Restoring the Unimatic WO-65 - HELP NEEDED!

[thomasortega]

Unimatic experts, Last week I started the restoring of my Frigidaires Unimatic WO-65, but I've found the first issue that made me stop and ask for your help.

Trying to remove the pulsator, the pulsator nut that looks like a cone with legs was very easy to be removed using an ordinary wrench and some WD40 but right under it, i've found this (look the picture) and I couldn't understand exactly what's that tiny "C" ring.

I don't know if it's another nut that is screwed above the polsator or if it's part of the pulsator or if it's a clip.

Could you please tell me how to remove it?

By the way, I'm spraying WD40 on it several times a day to maybe help until i know if I should turn it (unscrew), turn the whole rubber ring or just push this ring to the side or maybe cut it and remake the screw.

 

[thomasortega]

2nd picture

 

[thomasortega]

money shot

the brown spot on the drum isn't rust. it's some lint fragments and WD40 residue.

 

[Unimatic1140]

There is no other nut there, the pulsator will lift off now, but sometimes they get stuck. You need to employ a rocking motion to get it to loosen.

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks Robert!

It worked!



Tonight I'm going to continue the job. Right under it there was another rubber part that looks like a cup and it also came out easily.

Now there's some kind of coil but I couldn't indetify it clearly yet because it's covered with some kind of black grease residue.

I'll clean it tonight to have a better view and check the reoperation manual to see what to do next.

Now it's sure I need a new pulsator rubber. Now I can see it's severely damaged. That little rubber cup seems to be a little worn, but I think it can be reused.

 

[thomasortega]

Update Dec 21 before sleep

Guys, if you don't mind, I'm going to use this thread as some kind of blog to post the pictures of the restoration. It can be useful to the guys that are helping me.

Thanks for all the guys that contacted me by Yahoo messenger, Skype, MSN and email.

Your help wouldn't come in better time. It was the best Christmas gift one could give me. Thank you, thank you!

Here goes some pictures I took tonight, after a quick clean using paper towels. I'm going to post the pictures sequentially.

>>>>> pulsator nut. This part is in regular condition. lots of residue inside it and one of it's "legs" is damaged. Can I use it the way it is?

 

[thomasortega]

back of the same part

 

[thomasortega]

the previous picture was awful... sorry... I'm using my cell phone to take those pictures.

Pulsator: It's very damaged but still useable (I think)

 

[thomasortega]

Pulsator, back of it.

 

[thomasortega]

Pulsator detail

 

[thomasortega]

What's the name of this part?

it's very damaged. The last segment on it's bottom is so worn that it split.

actually, if I press it or pull it, it will break in several fragments.

the metal ring that looks like stainless steel looks perfect!

 

[thomasortega]

same part, detail.

 

[thomasortega]

same part, other detail

 

[thomasortega]

more bad news....

more damaged rubber

 

[thomasortega]

same area, detail 1

 

[thomasortega]

same area, detail 2

And that's all for tonight.

What should I do next? (small steps, day after day)

 

[davy1063]

the rubber bellows you see....

are your Water Bellows and Oil Bellows respectively (in order of the display of the pictures. The Water Bellows stretches over the flange of the tub and is secured to the flange by the circular locking ring. Beneath the Water Bellows is your Oil Bellows. This secures to the tub nut by a smaller locking ring. You will most definately need to replace both bellows. You will also need the locking ring tool to remove and install the rings easily. If you don't have one, you can use a small C-Clamp to gently compress the ring so it unlocks. Be careful when you are using the C-Clamp on the Water Bellows as not to crush the flange on the tub. I modified my clamp by grinding a small notch in each end of the clamp so the ring wouldn't slip out (see picture)

View attachment davy1063++12-21-2009-22-25-0.jpg

 

[davy1063]

I'm sure you will want to remove the tub then....

so you will most likely need a 1 1/2 inch box wrench. The problem here is getting one that will fit in the tub. I went to Sears and bought one and used an angle grinder to cut it down to size (again see picture). Gently with a mallet tap the wrench counter-clockwise and the nut should come free.

Hope this helps buddy.

 

[davy1063]

My C-Clamp picture didn't load

Here it is again....

 

[davy1063]

oh yeah

See if someone has a NOS or even a used pulsator diaphragm, yours looks like a Salvatore Dali painting (The Persistance of Pulsating). I hate to see you go through replacing the bellows and having to put that old diaphragm back on. Someone out there might have a lead for you.

Davy

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks dave!

--------------

I think, while I can't find the parts, I'm going to take the tub out and start a deep cleaning of it.

Would somebody help me removing the tub? The manual I have just say to check intructions on chapter one, which I don't have.

I'm sure this cleaning will consume a lot of time so I can continue playing with it without hurries to pass the time.

 

[turquoisedude]

Don't give up on the parts! There is a place in Parma, Ohio who has turned up all kinds of Frigidaire Parts (Modern Parts House is the name of the place, phone 216-661-6966). They won't ship internationally (I was not able to have them ship spares directly to me in Canada) BUT someone here on the board may be able to act as a mail drop for you. It is worth investigating! He may have the bellows and maybe even the pulsator!!

 

[thomasortega]

I have to say this restoring wouldn't be possible without Emilio Berisso's help. Thank you very much Emilio!

He's from Buenos Aires, found the machine on the Argentinian ebay (mercadolibre), sent me an alert and helped during the whole negotiation with the seller and the shipping.

Emilio, when you read this please send me an email because I lost your address.

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks Paul!

Do you know if they have an email or a website? or at least the time difference?

Considering now it's 12:30 PM here in Brazil, 9:30 AM in New York, what time is it in Parma?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Removing the tub is easy and clearly described in the service books scanned in the Service Manual Library.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/SERVICE/Frigidaire_WO65_Supplement.pdf

 

[thomasortega]

Robert, thanks again for the manual.

However, even with the manual, I prefer to recheck the procedures step by step to avoid any irreversible mistake.

To remove the tub only, I just need to remove the 8 screws I can see inside it, right? Is there something else to do?

 

[davy1063]

You don't have to remove those 8 screws...

Chances are they will be seized up anyhow. All you need to do is remove the tub nut. After the nut is removed, gently rock the tub back and forth. You might have to stand in the tub and rock with your feet (I know...it sounds extreme). The tub will lift out easily. I believe there is a small key on the shaft as well, be sure not to lose that.

 

[turquoisedude]

No email or website for Modern parts...

Thomas, Larry at Modern Parts does not have a computer so there is no way of reaching him by email. However, he does have a fax: 216-661-3400. They are in Central Time, which would be one hour ahead of New York City (so 12:30 PM in Brazil would be 10:30 AM in Parma, Ohio). I hope he can help you out here!!

 

[davy1063]

Those 8 screws just hold the hub assembly to the tub. There is no reason to take the hub assembly off of the tub. You will be able to clean the tub beautifully with the hub assembly still attached.

 

[thomasortega]

... so i'm going to ask my boss to buy the 1 1/2 inch box wrench right at this moment. He's perfect to choose the best tools. In Paraguay, excellent tools like the American Stanley or the Brazilian Tramontina can be found easily but right next to "xing ling" cheap chinese crap. I don't care if i'm going to spend a little bit more to get a reliable tool that won't damage the machine or be damaged seconds before I start using it.

Thanks for the advice. I knew that the time spent rechecking the instructions before each step would worth.