My next project, a WO-65 Unimatic!

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Got the pulsator nut off this evening, I already knew by feel the water bellows was torn and boy was it ever.  It looked like it may have been original it was so rotten.  The removal of the pulsator revealed a small rust hole in the tub.  I'm planning to patch this with JB weld.  Does anyone have any better suggestions.  Most of the rust in the tub is surface rust and in the picture looks alot worse than it really is

joelippard++4-24-2011-19-12-39.jpg
 
Oil Bellows

Here is a picture of the oil bellows.  It appears there is some compressing at the top fold from the machine having been idle for so many years, there are no tears however.  Should I leave well enough alone, or change it too?

joelippard++4-24-2011-19-14-24.jpg
 
Hope restored

It's been a good morning with the machine.  The problem I have been having with the impeller scraping against the inside of it's housing and not seating well on the rotor shaft is one of my own creation.  I have learned a valuable lesson.  What I did wrong was to replace the impeller screw with one that was 2 inches long, rather than the original spec, thinking that the length would have no bearing since it went on up into the shaft and tightened up.  I needed to pick up a few things at the hardware this morning and decided for the heck of it I would try a 1 inch long screw of the same type.  IT WORKS!  No scraping, perfect seating on the shaft.  At the present the impeller assembly is back in place, gasket and bottom plate are back on and the sealant is drying out, and more importantly it runs as it should with everything re-assembled on the bottom end.

 

If things work out well enough I may be washing in this thing by the end of the day!
 
But, it's not to be for today

Just can't get that water bellows on, back on the bottle to stretch until Monday.  At least I have something to show however.  Pictured below are before and after photos of the innards.

joelippard++4-30-2011-13-55-1.jpg
 
GOSH, JOE

Scrollin' up, it looks like a brand new machine down there, the hoses, the electrics, the pump, the motor, the cabinet, the mechanism, fabulous.

 

Hey, Joe have you tried soaking the bottom ribs of the cantankerous Bellows in really hot water for a few minutes, then slicking around the rim with liquid dish detergent, like Dawn.

 

 

That's what finally did it for me-- THAT--or else, after trying 100 times, I just lucked out.
smiley-laughing.gif
The Bellow is a Bee-ach.
 
More Progress

Decided to go back at it this afternoon.  After boiling and stretching the bellows back over the bottle a few more hours I got it and the snap ring on in about 30 mins.  From there I reassembled the agitator assembly, then primed up the pump to test it for leaks.  All was well, got it in place, hooked up and leveled.  Began the first fill and quickly realized that I was standing in water.  Come to find out the only hose on it that looked good is also bad, the water valve to fill flume hose.  This is an easy fix compared to the rest of what I've been thru and I'll be leaving that for another day while the floor dries out.

 

By the way, I'm looking for an agitator cap if anyone has one they can spare.
 


Everything's all back together now and leak free.  The timer performs all of it's functions but does not advance.  Overall it still doesn't sound good.  A good bit of scraping/scratching sounds from the lower end.  I'm beginning to think there are problems with the start switch as it certainly doesn't sound healthy like the other Unimatics I have listened to from this website.  I also think rust has messed with the lower motor bearing.  So it looks like I'll be going back in again, although I'm not sure when that's going to happen.  I'm tired...  I don't mean to sound negative but knowing what I do now I think this machine may have been best served as a parts donor for other Unimatics.
 
Yet another update

Took the lower end loose again this evening to find all the source of noise.  Got the end bell off the motor easily and it's very aparent that rust also got into the lower motor bearing in the bell housing.  Also, the motor start switch contacts were in terrible condition.  At this point I think I'm going to take the end bell to a nearby motor shop to see if they can pull the old bearing and replace it.   More to come...
 


Took the motor end bell to a nearby motor shop, they removed the old bearing in a snap.  Also located nearby the motor shop is a bearing distributor.  Took about 5 mins for them to locate the proper bearing.  Put it on order and had it in the next day.  Picked up the bearing Tuesday and the the motor shop popped it back in.

 

This evening I nervously put the start switch all back together and reassembled the end bell to the motor.  Ran the proper tests according to the picture thread that Robert gave me a link to.  All seems to be running well so far.  Ran it in agitate on it's side for about 10 mins and the motor didn't overheat so that tell me the start switch is operating properly now.  Got the fan/pump/plate all back together and letting the gasket sealer dry.  I'll finish putting it all back together tomorrow and see how things go from there.  Hope my luck stays good!
 
Even More Problems

I think the end has arrived.  It is impossible to get the pump to not scrape on this machine no matter which length of screw you use for the pump impeller, additionally it will scrape on the snubber plate when put on the machine, in order to get it to not scrape you have to use a gasket so thick that the plate screws will not go up and bite into their housing.  Now yet another major problem, the little felt ring on the plunger of the start switch has disentegrated, leaving the motor unable to start.  I just think this machine suffered a great deal of lack of care over the years, and it sat a long time with rust eating up the bottom end from the leaky pump.  If anyone knows how to fix the start plunger let me know, otherwise I think this will be a nice looking parts donor.
 
Felt rings

One can get felt rings for battery terminal protection, perhaps that will fit?

Or, small felt rings are used in piano restoration, get dimensions and I can goto the local piano shop.
 
Felt

I must be nuts to continue this but I bought a thick piece of felt at the craft store that I can cut and make another ring. There is another store that I thought about checking for possible pre-cut rings... Think I will try to make one and put it on with gorilla glue, see if that can hold up to the 1140 rpm's. There is definetly no way to fix the pump on this one, just to let the severity of the rust be known upon a closer inspection I found a place on the motor shaft where the old impeller screw was so rust laden that it ate a small hole all the way thru the shaft! This machine if I can get it running again will be converted into a gravity drain.
 
Joe I'm not sure if that felt ring is all that important. That switch is adjustable by the use of washers on the bottom of the motor rotor. If it is out of adjustment or those washers are missing its not going to work properly. I'll try and snap a picture later of what I'm talking about.

Also the pump sounds really odd, it seems like things are not going back together right. Maybe you can take some detailed pictures. You can always wire in an electric pump as well.
 
Hey Robert

I was thinking the same thing about the felt ring, but I removed the little washers (mine has 2 on it) and tried it. It still wouldn't start...

This evening I made the ring and got it in place. Tomorrow I'll try and see how I need to adjust the spacer washers.

As for the pump. I've learned so much that I know I am putting it back together properly, there really is only one way to assemble it. I had it together once but have never been able to get it to not scrape around, it got so lound the longer I ran the machine that I couldn't even get through a full cycle with it. All I can attribute it to is an improper repair from long ago and some resulting damage. I've learned that tolerances in that area are very tight and precise.
 
Holy! Excellent find! And great photos, thanks for posting the "business end" of the machine, I always wondered what it looked like mechanically wise. Thanks for posting, I appreciate it! You'll have to get a video of it washing.
 
Finally!

We're getting somewhere!  I got the problem with the motor start switch repaired by locating a piece of felt thick enough to cut a new ring for the centrifugal plunger.  Got that in place and cemented on and tested.  I made the executive decision to quit screwing around with the pump business and gravity drain it.  However the fan and snubbing system must all still be in place.  So, what I did was to engineer a spring system to keep the fan in place by purchasing a spring of the proper diameter and length for good compression.  I placed a washer of a suitable style onto the impeller screw and put it all in place, suited up the rest of the bottom end.  I also found that it gravity drains just about as fast as it pumps out.

 

I'm not going to hold my breath until something else tears loose because I'm definetly gun shy with this machine now.  I've been so close so many times now and then another issue arises.  Anyway, here are a few pictures of my latest success.

joelippard++5-19-2011-21-22-29.jpg
 
Congratulations Joe, I've been in that same situation with many machines but having perseverance usually gets you the prize of a beautiful working vintage machine.
 

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