New acquisition: 1969 GE FilterFlo Washer - Beginning the Dissassembly and Restoration

[dishwashercrazy]

On May 6, 2011, I was searching the Chicago area Craigslist ads, and came across an ad for a Washer and Gas Dryer, posted April, 29, 2011. There was a single small photo of a GE Washer and Dryer. The ad stated that the units were older, and the picture confirmed that, but I wasn’t sure how old. I wrote to the seller asking for the Model/Serial Number of the Washer. The next day, he wrote back stating that according to the literature he still had, the Model was WA743E, but he copied the Model number down wrong as: 1WA 1WA 74 F2W. I also wrote the seller asking for close-up photos of the washer and dryer console, plus a shot inside the washer, and he complied. On May 8, I consulted with Ken (bajaespuma) since he and I had communicated in the past about GE laundry products. I thought these machines were from 1978, but Ken was able to pinpoint them as models produced in 1969 based on the model information the seller provided and the photos which I forwarded. Ken and I talked talked about these machines, but I really needed to see them for myself. The seller was available on Thursday, May 12, so I agreed to drive up to Aurora to have a look. So Thursday morning as planned, I made the 2 ½ drive to Aurora. I was very pleased, seeing no oil dripping and the machines in pretty good condition. We haggled, and I agreed to buy the pair for $140. Now I know that the Model is: 1WA743E2W and S/N is: RD125395 (August 1969).

With the Washer and Dryer still on my pickup truck, I started to do some preliminary clean-up work. Then On Sunday, May 15, I prepared to give the washer a full water test. I filled the washer nearly full with hot water and let it stand for 30 minutes or so. In the meantime, I started looking for problems. I did find a slow drip coming from about the 5 o’clock position. But I continued to run the test, which was very successful. The following video is an edited down version of what transpired over about an hour or so. The drip continued during the test, but did not change in volume. As I had been cleaning, I did see some rust in the bottom of the outer tube, so I concluded that the transmission boot was likely the source of the leak. Next step – search for the leak.

SO, I am starting this thread to document this Washer and Dryer, AND the Disassembly and Restoration of the Washer.

First some overall pictures taken before the clean-up process began, and then the Video will follow. AND the disassembly has been completed, with much of the cleanup complete, or in progress. Next, as I will discuss further down, I will begin the repair work to the outer tub.

Lastly, I would appreciate any advice you might have, as I progress through this restoration project.

Mike
(Oh boy, Dishwashercrazy working on a Washer!)

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Controls

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Dial

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Options

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Lid Open

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Money Shot! The Mini-Basket and the Filter Pan were missing, but I have both, plus, I think I have a complete Ramp Agitator and Mini-Basket that will work too.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Down below.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Dryer Console

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Dial

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Drum

 

[dishwashercrazy]

GE Filter Flo Washer Video



Here is the video made on May 15, 2011.


<iframe width=480 height=390 src= frameborder=0 allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Dissassembly Started



Well, my first problem was getting the Agitator off! It had not been removed in many years. I pulled and jerked, and pulled, and pulled some more. Nothing. I put two leather pants belts crisscrossed under the agitator, and pulled, but all I did was lift the washer up off of the bed of the truck. Worn out, needed rest.

I came back to it later that night, and I decided to get more aggressive with the agitator. I put one belt underneath the agitator, and I started pulling with hard jerks. After a few pulls, I noticed that I was developing a gap underneath, so that encouraged me to make about 3 more pulls, and off it came. I had bruises on my forearm for several days after that.

Underneath the agitator, I found this mess!

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Here is that area all nice and cleaned up. But how does this Damned plastic cap cover come off?

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Well, that Plastic Cap does not come off easily!

First, I took a feeler gage and went around the entire agitator shaft at the top (smallest diameter) portion of the plastic cap, to loosen all of the lime deposits that were bonding the cap to the shaft. I have sore and raw areas on both pointer fingers to show for that effort. Ah, but what next. A colleague had told me that there are two tabs that need to be pressed in order to get the cap off, but to the untrained servicer, he didn't know where the hell they were. Until later in the day, he discovered the secret.

But before I found the tabs, I was trying to pry up from underneath the cap with a putty knife, but that was too flimsy. Next, I got out my 12 inch wonderbar pry bar, but that would not pop the cap off either, because I still had not figured out the secret of the two tabs. Once I discovered the tabs, I experimented, and found that using one blade screwdriver coming in from each side of the tab, for both tabs, was the right combination. Now, the pry bar finally started to gradually lift the cap up until if came off.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Now this leads to more cleanup! Yuck!

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Come closer, closer, closer....

 

[dishwashercrazy]

After more scrubbing and scrapping and cleaning, the spin tub bolts looked to be in very good shape.

To my surprise, I placed a 1/2 inch box end wrench on one bold head, and it moved! As did the other two bolts, and in a few minutes, the moment of truth was upon me. Would the tub come out? I pulled. Nothing. I leaned. Nothing. I jerked. Nothing. Not until I went around the entire shaft and chisel out the rust that had accumulated there, was I able to get the tub to pop off of the flange that it had been bolted to for many years.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Tub out, at last.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Now the big let-down.

The rust that I could see in the bottom of the outer tub is nothing compared to what I see next around the transmission boot and near the drain.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Well, for sure, the transmission boot needs to be replaced. I believe I can get one locally. Getting it off really does not present a problem - I just went very slowly and carefully.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Bad looking on the top, but what about around the bottom?

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Wow! Looks like it pulled the whole tub groove out with it!

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Turns out that likely, the Transmission Boot was not leaking at all. What I did find, after doing some scrubbing was a pinhole through that groove in the tub where the boots sits. There is also a large rust spot next to the drain, which is very thin and delicate.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

Closeup of the area where the pinhole is located.

 

[dishwashercrazy]

So what is next?



Next, I plan to work on the rust areas. I have done some preliminary scrubbing and cleaning. I am uneasy scrubbing much more in the groove, and that large spot by the drain.

I want to coat the rust with POR-15, but I cannot get it here in Peoria. Therefore, I have ordered a Starter Kit directly from the POR-15 customer support.

Next step after that is to use a Bondo Fiberglass Repair Kit to form a patch over the worst areas.

Finally, paint the affected areas with an Enamel paint.

All further suggestions most welcome.

Thank for reading so far.

Mike

 

[macboy91si]

That Sucks!

I've seen several machines like that. My boot in my GE looked similar and had become very hard. Water likes to stand in all of those rust spots and I guess over time it eats away at the porcelain and attacks the metal. That lip will also flex a lot when the metal becomes compromised and that only accelerates the problem.

 

Sorry to see that, do you plan on sourcing another outer tub?

 

-Tim

 

[mtn1584]

one word....................................................

GORGEOUS!
Mike

 

[turquoisedude]

Great find Mike! You're going to do this pair proud!
Mind if I borrow your 'belt trick' for future reference?? LOL
Looking forward to following your progress.

 

[cfz2882]

'69 GEs

nice pair -those are really close to the very first washer and dryer i stripped
down back in 1979,pair i stripped were kind of a pinkish color but not really
a true pink.They might have been a couple years older than '69,but all the
details were the same as the '69 pair pictured.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Great video Mike, I love the fact that you tested it right on the truck as soon as you got it home.  I've done that, sometimes us washer boys just can't wait to see it run!