Questions for rollermatic experts

[philr]

My 1968 Rollermatic washer works but it makes some noise during agitation. There is some up/down play in the agitator and when I move the agitator up-down by hand and I look under the washer, the agitate arm and agitate shaft seems to move sideways. When I move turn the agitator clockwise or counterclockwise, there is some play too. The keyway seems to stop it but I'm wondering if it hurts something to operate it like that (it does work and doesn't leak) but if there's something that needs to be replaced, I'd like to correct this situation!

 

See the link.

[this post was last edited: 4/15/2012-18:01]

 

[philr]

This turning movement of the agitator does that:

 

[philr]

Now, the up and down play and the noise it makes...  It appears worse than it is in the video. When there is water in the washer, it's not that noisy and you can barely hear it from underneath...

 

[philr]

Here's what happens when I push and pull on the agitator

 

[philr]

Also, I thought there was a link to the Rollermatic service manual on this website but I didn't see it. Was it removed?

 

[joelippard]

That certainly is a fine looking machine you have there!  My 68' is like this as well and has been for years.  I think part of it is simply wear.  There is no problem in the first video, this is how it should be.  The second video exhibits the wear that I believe is in the agitate shaft, but we don't exactly go out and pull new ones off trees so I'd say if it ain't broke don't fix it.  In your third video this is nothing out of the ordinary for a partially disassembled machine with no water or clothes in it.  Your final video just exhibits the same "worn" condition.

 

I would recommend you do a thorough cleaning of the rollers and all around the agitate arm area.  Be sure when you reassemble the cone that you use large flat rubber spacer washers between the cones in order to ward off cone hop in the future.  Do yourself a favor as well and put a little anti-sieze compound inside the pulsator nut and then tighten it very tight. 

 

It would be nice to see a video of it operating under normal conditions with a load of clothes showing both the mechanism operating and the wash action.  This also will give the best overall test and evaluation of it's operating condition.  Congratulations to you on a beautiful machine, and a Rapidry no less!

 

[joelippard]

Manual

Aparently it did get removed, luckily I saved it to my computer.  I will email it to the email address in your profile.  By all means feel free to ask questions from those of us who have been there before.

 

[frigidaireguy]

The PRO

Joe: You are an absolute genius with these machines - You are a great asset to this website. Thanks for all your help and input with all of our machines.
Bob

 

[rollermatic]

i don't know

i've rebuilt 3 rollermatics and am working on no. 4 and i have never experienced as much play as you are showing in those videos.

that third video showing that back and forth play does not seem at all right to me. that agitate shaft should be firm inside that spin shaft, not moving back and forth like that.

and i just checked the 3 of mine that are up and running and my agitator will rotate back and forth a wee bit on all 3 of mine, the same for all. but nothing like the rotation you are showing in your first video.

i don't know what to tell you do unless you want to tear it down and inspect everything. i do have a copy of that manual also should you need it. it is a big help when rebuilding one of those washers!

that's a beautiful machine you have there! love the top and control panel. good luck with it. maybe someone else can comment more.

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire Roller-matic

Phil  unfortunately all three videos show real, problems the bushings inside the spin shaft are very worn and you need yet another spin shaft. The agitator shaft might be worn a little but the bushings inside the spin shaft usually wear much faster as they are bronze. If parts were readily available I would replace both. If you keep using the machine much longer you will diffidently destroy the agitate shaft.

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire Roller-matic

Phil I forgot to say great videos showing your washers problem, I often hesitate to even answer repair problems because many are not described well. But your videos left no dough about what is worn out and failing.

 

[philr]

Thanks for your answers! Anybody knows where to find those bushings?   Thanks Joe for the manual! I'm downloading it at the moment.

 

It's not very noisy during spin or agitation with water and clothes in it. But I want to replace the bushings before something goes bad! (I mean real bad!).

 

I am uploading small videos on Youtube of it while washing clothes. I did clean the inner tub, and replaced the agitator tonight with a new one. There's no more stains at the bottom like in the videos I did earlier today... Again the camera on my phone makes the noise seem much worse than it really is but it's still evident that it needs to be fixed!

 

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 4/16/2012-03:21]

 

[philr]

During agitation...

 

[philr]

With the lid open

 

[philr]

The bad bushing...

 

[philr]

Here's the tub empty with the new agitator and rust stains removed.

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire Roller-matic

Phil the bushings are part of the spin shaft, I don't think they were ever available separately, you need a spin shaft.

 

[philr]

John, I did figure that after I read again your previous post! Then I'm wondering where should I get the spin shaft?!

Here's a picture of the washer next to the almost matching dryer! I have never seen a Gold Crown dryer like that. It's a BOL model with only timed drying... The other ones I have seen were more like Custom Deluxe dryers. I'll have to repaint it soon! It's a good thing it doesn't have a porcelain top like my similar Canadian Frigidaire dryer!

 

[rollermatic]

hey phil

i started collecting rollermatics back in 2009 and quickly discovered that parts are almost non existent. i found bellows, main tub seals, timers, one jet cone agitator but that's about it. and i really looked for 2 years everywhere i could find. larry in parma (modern parts) mark michaels (e bay) dave's repair (website) but i can't remember seeing one spinshaft. i think mark michaels may have had an agitate shaft but it's been almost 3 years ago so i could be wrong.

i myself don't have any extra parts at this time as i have only rebuilt 3 of my machines, working on 4 and have 2 that i have yet to even plug in and see what they do.

i definately would not keep using it as it is. i have heard other members here tell of agitate arms breaking due to worn bushings. that lateral play caused by those worn spin shaft bearings cannot be good for the agitate arm and it's bushing.

wish i had more positive advice for you but unfortunately these machines are hard to find and parts even harder.

 

[firedome]

Nice machines Phil

Hope you can find the part... did you check with The Guy That Capializes Each Word And Is In Aliquipp PA? He says he has lots of Frigidaire parts from that era. There's a recent post here somewhere.

 

[firedome]

D'oh!

It's thead 39821... just a couple threads away - Parts For Sale! Maybe he has a spin shaft?

 

[rollermatic]

that is

mark michaels

 

[firedome]

Does Mark sell direct

that is off eBay? Anybody have contact info?

 

[jetcone]

Yes I have marks number somewhere

I just talked to him recently. Let me dig.

But for your info the bronze bearings can be pressed into the spin shaft however they are ,like all Frigidaire things very specialized, in that they have nibs sintered into them so they contact grooves mated in the agitate shaft. They are not plain round bearings.

 

[philr]

Hi Jon,

I know that, I know someone who does repair Frigidaire appliances and back when there were still many of these washers in use, he had dozens of these bushings machined so he wouldn't have to replace the spin shaft... They were not perfectly fitting and he had to file them so they would fit.

Since I haven't removed mine yet, can someone tell me the exact size and length these bushings are. The agitate shaft seems to be 1/2" and the spin shaft seems to be 3/4" ID but I don't know how long the bushing is... I got a few with undersized inside diameter and I'll try to have them machined inside... I ordered them flanged so I could use a part of the flange to lock it inside the spin shaft

 

[jetcone]

Ahh

Phil I didn't know you could order them flanged! I don't know the depth but I would say from what I remember they are somewhere between 1.5 and 2.0 inches high.

The top of the lower bushing has to be short enough to clear the area where the groove in the agitate shaft hones out and ends flush with the shaft diameter -when the agitate shaft is at the bottom of its stroke.

 

[philr]

Thanks for the information Jon. I ordered a few bushings, none of them should be an exact replacement but I'll try to figure that out once I'll get mine out... The flanged bushing with a smaller(3/8")ID couldn't be ordered that long...

I'll get a few tools tomorrow and I should then remove the agitate shaft and the worn bushing.

 

[joelippard]

Hi Phil

If you wouldn't mind, take us some pictures of your process for our records here on the website.  This might be valuable information for someone in the future.  For example, when I had mine torn apart I had to replace the missing "keyway" on the agitator shaft and posted the information.

 

Joe

 

[philr]

That's what I'll do! I hope it will work!

 

[philr]

Ok, I had some time tonight to remove the agitate shaft and the bushing. Now, I'll have to find a machine shop that will reproduce that!