New Hoover Deluxe TwinTub 519 owner

[redgeminipa]

Hey all!

Our 2005 Maytag Neptune (made by Samsung) recently blew its second pump. In a desperate measure to get laundry done, I picked up this Hoover 519 from a guy on Facebook Marketplace about 20 miles away. He stated it only needed the fill hose, and the price was $50 for the machine. Not knowing anything about these, I figured if it needs anything else, I could figure out a way to get what it needs, and have it up and running. I also decided I'd keep it in the bathroom for small laundry needs, and specifically washing my Norwex cloths.

When I finally agreed to pay him $10 more to meet me about half way, he shows up with it on the back of his truck. As we're unloading it, he proceeds to tell me he discovered the pump belt was rotted, and I'd have to get a new one. When he told me it was like a big O-ring, I figured that couldn't be too hard to find.

I loaded it up, and headed to Lowe's, figuring I could get what I needed to get it running.

I used a phone charger cord to wrap around the pulleys for the pump to get a rough measurement. I ended up getting a pack of various sized O-rings with one that seemed about the right size. Next, I bought one of those handheld showers that fits on a tub faucet, thinking I could use that for the fill hose. It's too small for the piece that goes in the fill hole, but the tube fits down in there perfectly. I had enough supplies to at least test it, so home I went.

I put the O-ring on it, plugged it in, and turned it on. Pump wasn't spinning. Turned it off.

I pulled the pump out, and started taking it apart. I noticed the impeller wasn't attached. It was just floating around inside. There was a lot of lime scale build up, too. The rubber gasket didn't seem too great, but I needed to see if I could get this pump spinning, so I'd deal with the gasket later.

I sprayed a little PB Blaster around the shaft, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, started working it in. It freed up, and I started putting some 3-in-1 oil in it. It was now spinning pretty smoothly.

Since there was a lot of scale buildup on the lower part of the pump where the seal goes, I pulled out the wire brush for the drill, and started cleaning the crud off. Once that was clean, I started working on the gasket, cleaning it, and hoping it might be usable for now (we REALLY needed to do laundry). I cleaned up around the hole for the impeller, and pressed it back on. Put it all together, and started a small load of clothes to see how it would work.

The wash was great. It spun the clothes very well. This seems to run for 5 minutes on the heavy setting. I ran it two times. The clothes then went into the spinner. Since I was outside on the back porch working on it, I had the hose laying on the ground. When drain and spin started, water was coming out of the hose, slowly, and out from underneath the washer. The pump was leaking. Since I had a small load of clothes that were wet, stuck inside the MaySung washer for 5 days, I had to get those washed. I just continued to wash those, and called it a night.

The next day, I went to a local hardware/surplus store to see if I could find an O-ring to use as a pump gasket, get new hose clamps (those pinch clamps are horrible to work with), and a new drain hose, since the original was pretty bad. When I got home, I pulled the pump back out, and started cleaning it up with a new gasket. Everything was put back together. When I turned it on to pump, there were no leaks. It was time to take it in the house, up to the bathroom.

Once we got everything set up in the bathroom, and washed a small load to test it, I discovered the pump didn't seem to be working. I forgot to put the "belt" back on... Once that was on, it pumped really hard for a few seconds, then went back to a trickle. Nothing was draining unless we put the hose nearly to the floor.

I was leaning towards maybe the impeller might have popped off again, as I didn't clean the hole too great, and it wasn't pressed on very tight. So, this morning, I pulled the spin tub drain hose off, and... the impeller was laying in there again. I pulled it apart again, and was determined to fix it. I scraped the inside of the impeller hole clean with a razor knife, and put a few drops of Loctite Quicktite Gel inside, and firmly pressed it back on the shaft. I closed it all back up, and installed it again.

Presto! Problem solved, and it's working like new, with strong pump pressure for draining both tubs. Now, I have no idea how well the big O-ring will hold up as the pump belt, but the variety pack from Lowe's was only around $5, so if I get a month out of it, $5 per month (for now) is quite manageable. I may buy another pack to get the sizing to search for more of that size O-ring online, and stock up on them. I may even find some at the hardware/surplus store, and they average about 25¢ each, so that could be pretty cheap for a dozen of them.

There are some other minor issues I'd like to address over time, such as the rinse/spin control is broken off where the knob rod connects to it. No big deal right now, as the water still pours in if I have the faucet turned on.

I'll only be using Norwex Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent in this, as it rinses clean, and won't leave a buildup. It was also breaking up years of buildup from inside the Maytag, which I'm kinda wondering if that's why the original pump failed.

 

[launderess]

Welcome to our world

Quite a few members (including yours truly) own Hoover twin-tub washers. They are a fun if not involved way to get through wash day.....

That being said pumps were the weak spot for all Hoover TT it seems. More often than not those that have been allowed to sit for long periods find insides crusted up with hardened detergent/soap residue combined with muck, lint and god only knows what else.

Happily as you've discovered these pumps come apart rather easily and if necessary can be repaired (locating proper part of course), then put back into service.

First few times using a Hoover TT that has been sitting for long is to do a few washes with really hot water, this should loosen and flush out any gunk crusted inside.

 

[jeb]

You might be able to find a sweeper belt that would hold up better?

 

[rolls_rapide]

I once opened up a faulty leaking Hoovermatic twin-tub pump, and discovered that a rubber buffer from the spinner lid surround had made its way into the pump.

Both lid buffers were present on the surround, so I assume that it had fallen in during assembly in the factory.

 

[gansky1]

An excellent washer-in-a-pinch to have around. Hoover TTs cleaned well, spun well and with some rinsing method experiments, you'll end up with very satisfactory results. Yours is mid 70's, looks to be in good shape for the age. Maytag had a well built TT, but the Hoover was a faster and larger machine. I brought home a standard model Hoover washer almost days after I got my driver's license at 16. It came with a brand new pump in the box and new belts. My very own Hoover! Have had several over the years, I'd get a "craving" for one and pick one up, play with it for a while and pass it along. Now, I have a Hoover set found here on the forum, unused, imported to the mighty prairie from Albany, NY. Hopefully this will be my last, I'm not letting this one go, they're pretty rare now.

The spin motor is the same as a Constellation floats-on-air cleaner, gives it it's vaguely familiar whine. The first ad photo is 1975, also has a cool dishwasher.

Good work on getting your pump to run. The later pinch-valve style was more durable than the bakelite original,. The belt should work fine, at least for a while, but a readily available part. The original belt was a fiber/rubber composition, a bit longer than Hoover's vacuum belts. There were rebuild kits for these pumps, any old vac stores around you? The Hoover store and repair center here had some common laundry parts for a long time after they'd been discontinued. Always worth a free phone call.

A neighbor of ours had a 1974-ish Hoover set, washed for a family of five. I loved watching and helping, it's a fun washer to use. Passed on several years later to a sister's family of 3 while he was in med school. Better than going to a laundromat. especially if you have a full-size dryer or clothesline.

 

[laundryboy]

Age.

Does anyone know what year these were made. I have an exact one like this. I’ve always wondered how to tell the age of it.

Awesome little machine. They are fun to use. Great find Red. Happy washing.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I wish you many happy years with it!

I'd seen them, watched people use them, and couldn't for the life of me figure out the attraction. The a year or two ago I was at Martin's and (for whatever reason) he had one on some sort of platform that raised its height by about 18". I could use it without my back threatening to go on strike. Now I def see the attraction. They are fun as long as your schedule doesn't require set-it-and-forget-it.

It seems to me throughput could be pretty quick...... Hmmmmm..... something to think about.

 

[redgeminipa]

@gansky1

One of the first places I called was the only appliance repair place that's been around for years, and... no luck. The owner's wife said she hasn't heard much about these in ages, let alone have any parts laying around.

I thought I saw a post somewhere here that mentioned the wash tub drain was slow. It may have been in reference to the older style pump, but I can't say for sure. I'm happy to say mine drains extremely well.

Yesterday was a successful run day. I did 3 small loads to give it a decent test, as the back panel is still off to make sure everything is working smoothly. It amazes me how much dirt & grime comes out of washed items that didn't appear to be too dirty when put in, especially considering only 10 minuets of run time (2 full cycles of 5 minutes each). It cleans much better (and faster) than my Neptune. The agitation is exceptional in this, and it rarely has trouble keeping up with whatever I throw in it. I'm already in the habit of just waiting until the rinse & spin is done before draining the wash tub. I don't want to stress the pump too much. I still have trouble remembering to set the dial to "wash" before filling, so I'm trying to get in the habit of doing it when I finish using it.

The last little project I'm going to do today, is carefully bend the opening for the drain hose passthrough on the back panel to make it easier to get the replacement hose through. I really don't want to, but if I have to take the panel off for an emergency problem, I don't want the setback of getting the hose through. I won't have to modify it by much, so that's a plus.

A friend of mine told me last night that he had one of these years ago, and ended up tossing it in the trash because the pump was leaking. After I told him how I fixed this one with a 25¢ O-ring, he's wishing now he would'v held on to it. LOL

 

[launderess]

Late as 1990's

NOS parts for Hoover TT washers still popped up regularly enough on fleaPay and elsewhere. Usually from suppliers clearing out old dusty shelves and other dead stock. This still happens today but more in Australia and UK where Hoover sold more of their TTs and for longer after USA production ceased.

Sadly as wont to happen with many other NOS parts for vintage appliances much likely was rubbished when places simply cleared out old dead stock.

Modern Appliance Parts (did I get that right) was one place that held onto old stock, at least until owner Larry died. Think afterwards much was thrown away.

My point is keep looking online and elsewhere because you never know. The week or so you don't search someone will pipe up "look what I just won on eBay...." *LOL*

As for pump belts at least only the rough textured Hoover TTs will seem to work. Any other Hoover or whatever smooth belts don't have the grip needed to transfer energy from motor to pulley effectively from what one has seen.

Still have a set of Hoover convertible belts bought for that purpose which have been sat sitting ever since. Was able to find NOS pump belts so never even got far as to experiment. But off the bat could see the difference.

Besides their rough surface Hoover TT belts have far more elasticity than vacuum cleaner or sweeper types.

Other main issue with pumps is diverter mechanism/valve. Call it what you will; wear and tear, slow failure... but it can happen that with some models of pump sooner or later there won't be a good seal between switching to "drain" or just sending water from extraction tub to wash.

At the time Hoover made these pumps easily rebuilt or repaired with new spare parts. Again these are hard to come by today so work around may be necessary.

 

[redgeminipa]

My mom told me today that she had one identical to this when I was a baby. She said her mom bought it for her. I was born in '78, so it's quiet possible my grandmother picked up a used one for her at that time (she was a thrift shopper).

I didn't get a chance to modify the drain hose opening on the back panel today. Tomorrow might yield better results.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hoovermatics

Glad you managed to pick up a Hoovermatic Ron, great for ploughing through washing, quick to complete multiple washloads and always the floor gets a clean as well.

I think your pumps in this model are different to our in the UK ? does this model have a pinch valve ? Hoovermatic pumps where the weakest link of the whole machine but nothing that cant be sorted and fixed with a little ingenuity like the O ring fix you used.

Have fun using it and a little looking after will give you a lifetime of fun washing, and they can certainly pump that water out at a rate of knots not seen on any other machine ha ha..

Enjoy , Mike

 

[redgeminipa]

Thank you.

The USA models switched to the pinch hose design, making it pretty simple and a little more reliable.

 

[ps91rick]

Very cool machine! If there was one nearby I’d consider it!

Btw.. if anyone is near Kamloops, BC, someone is selling one for $60 CA... only needs a belt so the ad claims.. I’d hate to see one of these go to the scrap heap!

 

[jocks54]

You are one Lucky guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been searching for years to replace mine I bought new for my first apartment!!!!!! I want another one more than anything!