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More on the Dispensall

Oops!! Didn't see the post--Robert, you were 100% correct! How'd you know? ;-)

Hi Ed, when the machine left the factory, there was the Dispensall unit (shown here from a "farm machine", which appears to be an earlier model) that attached to the bottom of the lid. It was also referred to as the "Tank", as shown here, and due to the fact that the bleach dispenser's outlet extension says "FOR USE IN TANK MODELS". When you started a wash, you were supposed to add detergent, bleach, and fabric softener in the appropriate dispensers (under the small lid). This is why the Dispensall's filter nozzle is wider than the Filter-Flo's. During the wash or rinse, the filter stream was diverted in two ways, left or right (however, on the "Extra Rinse" setting, the water runs out the middle...still haven't figured that out yet, but will play around with it more), and it ran into the appropriate openings in the tank to dissolve/dispense the detergent, bleach, or fabric softener. Theoretically, the water/lint would run through the dispenser into the large 11" Filter-Flo pan on the agitator, and that's where I'm thinking the problem originated; the water coming out of the nozzle was not clean because the filter was on the agitator. Lint would probably become trapped in the dispenser, and that, combined with detergent and fabric softener gunk, would eventually clog it. That is why all Dispensalls I have seen (in pictures and here), including mine, have had their tanks removed.

It is not a true Filter-Flo, per se, because of the wider nozzle. The smaller 8" filter pans do not work with the Dispensalls because of the many directions the stream is diverted; the 11" filter pan is absolutely necessary. Luckily I already had an 11" pan that Don Shier sent me, and there was a "Super Filter-Flo" pan that came with this machine. Some water still misses the large 11" pan during the rinse, although in the end it's a good lint-catcher (washed a large rag load and there were a few "gobs").

The Dispensall's "fun factor" scores a 10 out of a possible 10 points, even giving my 1-18 a run for the money. One of the splashiest oscillating agitator washers I have seen (probably due to the fast 100 OPM agitation), especially during wash with the filter pan in place--get your goggles!! Believe it or not, the '82 Kenmore (which was about 2-3 feet away from the GE) had water droplets all over the front of it while the GE was running!! When it's fully loaded, the turnover is surprising--a nice, constant, "sweep-roll" motion due to the wide post vanes. Absolutely no "lazy water" with this machine either, especially on the low water levels! Will have to see how a ramp Activator works...then I can use the Mini-Basket!

--Austin

6-17-2005-23-01-47--westytoploader.jpg
 
Appnut, If the only reason you got rid of it is because of the clutch, you should have rebuilt the clutch. One should have special tools but it can be done without them. They are great fun to rebuild. Only thing is if the outer drum is corroded one can end up breaking it. Then it can get expensive unless you could find a used drum somewhere. I am sure I could have come up with one. Usually you can get by with just replacing the inner shoes and sometimes the outer drum bearing if that's bad. Admitedly if you have to have a professional do the job it would get expensive.
 
Appnut, I just read you post in thread 2389. It explains the reason why you didn't rebuild that clutch. Hope you find the Frigidaire of your dreams. Good luck.
 
Austin, Greg told me many of those dispensall machines, hard water took it's toll on the mechanism. and the hard water we have here in Houston and in Central Texas is aweful.
 
General Electric

Congratulations Austin! I recall that you were just looking for a GE machine,and you have found one already! I know how much fun these are with the ramp style Activator. If you think the 82 Kenmore got wet with the straight vane....... Just wait until you install the ramp! When you do,set the machine on the fast speeds with the tub about 1/3 full. Then start it up on wash without the filter pan. Lots of fun,however you better have an umbrella handy for your mom! LOL! Have fun with that GE.
 
Rare option

One of the things Ilike about thsi machine is the ability to chhose gentle agitation with normal spin speed. That seems to be an option that is not available on many brands past or present.
 
Re: GE Dispensall:

Hey! Austin, great find and for another Washer to be still in such good shape. If you had the Spiral Ramp Agitator, to fit a 12-inch tall by 12-inch wide Mini-Basket, with the Inset Lint Filter, I could give you those items. If by chance anyone else might be able to use them, I would only ask for Postage and Packing Pay-Back...

Good Luck with the Dispensall, wear a Rain-Coat and use an Umbrella, as menitoned, unless it is Shower time...

Peace and Happy GE Washing, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...
 
WOW!!!

I'm so thrilled to see these pics! I'm Matthew - I was on here a while ago but haven't been on for ages - a friend of mine told me you found a dispensall and I was so thrilled to see the pics! - I talk about it in my profile - I was ExtraRinse but I can't remember my password so I created a new profile just so i could reply to this! That is the ONLY machine I'd have if I could have a choice! I used to play with my neighbors for hours and what I wouldn't give to have one again! - If you ever get tired of it and want to sell - I'l drive to Texas to buy it from you! Have fun with it and please post more pics!

Matthew - NYC
 
Hi Matthew, believe it or not this wasn't the first one I've seen in Texas. There was a similar machine for sale in Dallas on eBay last year. I'm not sure how many Dispensalls were produced, but they aren't exactly "impossible-to-find machines" down here. Out of the 3 I've seen in pictures as well as my machine, none have their dispenser units. This "farm machine" was the only one.

Hi Steve, Don Shier sent me a ton of "agitator stuff" including 8" and 11" Filter-Flo pans and the Mini-Basket. So now if I can find the large-capacity ramp agitator I'll be in good shape! Thanks for the offer though!

--Austin
 
Ramp Agitator/ Extra Rinse

Sadly I had one in my college apt which i found in an old machine in some frat house basement - don't ask what i was doing in the frat house basement - anyway... I took it home and kept it but later found it had been lost during my move - someone must have chucked it thinking it was junk!

I think we need to make the general announcement that anyone finding the tank to a dispensall should please keep it and offer it to a dispensall user! I know my childhood neighbor kept hers on the top shelf above the washer that I couldn't reach but that I remember seeiing it - I know that she too never used it though!

It was still fun to watch that machine without it. Hers had a fancy turquoise agitator top though and the 11" pan. plus mini basket. I remember the filter flo so clearly and i think it used to send the water out of the center of the filter flo nozzle in the extra rinse because the extra rinse would be an option that you could turn off. So if you had decided to not use the extra rinse you could turn it off and the washer timer would stop at the end of the second spin - though not at the end of the cycle. if the switch was turned on it would finish the last (third rinse). If not you could simply unload it and turn the timer for the next wash. I remember this because I remember playing with it and trying not to get caught. the machine was off but the timer had just finished the spin before the extra rinse. the extra rinse switch was in the off position - i then thought i'd see what would happen if i turned it to the "yes" position and I heard the power go to the timer and suddenly that infamously loud spray of the GE fill started. I had to sneakaway from the machine as to not let them know i did this. Annd those machines weren't all the quietest. Then i saw the water come out of the center of the filter flo nozzle and i felt like i figured it out. The center of the nozzle wasn't connected to any of the dispensers. If you had only wanted the single rinse it would of course dispense the fabric softnner - if you wanted the third rinse the machine didn't wait till that rinse to dispese the softener it still dispensed it in the second so the third extra rinse used a nneutral position in the filter flow to just recirculate the water into the filter flo pan. Does your machine dothis - stop after the second spin if the switch is in the "no"position?

Sorry for this doctorial responce to this - but it finally makes sense to me....

At least I have an audience here that listens!

Matt
 
Me too, Matt.

We had a late 60s/early 70s top of the line GE when I was growing up. Same control panel as the Dispensall except for the cycle knob, and ours had a light in the control panel. After the final spin (second spin) when the machine cut off; I would turn the extra rinse control to “yes”, and the light would come on and I could hear the timer. I would then let the timer run until the water started filling for the second rinse, then turn it back to “no”. For a minute or so I could turn the timer to “yes” and the light would come on and the water would spray and then I could turn it to “no” and shut it off. This was great fun! After that minute or so, turning the extra rinse control to “no” would not shut off the water and I used to run, so didn’t get caught.
 
Hi Matt,

Yes my machine brakes (of course with the trademark "KER-KLUNK") on the final spin and shuts off if the Automatic Extra Rinse knob is on "NO". What I thought was peculiar is that it doesn't go as far as the notch at the end of the first spin; you start the machine on the notch and it begins to fill. And while the motor is quiet during agitation (at least quieter than my 1-18 & BD Kenmore) with only the sound of water rushing around, it does fill LOUD!! Brings back memories of our 1986 White-Westinghouse as it had a loud "spray" fill as well...if I'm not looking that is...

I did notice that on the prewash and second rinse cycles, the filter stream is diverted out the middle, like a traditional Filter-Flo, instead of to a sharp left or right as it does on the wash and rinse. I thought the same thing; that the reasoning behind this is to not dispense the detergent, and the fact that the FS has already been dispensed. Doesn't spray as much water out of the machine, that's for sure!

--Austin
 
Hey Austin!

Nice find! I’ve never seen a real Dispensall. I’ve just seen pictures of them. You’re a lucky guy.

Have you watched the Perm Press Cycle? Is the cool down a spray for the entire spin?

What changes in the cycle when you flip the switch on the control panel (MINI-QUICK ONLY/ALL OTHER CYCLES)?

--Jeff
 
Jeff, yes this Perm Press cycle spreays through the whole spin as a cool-down. As a contrast, the Perm Press cycle on my 1978 GE 3-speed Flo had a cool-own similar to Kenmore & Whirlpools. It spun and partially drained and stopped (all timer controlled). Pause for a minute and then it started filling with cold water. Then it agitated for another 7 or 9 minutes. And then completely drained. Even on this last spin, it didn't spray the whole time like the above washer does. But my machine, when using perm press and normal/slow, caused the premature "death" of the clutch. You see, just as it ended the wash cycle, "winding down" to pause before the initial spin, there was something wrong that caused the clutch to do exactly what's the worst thing for this machine--change speeds while running. It popped 3 or 4 times each time this combination was used. It didn't do it on Normal/Normal or slow/slow. Ugh. Mine also had a very weak pump, it barely got u to full spin speed on normal cycle between the wash & rinse, before it stopped to fill for the first rinse. Needless to say, I used the extra rinse for just about everything. Basically loved the machine, but it was kind of a lemon. I heard a yeaer or two later my machine was most likely built around the time there was a strike at Appliance Park. (disgruntled production line--)
 
OMG

THAT is the EXACT Filter Flo that I want to have. My aunt had it years ago till it pooped out. Now I want that machine. Turnover was fantastic, not to mention the noises....the fill.......the speed change at the beginning of the agitation.....and the wonderful kler-klunk. Lord have mercy, that just gets my clock to rockin'. :)
 

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