedere plant in IL. Designed in Detroit. USA parts. My big car is a Lesabre, Designed in Detroit, piece parts made in USA, assembled in Hamtramk plant, gets 24 city, 34 hy @ 65mph. Smooth, quiet and comfortable. Rented a Chevy Cobalt in LA, quietest best handling small car I've ever driven. Got 42 mpg driving on hy405, got 45-48 if on a clear road going slower, 50mph. That's US Detroit, by people like me and you.

I could mention portable Laser cannons now at LLNL. Punches a 1" hole in 1" thk steel from 6 miles away. Shoots down missles, mortors, or de-mines a field from the back of a hummer. Runs on battery power, uses LEDs. How about Robert Bussards 100MW fusion power plant, the fusion reactor will fit in a 18' cube, have no radioactivity when off, and needs no steam generator, it outputs DC directly from its structural comonents. Based on Philo Farnsworths inertial confinement fusion researched in Fort Wayne IN in the '60s. How about maglev train that doesn't need electric to levitate, or super cooled superconductors! - just a fan to move it forward, it levitates by it's self it's running at General Atomics in San Diego. That tech will be used for aircraft carrier catapults shorty, and may launch rockets soon after that. All these things done here in the USA, not elsewhere --they just can't do it over there. My friend's brother is in charge of the space station's electrical system design/management. In Cleveland. He's in Houston overlooking the installation of the ESA's Columbus module this week. The USA is a great place, and people are clamoring to goto our universities, work at our companies and live here.

Now back to washing machines.
All ye repair guys out there, does anything else fail besides the things I mentioned above? If I 'harden' those pieces can I expect fairly good daily driver results from a rollermatic?

thanks again.