New member here, just found a vintage matching Frigidaire washer and dryer!

[veg-o-matic]

Welcome, Doug! When I first saw pictures of those Frigidaires, I figured you'd be coming over here.

Oh, and everyone--you should see Doug's TV collection!

veg

 

[drh4683]

HI guys,

FYI on the cars, the green one is a '71 Dodge Coronet and the black one is a '60 Chevy impala sport sedan. Thanks for compliments!

Yes, Im better known for my oversized TV collection over at videokarma. I figured there should be some VK members here too!

As for the washer, I finally got around to checking it out today. The switch seems to be fine, it clicked no problem when I stuck a pen in there and I got that loud resonating hum to start up so I immediately let off the switch. I pulled the front panel off to see what was going on as I suspected a motor fault. First off, I was amazed to see how clean it is inside the washer. I played around with it to see how the mechanisem worked and I'm impressed with it. The pivoting ball joint arm, or I guess its properly called an agitator arm seems to be in good shape and no slop. However, I found that I could't turn anything by hand via the drive belt.

So I loosened the motor and belt to check what was in a bind. Sure enough, the motor is toast, totally locked up solid.

That was simple enough to diagnose and even easier to remove. Interestingly enough this is NOT the original motor though. I knew right away when I opened up the unit that the motor was much newer. Its a GE replacement from 1993! There is basically no good way to service it as the case is spot welded to the laminations. So I'm on the hunt for a new motor on this one.

Also, there is a plastic sheild looking thing that was off to the side that appears to have gone around the motor. Does anyone have a picture of exactly how this plastic (I assume water sheild) is supposed to be placed? I assume that it folds and the two holes overlap and that will fit around the centrifugal switch assembly on the bottom? In trying to keep it all correct, Im just curious exactly how its supposed to be positioned.

As for the motor issue, hopefully replacements are not totally extinct.

Thanks-Doug

 

[pdub]

motor water shield

Here is a pic of one of my 1-18's with the cabinet removed showing how the shield is installed on the motor. The two holes overlap and a clamp holds it to the bottom of the motor.

 

[joelippard]

Doug,

Here is a link to a 1-18 motor on ebay. It seems a little expensive to me -- others here may have other ideas about motors for these since it's a common Emerson motor.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[foraloysius]

'60 Chevy impala sport sedan

Cool! We had the same one in white with blue striping.

 

[drh4683]

excellent! Thanks for both the very helpful photo of the sheild and also the link to the motor on ebay!

I called around a few appliance parts dealers in Chicago, they are old established places that I knew about and figured they'd have some stuff lying around to help me out. Of course everyone just types in the model number in the computer and says "nope, nothing matches" and thats the end of the call. Its like what the hell, don't they have either the old hard copy manuals or micro fische still? You walk into some of these places and its still like 1959 inside. I guess it boils down to everyone is just lazy and they don't care to help you if it means they have to put a little more effort into it. Everyone thinks that if its not in the computer, either the parts are gone for ever, or you are giving them a model number that never exisited like you're some kind of idiot who doesn't know what he's doing.

So I figured, that ebay motor is exactly what I need and it was available so I went ahead and bought it. I just pay a few extra bucks but I at least know I can hopefully get my machine up and running again and not deal with the hassle of the personalities of these parts people over the phone.

So I can now hope the motor arrives all in one piece and all works out like I hope it will!

 

[joelippard]

I'd love to find a motor that would work on the 1-18 that was of the rebuildable variety, like in the solid tub models. Anybody got ideas?

 

[drh4683]

The new motor arrived yesterday! I've been anxiously waiting the whole week. Still in the orignal Frigidaire box, dated 12-77. Its so nice finding original NOS parts. I put the new motor in and gave it a test run.....Everything works perfect! All the water valves appear to work like they should, the timer switch and different functions and discharges water like it should with no surprises. I never saw one of these in operation before. Its definately a powerful machine. Not the quietest machines around but who cares. It makes kind of a "roaring" sound when it goes into its spin cycle. Its almost like the sound of just the urathane rollers and or bearings. Speaking of bearings, does this machine have any ball bearings on the shafts, or just bronze bushings? I must ask, there is a label that specifically indicates "Do not oil mechanisem". Isn't there something I should try to lubricate considering we're talking it almost 40 years old. What about that agitate arm with the ball joint? It seems pretty tight for the most part, but it seems very dry on the pivoting ball connections. The shaft that goes up and down for the agitator also seems pretty dry and there is like a light black dust on and around the edges of the ball joint and shaft. Not sure if this is just wear or perhaps even graphite powder used as a dry lubricant. Any other pointers to help keep this machine working like new for years to come would be greatly appriciated!

Oh one last question, as for that plastic water shield around the motor, does it just fit up on the bottom of the motor relying on friction to hold it in place at the end of the motor, or is there some kind of clamp that secures it so vibrations of the machine do not cause it to fall off?

Thanks!

 

[combo52]

FRIGIDARE 1-18 WASHERS

Almost all the major bearings on this machine are sealed ball bearings and can't be easily oiled. If you get even one drop of oil on the rollers it will not spin or agitate, we used to see these stop working when they were in very roach infested houses just from the residue the roaches left behind. If the machine roars in spin you may have bad spin ball bearings this is usually caused by a little water getting into them at over time. Sometimes if there is no obvious leak the machine may continue the run a long time with noisy bearings. The motors on these wonderful washers are usually the least of your service problems, I have many good used motors if anyone ever needs one just Email me.

 

[joelippard]

The black dust you see is just a little clutch dust and likely misc dirt over time. Just clean it off with a rag dampened with alcohol. It never hurts to hit the rollers with a little alcohol too. Whatever you do, keep oil out of there. Period! It's normal to have a light to moderate roar, if the bearings go, you'll know it. I've heard they sound like a train coming thru... If you are getting squeaking when you go into spin it's probably a little dry in the ball joint of the agitate shaft. There are oil impregnated pads inside the ball joint area -- just run the heck out of it and this should go away with time.

 

[laundromat]

Imperials!!!!

 

[mickeyd]

Had no idea

the 1-18's used the roller mechanism, thanks to Pat John & Joe. That's a real enlightenment and over-joyed to know about it. So it really was a design for the future when it came out in "65 ? and it remained till the end. How cool is that! And even cooler that Veg brought you here.

Good luck with your pristine machine, Doug, and welcome to the club. You picked one of the true Holy Grails to start your collection. What do you think of the stunning circle jet spray rinse? Check it out.

 

[mickeyd]

q

q

http://www.automaticwasher.org/FUN/05_Long+Spray+Rinse.jpg

 

[simplicity345]

years aof manufacured washer And Dryer

Dear Doug,
I Am The Person You Bought The Motor For Your Washer On Ebay From Here Are The Info You Were Looking For Your Dryer Was Made Between 1972 And 1973 Years And Your Washer Was Manufacured In Year Of 1972 And If You Are Ever Looking For More Parts I Do Not Have Them All Listed And I Know Someone By Be if I Am Out Of Stock May Also Have The Part Also You May Contact Me @ [email protected] If Ever Needed .

Thank You,
Mark Michael

 

[drh4683]

Thanks everyone. I'm very impressed with these units and Im so glad I got them. That circular spray is great too! The machines are still in my kitchen dining area which is where I worked on them, but before I put them into service, Im repainting the laundry room to make it all ready for the new appliances.
Mike, thanks again for your help and assistance. Glad to see you are also a member of this forum! I'll be in touch with you for future parts for sure.
Just curious, is there a parts manual, or parts diagram for these machines available on the web? I'd like to study it and become familiar with the entire mechanisem.