Good morning everyone!
@ron I often wondered why the Keymatic was never exported or licensed across the pond like the Hoovermatics were. It would have been a solid competitor against the Westinghouse Laundromats and Bendix washers of the time. I'm just so relieved that I found one on my own turf.
@Alan Thank you! Yours doesn't look bad at all and I'm sure a can of spray paint from Halfords will sort that plinth out in minutes. It's interesting that yours doesn't have the Hoover badge which may indicate that it's an early one? Mine is from December 1961 according to the servicing information. I wouldn't worry too much about the sump hose because most people had to get creative with theirs. I'm going to try and sort mine out over the coming days so I will let you know what I did to mine. I'm not quite sure about what the issue will be with your motor but it may be that the drive assembly needs lubricated or the centrifugal switch within the motor needs cleaning with contact cleaner. I'm glad that you have a new door seal waiting to be fitted, most people are not so lucky! I'm going to have to look after my door seal very well if I want it to last a few decades! I love your large cupboard by the way, it's a neat idea for hiding your collection but still having them in the house and plumbed in.
@al You've always said to me that there is stuff out there in my neck of the woods, I just had to be patient and boy hasn't it paid off! Thanks for reassuring me! Hopefully I should be doing a test wash next week all being well. You can imagine that I was a nervous wreck thinking that all sorts could be wrong with it but I've got off lightly I reckon. Plenty of Son of a Gun here, I use it on all things rubber in my collection and I've never looked back. I'm sure that there are more widebodys are out there and like you, I am equally surprised at how many 3224s survive despite being over-engineered and a tad unreliable.
@frigilux The impeller or 'pulsator' comes into action on some programmes to create a more vigorous wash action. It was quite effective but still a bit of a gimmick as it seemed to be an effort by Hoover to stay loyal to their trademark pulsator wash action made famous on their single tubs and twin tubs. The Keyplate selects the programme, think of it as the dial you turn when selecting a programme. The Keyplate enabled the machine to offer a variety of programmes basically by choosing what operations the programme timer carries out. The slot in which the Keyplate is pushed into has many little switches, each linked to the timer. When these switches are closed by the raised sections on the Keyplate, the relevant sections of the timer are activated and the actions are carried out. Also, if there are notches in the Keyplate the switches are open and the relevant sections of the timer are bypassed and the programme advances. I hope that gives you a better understanding.
@gary Yes, at long last I'm in the Keymatic Club! After watching from the sidelines for a few years as you and other members found them I finally have one to call my own. I'll be posing gracefully with her soon haha!
James
