Old Kelvinator Front Load Help

[jamiel]

I had a house in Chicago with the laundry room in the (unheated) garage, but the bathroom was large and there was the opportunity to build-in the w/d side by side. Unfortunately, the MT washer in the garage quit (it would work ok in the winter if I left the light on, but it died right when Frigidaire was in the hiatus between the two designs. I ended up with a Roper World Washer in the garage (figured that design would be safer with the freeze/thaw situation than a normal WP).

 

[chestermikeuk]

And Known as English Electric

Hellow Tommy, Welcome to Automatic Washer, best place for all the information required on your new to you washer.

The innards are same as our English Electric with the three belt drive, built under license, you can see how the belts, solenoid and spin engage work.

Enjoy the repairing , definitely a keeper !!

 

[jetcone]

MIke

what a cute machine !! Love all the sounds too! 

 

And the loading port on the door !! 

 

 

 

[tommy]

Parts replaced, still issues

So thanks again for all the help so far. I’ve replaced the belts and spin pulley, but now when I run the machine, the belt with the arrow in the attached pic keeps spinning and nothing else engages. The water fills and drains, but the tub doesn’t spin. The pulleys attached to this belt are get really hot too when it runs for a minute. Any ideas on what could be causing this? I’m wondering If this was the main issue that caused the belts to snap and the pulley to melt in the first place. Thanks.

 

[neptunebob]

Something must be seized

What does the belt and pulley drive?  I know on Whirlpools the pump can seize and make the pulley resistant, even if it does turn with difficulty.  You may need a new pump.

 

[combo52]

Melted Clutch Slider On A 3 Belt WH FL Washer

It is not a water pump problem,

 

Does the basket turn easily in one direction ?

 

If not you either have sized main bearings, something caught between the basket and outer tub, or hopefully just a clutch-helix spring that is dry and in need of removing and regreasing.

 

Let me know if the basket turns easily in one direction and it should turn the other way as well but will take a lot more effort.

 

John L.

 

 

[tommy]

You’re right. When I try to manually spin the basket there are a couple points in the rotation where I feel and hear some scraping. I assume I need to remove the front panel to try to see what could be scraping between the basket and outer tub?

 

[tommy]

So I removed on of the ribs in the basket and I see there are two things just floating around between the basket and the drum. One is some rectangular white basket looking thing and another is a thin piece of clear plastic with 4 screws in it. They are both just floating freely in there and at times will seize the drum. Any ideas what these are and if I need them? Not sure how to get them out without breaking them or taking the whole washer apart.

 

[combo52]

melted Clutch Slider On A 3 Belt WH FL Washer

Unfortunately an all too common problem of these washers, There [ was ] a porcelain on steel bracket welded to the outer tub that the nylon baffle that you found loose in the outer tub that was screwed to this bracket that rusted and broke loose from the outer tub. This bracket also held the plastic filter basket in place.

 

There was a kit back in the day with a SS bracket that you drilled holes through the outer tub to attach it and then screw the baffle to it. You could probably make one. The original kit could be installed through the opening under the baffle you already removed, but if you are trying to fabricate something you might have to completely disassemble the washer to do it easily.

 

John L.

 

[tommy]

Thanks John. Again very helpful. Simple (and maybe dumb) question. Do I need these baffles and plastic filter baskets? If I just removed them, what would happen?

 

[moparwash]

The same thing happened to mine, the metal baffle came off its weld points. During the spin cycle, it deflects water towards to drain hose. Without it, centrifugal force would prevent water from entering the drain hose during the spin cycle. What I did was drill a hole in the tub to secure the baffle and put epoxy over the screw to prevent leaks, and put the plastic piece back in its place (that is the pump guard, to keep large items out if it.) I did not have to take the machine apart to do this and it was not as hard as I thought it would be

 

[moparwash]

These pics might help.. I have a spacemate service manual pdf I can email you...

 

[tommy]

Thanks, that’s super helpful and I think that’s exactly it. The metal bracket that the baffle bolted to completely rusted off and it looks like I’ll have to drill 4 holes through the drum to reattach it. Then seal the holes from the bottom of the drum with jb weld or some epoxy. Hoping this fixes it for good.

 

[chinadave]

Tommy, i will give you $10,000 for that machine.