Need Parts for 1985 GE Filter Flo Washer

[gewhitney]

I just found this forum yesterday, and it's great timing as I'm trying to decide what to do with my washer. I bought it new in 1985 and am still using it. It works great, but it started leaking water about 3 years ago. When the water is draining out during the wash cycle, most of the water goes down the drain, but some water has been coming out on the floor from under the washer. I hadn't contacted a repairman to figure out where the water was coming from because I assumed they would tell me it couldn't be fixed, and I just didn't have the money to buy a new washer. Well, last week Monday, I discovered a small, very fine spray of water coming out of the back of the washer about an inch or so from where the hoses connect to the back. The washer wasn't running so the water was just coming from the cold water faucet being open. I had a repairman come out this past Friday. He got the cold water faucet shut off so that stopped the water spray. He said it looked like the washer might need a new valve. Then he looked under the front of the washer and said that oil is splattered around inside the washer (transmission going bad?). He said it might cost me around $250 to fix the washer, and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find the parts. So, I decided to go ahead and buy a new washer, and I bought one on Sunday at Home Depot (a non-HE GE). It's going to be delivered on Thursday. I'm really torn though about getting rid of my old washer. Yesterday I saw a thread on here from 2011 in which everyone was commenting on how great the filter flo is for getting out dog hair, and that's one of the reasons I've really loved having this washer. I've owned dogs the whole time I've had the washer, and that filter flo really does get out a lot of the dog hair! The only drawback to the washer is the small tub size as I've had to take dog beds to the Laundromat because they're too big to fit in the washer. I'm currently thinking about going ahead and getting the new washer but keeping my old one and getting it fixed later.

So, my question is - how difficult is it to find parts for these old washers, like a valve or the transmission? I'm assuming the transmission could be rebuilt or replaced with a rebuilt one?

 

[cfz2882]

fix it

Those washers are easy to find parts for-at least in my experience-water leak could be from a number of sources-transmission boot,hoses, tub rust-out.Oil slung around underneath is expected on an old FilterFlo-lower tranny seal leaks when metallic debris from transmission mechanism gets between seal lip and input shaft.Repair/replacement of the transmission is very easy for a washer"gearhead"with these washers

 

[yogitunes]

water valves....a standard replacement/universal should fit, nothing special about those....

transmissions, can be found new and used.....just make sure of the capacity/size...

you might want to opt for new fill hoses and a pump while your at it....

but this still doesn't answer where the leak has been coming from....

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[gewhitney]

Thank you for the replies! I will need to hire someone to do the repairs. I was given a reference for one company in town, and the person said that company likes working on older washers. I'm assuming they may be more expensive than the man who came out and diagnosed the problems though. I'm worried that the man who came out may not be as experienced with older washers since he thought the parts may be hard to find. He obviously didn't know. Both of you sound more knowledgeable.

cfz282, Do you think it's possible to find a "gearhead" at a local repair company? Here's a link to the company's web site. I see they've been in business for over 30 years. https://www.metro-appliance.com/appliance-repair

Yogitunes, Do people generally find parts for older washers on ebay, or are they able to buy them from companies? Just wondering where repair people would go. The repairman did tell me I need new fill hoses as they had a little bulge at the ends. I don't know when they've been changed last so it's probably been a long time.

Thank you so much for your help! I'm so glad to find out that I can save my old washer after all!

I don't have any other photos of my washer on my computer at the moment, but here's a photo I took a year ago after washing one dog's bedding! Can't beat getting that dog hair out! The dryer helps get a lot more out too. It'll be interesting to see how the new washer compares in terms of getting dog hair out.