Moving Vintage Machines

[takacedon]

Does anyone have any tips for moving vintage machines - there's a Westinghouse set that I'm either going to pick up or have moved this Saturday. Also, any tips on moving companies? I called up MicroShip and the cost was a bit on my high end. Any help would be appreciated

 

[christfr]

is it a laundromat??

well if so you have to secure the tub assy or it may fall off its supports and dammage the tub or pump or changer or motor or door boot or all. what i did with mine was remove the boot from the front of the machine its like a lip type seal and let it just fold back into the cabnet then i took and made sort of an open wood box and shoved it under the bottom of the tub then take some strong zip ties and fasten them aroun all 4 snubbers so the dont let the tub fall

 

[takacedon]

Damnit. Yeah it's a Laundromat, but I was just going to hire Microship to pick it up and bring it to me. I'd have no way of doing all that, but I also don't want to shell out cash for machines that'll get busted in transit.

 

[3beltwesty]

With the Westinghouse Fl washer like my 1976 it has 3/8" diameter shipping rods that connects the tub to the frame; to constrain the tub. Without the rods in place if the tub moves too much its "shoes" will jump off its damper plates and one gets even more motion. On rod connects to the red tub front ring

 

[3beltwesty]

The top shipping rods contect to the tubs flange where the pink arrows point to.

I want to say that the older 1940's and 1950's westys used this scheme too.

 

[takacedon]

Thanks guys! It's a 1955 model and they should arrive on Monday. I have a feeling I'll be asking lots of questions such as "how to fix this" and "how to jerry-rig" that. lol

 

[christfr]

trust me

trust me you really must brace the inside of the machine even if someone else crates and moves it. if it crushes the bottom of the machine chances are you wont be able to rig some of it back together. besides securing the machine really is easy

 

[yogitunes]

What about shoving pillows or big foam blocks under the tub and around the top......I know theres more space to fill than a GE, but I have been using these "noodles" to brace the unit in place for shipment, can be found at a dollar store.......anything that minimize movement would be a help.....

 

[turquoisedude]

Hey Trevor!
Check your email - I just sent you a couple of pages from a 1953 Laudromat Manual that explains how to secure the tub.
You don't want THIS to happen to you, trust me!!

 

[3beltwesty]

With my 1976 Westy; the majority of its 260 Lb mass is sprung; ie the tub and tub front , spin basket and 5 concrete weights and pump way more than the frame.

The non sprung part is the frame; front door; and top and controls. These weigh 1/4 to 1/3 of the total 260 Lbs.

Thus if your crater has you washer all secure; you still have this 150 to 200 Lb sprung weight that needs to be controlled.

The unsprung weight dancing around is hard on the rubber boot ( see above) it can get the gear changer ruined too and also stretch the springs etc.