Queen in Trouble

[eddy1210]

Hello Speed Queen lovers, today I gave a test run to the washer I recently picked up from Victoria, the A28. Now, not being NIB I knew there may be some issues and sure enough, there was. She has the agitation and spin, those were OK but the water wasn't pumping out of the drain tub. Oh dear, let's take apart the pump and see what's there first. What are those chunks of metal doing in there? No wonder the pump's impeller is completely chewed up.

 

[eddy1210]

let's open her up

Time for some surgery, my first guess was the center post. That pot metal easily corrodes and can come off in chunks. Take a look. Hmmm, looks in excellent shape. What else could it be?

 

[eddy1210]

oh my goodness

Now I see where all those chunks of metal are coming from: The metal balance ring. Yuck.

 

[eddy1210]

good thing for the parts stash

Luckily I saved one from a machine that has long since gone.

 

[eddy1210]

now for a new pump

And we're back in business.

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Wow!
Glad that you had the parts to make her / him new.
It is such a fantastic machine!
Thanks for the pictures.
Brent

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yay for the parts stash Eddy from machines we stripped in days by gone, we would be lost with out it!

 

[rickr]

Glad you got that one back in order Eddie! It is a great looking machine, and cannot wait to see some action shots.

 

[appnut]

Yay Eddy!!

 

[gansky1]

Good job - saving parts is a double edged sword for sure. I was in the shed today and trying so very hard to toss some things out but I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of anything! I did use a SS Speed Queen wash-tub for a garden hose storage in the backyard though - at least one thing is out of the shed!

So how does the rest of the machine work? Push-to-start works OK?

 

[foraloysius]

Well done Eddy!!

 

[djmjlcst]

Metal Balance Ring!

Hey Eddy,

I never would've guessed a metal balance ring! I guess after 49-50 years of washing some things just wear out. I've seen on our old 70's model SQ that the balance ring was a plastic ring reinforced with concrete. Maybe this was a design change as older models did exactly what you've experienced! Do you happen to know when SQ did away with the metal balance ring and went with the plastic/concrete one?

Other than that your SQ is looking very good underneath the hood! Looks like the belts and pulleys look to be in great shape and this beauty will be doing a maiden wash very soon! I bet you're looking forward to the sound of the solenoid shifting gears from wash to spin! I'd be interested in learning about that unusual push timer mechanism.

I'm so glad you have spare parts to use for situations just like this one! Keep these machines running strong!

Take Care,

Mike

 

[eddy1210]

hi Mike

I think the balance ring change to the concrete happened with the reversing motor SQ's and that was when, around mid 70's... at least they didn't rust away easily anymore. The push to start timer is rather unique to this model SQ and Greg had asked about that as well. It works well, the unusual thing about this timer is that at the end of the final spin the timer ramps upward on a cam to turn off in the "out" or pulled position. Thus all you have to do for the next load is simply push the timer in to start it again. These SQ's will do their maiden wash in our new home, we're moving in June so I won't set them up here.
Thanks for the comment.

 

[peterh770]

A seemingly easy fix. Congrats on this beauty!

 

[pdub]

Eddy-

When I first saw the insides of the pump, my heart sank.

But then you nonchalantly walked us through the diagnosis and repair and made it all seem so easy with what look like NOS parts.

Yay! congratulations - great job!

Patrick

 

[djmjlcst]

SQ Timer Question

Hi Eddy (again),

Since you're in the know about the SQ's would you say that when the reversing motors were installed (around mid 70's) did they switch to the Mallory type timer? 60's models had the click/snap timer and then the Mallory type would just advance quietly a little at a time but you could see it move. Correct me if I have this backwards! I forgot what the other timer was called.

Thanks! - Mike

 

[eddy1210]

Kingston

Hi Mike, the quiet, slow moving timers were the Kingston ones and they were used on some of the later solenoid models. I have a Kingston timer for my A78 which is a '69 built machine. This timer increments slowly and quietly. I don't use it, but I have a Mallory installed instead on my machine, the actions are identical but the Mallory has the quick snapping action of the tension spring releasing giving the characteristic sound we so love. I believe Mallory changed escapement designs in the mid 70's too, creating a quieter slow moving timer... correct me guys if I'm wrong here.