Need advice regarding an old Filter Flow

[d-jones]

Some of you may recall that I recently refurbished a Maytag A806 to replace my parents aging Filter Flow. Well, here's the old Filter Flow. Cosmetically speaking it could use a good cleaning, but otherwise it's in pretty fair condition. Mechanically it's a different matter. There are numerous corrosion issues to deal with, including the need for a new outer tub, and the mini basket selection hasn't worked for the last dozen years or so.

 

[d-jones]

Some of the lesser corrosion problems can be seen in this photo in several places on the top panel

 

[d-jones]

Here's a look behind with the cover removed. Hopefully you can get an idea of what things look like.

 

[d-jones]

And finally, here's a more detailed look at what's going on. So here's the deal. Now that my folks have a replacement machine installed and won't be without a working washer, if it's possible,(meaning parts are available)my dad wants to take this old Filter Flow apart and fix everything that's gone wrong with it, starting with an outer tub replacement. If the outer tub is NLA then the whole idea is probably pointless and the machine should be scrapped or parted out. I know several members of this board have quite a bit of Filter Flow experience, so I thought I'd ask you. Can a machine in this condition be brought back, or should I advise my dad to let it go?

 

[spinspeed]

Hi there, cosmetically the washer looks in great condition. Why do you need to replace the outer tub? The filter flos classically are prone to rust and corrosion around the sump. I got an old FF that leaked live a sieve . I removed the inner tub and patched the holes in the outer tub which were around the sump mostly and it is now fully water tight and works perfectly. I used a product from the hardware store designed for fixing Leakes in boats and swimming pools. It is like a putty, only cost a few bucks but did the job perfectly.

I did have a thread of the fix for my old Filter Flo which is now my favourite of all 8 of my washing machines and the one I use the most.

Cheers
Simon

 

[d-jones]

Hi Simon. According to my dad, due to a number of out of balance spins the inner tub has done considerable damage to the porcelain coating on the inside surface of the outer tub. There are currently four strips of corrosion about one half inch to one inch wide and about six inches long where the porcelain was beaten away. This corrosion has eaten through the outer tub in several places leaving numerous holes which will only get worse. I suppose if I had the inner and outer tubs removed I could bead blast the corrosion away and lay up some fiberglass to patch the holes, but this would be kind of a Mickey Mouse thing to do. So a new outer tub would be the preferred solution if one is available.

 

[d-jones]

Here's the data plate for this machine. Can anyone tell from this or any of the other photos what part number I should be looking for?

 

[yogitunes]

It seems many machines of this model are all having the same issues.....I have one like it, and the outter tub is too far rusted around the top rim for repair, so the next option is to find a donor machine for the outter tub, or switch the control panel to a whole other machine....

you have your work cut out for you....

what is that plactic bag above the white drain hose port for?

 

[combo52]

GE FF Washer

This washer is saveable, but as Martin says you have your work cut out for you. It would be far better and more environmentally sound to recycle this washer and find a low use GE FF washer of similar age that would go to a recycler anyway and go from there. The blocked over port on the pump is the inlet for the FF water and is the reason that the FF- Mini-Basket was not useable.

 

[goatfarmer]

I agree, unless you have unlimited time and money, find a better one, and maybe combine them.

 

[d-jones]

I thought you guys might say that.

But before I give up on it altogether, would any of you happen to know the part number of the outer tub on this machine? I'd like to look around for one a bit before I throw in the towel. It served so reliably for so many years(about thirty)that I feel I should at least try, even if it turns out to be a lost cause.

 

[joefuss1984]

found on GE website

I found this on the GE website. When I searched for your model number the GE search returend model number WWA8350GAL. I then used that to browse their part's diagram. The model number for the tub based off of that is WH49X10008. Hope this helps. You may be better off finding an outer tub in good shape out of another machine however.

 

[d-jones]

Thanks Joseph. I've been doing some searching around myself and come up with several different part numbers. But like the number you came up with, they are all described as standard capacity. Is this machine considered standard capacity? There's a recent thread where Filter Flo tub capacity was being discussed and the point was made that machines with an extra large load setting were not standard capacity. But the point wasn't really resolved, instead the discussion just sort of ended. So is it a standard capacity tub I should be looking for, or large? This should be an easy question for some of you guys.

Here's a look inside if it helps.

 

[yogitunes]

THAT agitator automatically deems this an ExLarge or otherwise, the largest capacity GE filterflo......

 

[bajaespuma]

That looks like the extra large tub. As far as I know, Filter-Flo's with the standard tub  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">never</span> had the straight-4 activator, it was always a 3-vaned version. But this machine is confusing; it says "Large Capacity" on the control panel (although there's an "Extra Large" setting on the water-level control)and usually GE machines with the bigger tub called themselves "Extra-large Capacity". I'm 95% sure this is the extra-large tub.They made many iterations of this model from the middle Seventies to the middle Eighties. You won't have much trouble finding a parts machine to take stuff you need from. And as far as bastardizing these machines, who cares? GE did it themselves so what's the problem. This machine may not be pretty as is, but I think it will clean up well if you really want a Filter-Flo. And add a spiral ramp-activator to this machine and you'll have a really good performer. The straight-vane activators never moved clothes as well as the spiral did, but even this one is a vast improvement over the original "Straight-8". Good luck! The picture below was originally posted by another member years ago of a Filter-Flo of a similar vintage with the standard-capacity tub and the Straight-3 activator. The filter pan, incidentally, is NOT original to the unit; that style was made in the mid-Sixties for only a year IIRC.

 

[d-jones]

Would this be a suitable donor?

It looks like it's a G.E. made machine.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/atq/3192805863.html

 

[d-jones]

I just noticed that the would be donor doesn't seem to have a bleach fill port. Would that effect the outer tubs fittings or configuration? I've never seen one of these machines with the top cover off.

 

[tecnopolis]

...thats not the only thing different about this Hotpoint -vs- your GE, it appears to be a "rim flo" design?
Other than that, you could just switch the entire tops of the machines.

 

[tecnopolis]

..also, I saw these items on the parts website called "slap stix"? They are adhesive pads made to repair/patch the outer tub wear-through marks.
They are currently out of stock, so maybe that says something about how well they work. Just saying.