Oh Ben, Congratulations I am so happy that you got this beauty!! Looks like it is going to be some work but well worth it in the end. I love the gray lid as well, so neat. What a glam shot with the control dial all aglow!! Thanks for sharing and do keep us posted.
New for 1956! Imperial Unimatic by Frigidaire
- Thread starter swestoyz
- Start date
where's the dryer?
autowasherfreak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
- Messages
- 3,637
Congratulations!
That's a real pretty machine you have there. I have been checking craigslist several times a day for free washers and dryers & sale washers and dryers. I found one local that has a free washer, dryer, and dishwasher emailed him to get more details.
James
That's a real pretty machine you have there. I have been checking craigslist several times a day for free washers and dryers & sale washers and dryers. I found one local that has a free washer, dryer, and dishwasher emailed him to get more details.
James
golittlesport
Well-known member
Congratulations! Such a beautiful machine!
frontaloadotmy
Well-known member
Ben - What a Cool Machine
I bet you'll have it back on line in a jiffy. Perhaps a dol-
lop of some very caustic residue stuck fast in the tub ; maybe
some thing heavy and sharp got dropped in, or a manufacture on
a Monday or Friday! It is a beautiful red-headed step child!
Con grats..
I bet you'll have it back on line in a jiffy. Perhaps a dol-
lop of some very caustic residue stuck fast in the tub ; maybe
some thing heavy and sharp got dropped in, or a manufacture on
a Monday or Friday! It is a beautiful red-headed step child!
Con grats..
jetaction
Well-known member
Congrats Ben,,,,,
As long as it lights up, the rest is easy! LOL
As long as it lights up, the rest is easy! LOL
toploader55
Well-known member
Another Beauty
Congrats Ben. She sure is Purdy. I wish a few of those would pop up here. Seems like Massachusetts has a ban on Unimatics.However just south of Boston seems like Hobart Country.More and More KitchenAids have been popping up lately. Good Luck on your rebuild. Eddie
Congrats Ben. She sure is Purdy. I wish a few of those would pop up here. Seems like Massachusetts has a ban on Unimatics.However just south of Boston seems like Hobart Country.More and More KitchenAids have been popping up lately. Good Luck on your rebuild. Eddie
trainguy
Well-known member
Congrats Ben!
This is one beautiful machine.
If those people still have the dryer, I would be glad to buy it from them. I already have 2 washers, but my dryers aren't in the best of shape.
Thanks,
Rich
This is one beautiful machine.
If those people still have the dryer, I would be glad to buy it from them. I already have 2 washers, but my dryers aren't in the best of shape.
Thanks,
Rich
gyrafoam
Well-known member
Ben, when I see a tub problem like that the first thing I suspect is that something heavy enough to chip the porcelain fell into the tub, (perhaps from a shelf above where the machine stood) rust started and there you go. Use JB Weld to patch it and you will be pleased to find it is almost the exact gray color as the tub.
The '56 Unimatic was always my second favorite after the '58.
The copper trim was wonderful and would go with all kinds of earth-tone colors. (Especially when combined with Sherwood Green).
Yeah, when I see that solenoid soaked with oil----it usually means water has invaded the oil pan----not a good scenario.
Best wishes with your new toy!
The '56 Unimatic was always my second favorite after the '58.
The copper trim was wonderful and would go with all kinds of earth-tone colors. (Especially when combined with Sherwood Green).
Yeah, when I see that solenoid soaked with oil----it usually means water has invaded the oil pan----not a good scenario.
Best wishes with your new toy!
bethann
New member
Yay Ben,
Glad you got her! Maybe your pictures will help me when you tear her apart! LOL!
Glad you got her! Maybe your pictures will help me when you tear her apart! LOL!
Ben that is super cool, what a beautiful machine. I bet the capacitor will be just fine, I've only seen one bad one in a Unimatic, that was in my '47 Unimatic. Now put some hot water down the drain hose and start him up. Let it agitate a few minutes to get the oil pump pumping oil up to the spin bearing and put it into spin, if he purrs he's ready to wash, if he roars well then you have some work to do 
.
To patch the tub I would pull out the tub and use Plumbers Epoxy to seal below the hole and as Steve recommended a good coating of JB-Weld from above.
.To patch the tub I would pull out the tub and use Plumbers Epoxy to seal below the hole and as Steve recommended a good coating of JB-Weld from above.
geoffdelp
Well-known member
Well, Ben ... you ARE full of surprises, aren't you?
"Red-headed stepchild", indeed. I don't see anything that's NOT to like about that machine.
How unique that you are able to rescue it!!! It's in a good home. Besides; it's good to think of something other than a Maytag, huh?
I like Robert's advise; try it out and let us know!
"Red-headed stepchild", indeed. I don't see anything that's NOT to like about that machine.
How unique that you are able to rescue it!!! It's in a good home. Besides; it's good to think of something other than a Maytag, huh?
I like Robert's advise; try it out and let us know!
It looks beautiful!
Can you see the agitator going up and down when you turn the tub? If you can't turn the fan/motor shaft, you may not get far testing it. Hot water in the pump may free up the seal and you could be good to go.
Perhaps we need to have another Unimatic weekend? Get those lab coats pressed!
Can you see the agitator going up and down when you turn the tub? If you can't turn the fan/motor shaft, you may not get far testing it. Hot water in the pump may free up the seal and you could be good to go.
Perhaps we need to have another Unimatic weekend? Get those lab coats pressed!
gyrafoam
Well-known member
We need to have another workshop-----
hell, everybody in that old photo still has hair.
hell, everybody in that old photo still has hair.
hell, everybody in that old photo still has hair.
And I think Greg is still drinking Diet Coke out of the same cup!
And I think Greg is still drinking Diet Coke out of the same cup!
gyrafoam
Well-known member
Ben, I don't know about that-----
the Diet Coke likely ate the bottom out of the old one long ago.
You can believe the stuff is still flowing though-----
bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
the Diet Coke likely ate the bottom out of the old one long ago.
You can believe the stuff is still flowing though-----
bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Can you see the agitator going up and down when you turn the tub?
Yes, if I would spin the tub, the pulsator would go up and down.
I decided to take the plunge and took Robert's advice tonight. Unfortunately the original drain hoses were not in great shape. I trimmed down the hose from the pump outlet to the garden hose connector to at least allow water to travel through it for this test. I then cut the petrified drain hose to about 3 feet long, and poured about 16 ounces of HOT water into the pump. Then I placed the original drain hook in the hose and set the bucket underneath. I let it sit for about 10 minutes, did a few hail marry's - and plugged her in.
The first pass the motor was locked up. Waited 20 seconds, tried again - still locked up.
I thought I'd give it a third shot, and BAM, I heard some garbling! I looked in the bucket that I had placed under the remaining 3 feet of water and saw some nasty gunk that had flown out. The mechanism had worked itself free!
I then cut the threaded end off of a bad inlet hose, and stuck it along the backside of the wash tub so I could pour some hot water in the outer tub. I got about 2 gallons processed and the pump was flowing out clear water.
Then came time for a spin test. Engaged the spin, could hear the solenoid engage, and .... nothing. The machine continued to agitate and the was just coasting at a snails pace - hardly 1140 RPM. What does this mean, to those who might not be quite 100 percent about the Unimatic mechanism? Let's find out from the Frigidaire doctrine.
Yes, if I would spin the tub, the pulsator would go up and down.
I decided to take the plunge and took Robert's advice tonight. Unfortunately the original drain hoses were not in great shape. I trimmed down the hose from the pump outlet to the garden hose connector to at least allow water to travel through it for this test. I then cut the petrified drain hose to about 3 feet long, and poured about 16 ounces of HOT water into the pump. Then I placed the original drain hook in the hose and set the bucket underneath. I let it sit for about 10 minutes, did a few hail marry's - and plugged her in.
The first pass the motor was locked up. Waited 20 seconds, tried again - still locked up.
I thought I'd give it a third shot, and BAM, I heard some garbling! I looked in the bucket that I had placed under the remaining 3 feet of water and saw some nasty gunk that had flown out. The mechanism had worked itself free!
I then cut the threaded end off of a bad inlet hose, and stuck it along the backside of the wash tub so I could pour some hot water in the outer tub. I got about 2 gallons processed and the pump was flowing out clear water.
Then came time for a spin test. Engaged the spin, could hear the solenoid engage, and .... nothing. The machine continued to agitate and the was just coasting at a snails pace - hardly 1140 RPM. What does this mean, to those who might not be quite 100 percent about the Unimatic mechanism? Let's find out from the Frigidaire doctrine.
BIG OH NO!
Rats - the clutch torque spring is probably broken. When I engage the trip I can hear a rattle inside the mechanism, probably the broken segments just laughing at me inside. I should take back my statement of thinking that I was the first to pull things apart. I could see some orange RTV around the drain plug tonight, which leads me to believe that someone has been inside of it before.
So, I've got some parts to start gathering up. Probably could use a new carbon seal for the pump, new clutch spring, and may as well put a new bearing in it if I'm going to have it apart. One of those is easy - the other two hard. The only lead I have on parts for Frigidaire lost EVERYTHING in the Floods that happened back in June. I will go back to beg and plead to go through the stuff to see if I can find anything. Otherwise, she'll be a pretty show piece while I go searching for the parts.
Until then -
Ben
Rats - the clutch torque spring is probably broken. When I engage the trip I can hear a rattle inside the mechanism, probably the broken segments just laughing at me inside. I should take back my statement of thinking that I was the first to pull things apart. I could see some orange RTV around the drain plug tonight, which leads me to believe that someone has been inside of it before.
So, I've got some parts to start gathering up. Probably could use a new carbon seal for the pump, new clutch spring, and may as well put a new bearing in it if I'm going to have it apart. One of those is easy - the other two hard. The only lead I have on parts for Frigidaire lost EVERYTHING in the Floods that happened back in June. I will go back to beg and plead to go through the stuff to see if I can find anything. Otherwise, she'll be a pretty show piece while I go searching for the parts.
Until then -
Ben
mickeyd
Well-known member
Ben, it's gorgeous
How cool that the '56 has LIGHTS. The Blackstone uses the same kind of Christmas tree lights. Just think you can change them for any holiday--green for Saint Paddy's, red for Valentine's, etc. Jon put Halloween orange in the Blackstone.
Good luck on the parts, Buddy, and with your Karma--hey--a piece of cake.
How cool that the '56 has LIGHTS. The Blackstone uses the same kind of Christmas tree lights. Just think you can change them for any holiday--green for Saint Paddy's, red for Valentine's, etc. Jon put Halloween orange in the Blackstone.
Good luck on the parts, Buddy, and with your Karma--hey--a piece of cake.
geoffdelp
Well-known member
Ben ... will it be almost impossible to find that clutch torque spring?
Well ... at least you know what the problem is.
You love a good challenge, don't you?
Well ... at least you know what the problem is.
You love a good challenge, don't you?
... will it be almost impossible to find that clutch torque spring?
I think if I cross my arms in front of me, and nod my head down real fast, one will magically appear in front of me ;-)
You love a good challenge, don't you?
Life just wouldn't be fun without them.
I love Robert's message. I'll make sure to remove and bring the mechanism to the 'shop', which is about 20 feet away ;-)
I think if I cross my arms in front of me, and nod my head down real fast, one will magically appear in front of me ;-)
You love a good challenge, don't you?
Life just wouldn't be fun without them.
I love Robert's message. I'll make sure to remove and bring the mechanism to the 'shop', which is about 20 feet away ;-)
Be careful with those spells - you might just get stung!
I can hear the music from Pyscho!!!!!!! There is nothing more horrifying than finding your Unimatic replaced with a MODERN machine!!!!!!
What does the little white button do on the water level control?
golittlesport
Well-known member
When the lid is fully open and rests against the little button on the load size control it shuts the machine off. Sort of a safety shut off, but not really. On my 1955 model that little shut off button is in the middle of the water temperature dial. (But mine has been conveniently disconnected.)
trainguy
Well-known member
Torque springs are around, if you do need one. This '56 sure is nice. I'm still curious as to who got the other set.
Rich
Rich
I got a little antsy Friday afternoon before going out (since I was at a good stopping point on house work), and found myself digging into the '56 for no apparent reason. With all the Unimatic fun that is going on this month, I thought I'd provide more for the fun!
Top off. I was very relieved to find that the gasket is in superb shape. Not to say that was the same fate of the fill hose. Mind you, this was as far as I wanted to go.
Top off. I was very relieved to find that the gasket is in superb shape. Not to say that was the same fate of the fill hose. Mind you, this was as far as I wanted to go.
"Ah what the heck, pull out the pulsator," I said to myself. Well that was easy.
"Hum, both bellows came off and were in fine shape. Where is that tub nut wrench at again? Well isn't that convenient I find it right in the tub."
Tap, tap, tap away.
Tap, tap, tap away.
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