Rescued from the Cold - Orphaned Filterflo

[gefilterflo]

Generally I check out the "Used Appliances" section of Menard's whenever I am there. This particular day in Ohio it was about 20 degrees outside and not a soul was around. Something caught my eye amidst the normal late 90s/early 00s things I normally see there. That profile looked awfully familiar...

 

[gefilterflo]

Naturally, for only $19, I had to have it. I moved in September and sold my Filterflo when I moved, leaving me with a 2008 DD Kenmore that works reliably and saved me the hassle of moving the old one. My matching GE dryer had some motor issues so I figured I would just have modern ones from now on. That was about four months ago.

 

[gefilterflo]

I finally today got to tear into this beast. It had been outside for a while (unsure of the actual amount of time) and it was fairly covered in ice. I had no idea of its functional capacity other than I looked underneath it and it had not been puking transmission fluid everywhere. The other thing I noticed immediately was that the tub was cocked to the left when you opened the lid. Obviously something was wrong with the suspension. There was something else under the lid, though.

 

[gefilterflo]

This machine, hailing from February 1977, managed to keep its FilterFlo pan and its softener dispenser. There was no mini-basket but for $19, I was expecting very little.

 

[gefilterflo]

After finally getting into the machine, I noticed that there was in fact trouble in paradise. Herein lies the problem: the machine has to stay out in the garage because I have no room for it inside. Since I had some time today, I pulled out the heater and decided to see what mysteries the machine held. I popped open the top and was immediately overwhelmed by "FilterFlo smell" and mold smell. I noticed that the air gap hose clamp had disintegrated as had a piece of the lid switch. The rest of it seems to be in acceptable condition.

 

[joeypete]

Sweet find!! Very nice

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE washer controls...

When did GE washers first come out with digital controls?

 

[gefilterflo]

I decided to be brave and try to pull out the inner tub. I have had very little success with getting those bolts out but figured I might as well; I have very little to lose. I sprayed them with some Kroil and waited. I got out the 1/2 ratchet and extensions and hoped for the best. To my utter amazement, the bolts came out very easily. Far easily than I had ever expected. With the outer tub out, I gazed upon the glory of a FilterFlo that has been outside in the cold for a while: solid ice.

 

[gefilterflo]

I figured that was enough in there today so I decided to tackle the suspension and see what exactly was going on with it since I cannot do anything with the outer tub for quite some time. I was amazed to see that the suspension had somehow jumped away from one of the snubber supports. I put it back into place and saw about the belt. It was ancient-looking and extremely loose. Though I have not had a FilterFlo for a little while, I still had a belt laying around and went to work. I discovered that the ice has completely jammed the pump so once it thaws, it is anybody's guess if I will have to replace it or not. With the coupling off, I finally got to try the transmission pully to see what it would do. To my relief, it turned in both directions. I put on the new belt, said a prayer, and plugged it in. Set the timer to spin and it starting spinning like nothing had ever happened.

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice save! The way the delivery people handle those machines, it's not surprising the suspension was knocked loose. Let's hope it thaws out, and you have no major problems.

 

[pulltostart]

Great save!  Best of luck from here on.

 

lawrence

 

[akronman]

Fine work

Good save, and 2 speed Filter-Flo's are great machines, excellent turnover, wonderful rinses, the lint filter and fabric softener dispensers do their jobs wonderfully. GE Built a damn fine machine.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

control panel

When did GE washers first come with digital control panels?

 

[delaneymeegan]

I see toggles. Excellent find !

A pump with water in it, that has frozen, will cause the motor to no spin.

I've never seen a water fill hose so rusted like that.

 

[eronie]

Gelaundry4ever interrupting someone's thread with a totally different question is rude. Didn't your parents teach you any manners at all???
Haven't you even noticed others are ignoring you. JEEZZ

 

[gefilterflo]

Update

She's working just fine! I'm not sure about the inlet leak issues yet because the valve needs replaced but I got everything defrosted and with the new belt and the original pump returned to service, she's working great. Next step is serious cleanup and getting the fill valve sorted out.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

What do you plan on doing with it?

Do you plan on using it for really dirty clothes like construction clothes and jeans?

 

[spiralator60]

Congratulations on your find!

Is there any rust on the clothes basket itself? In the video when the agitation started, there was a second or so of dirty water coming out of the Filter-Flo flume, then it was clear after that.

 

[gefilterflo]

No, the basket was almost immaculate. That black water was in the pump hoses; the ice chunks that came out of it before I ran it had that black stuff in it too so I'm not sure what exactly it is but I am assuming it's worked it way out now. There is a bit of rust around the top of the outer tub from where the wash basket hit it going off balance but otherwise it's remarkably solid. When it gets warmer, I'll try to patch up the rust at the top.