REBIRTH OF THE 1965 CUSTOM IMPERIAL

[chestermikeuk]

Restoration

Wow Pete, what a transformation, your time & patience have certainly paid off!! also learned a few tips as well, like the way you used the plastic bottle to cover the agi whilst working on the tub...simple..but effective..and the plastic rulers for re=build support, thank you for taking us on your Frigidaire journey..Mike

 

[rollermatic]

thanks for all the kind words!

thanks for the tip on using aluminum foil to hide the lite.

no machine is not made for liquid detergent only. in fact my aunt never used her dispensors once on her frigidaire custom imperial. she wanted to keep them clean.

i have included a few pics of the dispensors since you mentioned seeing them close up. they were cracked in the fall but the solonoids and valves were not hurt.

i will be doing a video of this one sometime this year. have to add the software to my computer first. windows movie maker i believe?!

as for 1-18's i have one and it's completely torn down now. i have to admit the 1-18 seems to be a lot more work than a rollermatic, the rollermatic is a simpler overall design. good luck with your 1-18, i hope to tackle mine later this year.

one last thing, does anyone know where you can buy a small solonoid these days. the timer on this washer has a mini solonoid that pulls in and switches the timer escapement into a different mode. this cuts cycle time down and is used for small load fills and gentle cycle wash and spin times. the solonoid promply burnt up the first time i tried it! there has got to be some place to get one??!! any ideas?!

thanks

 

[rollermatic]

view from the back side with

control panel cover removed.

had to bolt in in place.

 

[rollermatic]

view from

the front with dispensor cover removed

 

[rollermatic]

plastic insert

with the "full" marks on it was pretty beat up after the fall. going to glue some plastic peices onto it.

overall the dispensors will work again as the main cups are not broken or cracked (anymore, had to glue them too))

 

[turquoisedude]

Small solenoids

Pete, if you can't find an original Frigidaire part, try looking on eBay. I was about to do that for the Westinghouse Laundromat speed changer. How 'small' is the solenoid you are looking for? I have a couple of smaller-sized solenoids that I pulled from a Kelvinator dishwasher (drain and dispenser solenoids) that may possibly be 'small enough'. If you can post or send me the dimensions, I will check my parts stock down in Ogden on the weekend.

 

[davy1063]

this is truly a testament on how solid these machines were. You show me a modern machine that would withstand a fall like that and be able to be resurrected!

 

[rollermatic]

mike, that solonoid

looks just like the bigger one's you see on a westinghouse front loader, the one that shifts the pulley into spin speed.

but this little one is 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches for the body of the solonoid, not including plunger part. it attaches directly to the timer body.

any small solonoid that has an actual plunger mechanism will do. i don't have to mount it on the timer itself. all it has to do is pull a lever about 3/4 inch to change gears in the timer.

i used to buy them at radio shack but no more. i looked on the web for solonoids but so far no luck. if you have something i will be more than happy to buy it and pay shipping ofcourse.

if not i'm sure i'll run across something here. i may be able to buy something off a parts house on the web, you know a small solonoid used on a drain valve for a g.e. potscrubber of similiar. larry in parma may have something too, just thought of that!

davy1063, i agree 100%! it is amazing that after toppling over the side of the truck bed (the gate was closed) and landing on it's top in a ditch it came together as well as it did. and the motor, tub, water seal, rollermatic transmission was not affected in the least!

 

[turquoisedude]

Solenoid located!

Pete, as promised, I dug out the solenoid from my old Kelvinator dishwasher. The measurements are about 1 1/2 X 1 1/2, so it just might work! Here's a picture of it, too. If you think it will work, please email me at the address on my profile and I will get it out to you.

 

[rollermatic]

thanks paul

it looks just like it. i know i can make it work. if you need anything for a kitchenaid or other dishwasher let me know, i just may have it, i'm gettin a pretty good parts supply built up here. this is my appliance room, a mess right now but chock full of goodies!

i will pay you for it plus shipping ofcourse. will e mail you my address.

thanks again

 

[danelto]

Adrienne!!!!

This was nothing short of an Olympic feat.

I have looked at those pictures of the broken washer again and again.

Each time I saw them, my heart just broke for you!

And then when I saw your repair job, I swear I could hear the theme from Rocky playing in the background.

YOU GO, GUY!

Dan

 

[rollermatic]

thanks

you are too kind! but thanks! i still have some work left to do on it but i'm takin a break from it for a few weeks. i work better that way.