Bring on the questions Rick, I love how all of your machines just shine!
RIck's Unimatic
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Wow Rick, what a wonderful machine you have there! You collection keeps getting better everytime I see photos. Congrats on your first Unimatic - and you just can't beat a Control Tower. So, this pretty much sums up all your dream machines, right? ;-D
Ben
Ben
What a beautiful machine!
I am much more of a range man myself, but if I were to have a vintage washer, it would be one of these machines. Quite apart from the mechanism, there is just something so elegant about them. They're the Audrey Hepburn of washing machines
I am much more of a range man myself, but if I were to have a vintage washer, it would be one of these machines. Quite apart from the mechanism, there is just something so elegant about them. They're the Audrey Hepburn of washing machines
Absolutely Fabulous!
Rick,
You really struck gold on this one. It's just beautiful!
How nice that the mechanicals are in good working order.
Those are the best kind. I just love the control towers.
Congrats, Patrick
Rick,
You really struck gold on this one. It's just beautiful!
How nice that the mechanicals are in good working order.
Those are the best kind. I just love the control towers.
Congrats, Patrick
Fantastic job, Rick! I'm sure photos don't do the machine justice - all your other machines are just mint and I'm sure this is too. Congratulations!
sheerlookhomes
New member
Beautiful!
Hi there Rick, thanks for sharing the really great photos of your beautiful machine and lovely shining collection too!
Thanks, Denis
Hi there Rick, thanks for sharing the really great photos of your beautiful machine and lovely shining collection too!
Thanks, Denis
looking good!
hoover1060
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2005
- Messages
- 3,309
OOOOOHHH!!
I love unimatics, they are one of my favorites!
I love unimatics, they are one of my favorites!
Beautiful job, Rick! Congrats on finding a sexy '57.
Congratulations, Rick! Were you sort of surprised by the way the water valves mix warm water? Beautimous machine.
Tom
Tom
westyslantfront
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 1,718
Hi Rick. Great looking machine. I enjoyed all the pictures.
Ross
Ross
Thanks you guys!!
One of my local friends said that this machine reminds him of "The Jetsons" cartoons of the early 1960's. Another friend said it looked like a dishwasher, because of the front panel that sticks out about an inch on the 57 Control Tower models. I explained "The Shear look" to them but I don't think they got the concept very well, as I got that sort of blank look from both of the friends. One was interested enough in the machine that the next times he came over he brought a load of dirty towels with him though. <:
One of my local friends said that this machine reminds him of "The Jetsons" cartoons of the early 1960's. Another friend said it looked like a dishwasher, because of the front panel that sticks out about an inch on the 57 Control Tower models. I explained "The Shear look" to them but I don't think they got the concept very well, as I got that sort of blank look from both of the friends. One was interested enough in the machine that the next times he came over he brought a load of dirty towels with him though. <:
filterflo
New member
Wonderful looking washer Rick, you did a great job on it. The most facinating design from the 50's.........I have a mint matching Filtrator dryer and am hoping to find a washer someday.........
mayken4now
Well-known member
Rick, wonderful! And yes, heed the advice given. If it works, please, by all means, clean it and leave it alone.
Steve
Steve
veg-o-matic
Well-known member
Wow! Congratulations on such a wonderful find. As usual, I have to put my sunglasses on before I can look at your machines!
I'm not a huge fan of the control towers, but that baby looks brand spankin' new.
Enjoy!
veg
I'm not a huge fan of the control towers, but that baby looks brand spankin' new.
Enjoy!
veg
Thanks!
Ok, now for the questions...
1)This is the first timed fill machine that I have had. The machine fills and the water still runs in for a few minutes before the motor starts. The excess water drains into the outer tub. Do not have a problem with that, however.... It leaks slightly down the outside of the outer tub, from the fill flume area. Just dribbles. I should add the fact that the top of this machine was not attached when I got it. The machine rode halfway across the country with the top loose. The fill flume "channel" was brokenin half because of this. I did repair it with epoxy glue, then reinforced it with sheet metal. It looks ok, and is stronger than original. Could this still be the reason for the dribbling water down the back? If I shut the water flow somewhat, the dribble down the back of the machine does stop.
2) Speaking of the back of the machine, and outer tub.... There is a brace missing from the back, which attaches to the outer tub. It would be hard to reproduce this brace. Does anyone have an extra they want to sell me, and/or is the brace really needed anyway?
3) The timer housing is slightly loose at the top of the post. It shakes some during the spin cycle, which cannot be good for the timer/bulbs. I took the back off and looked, tried to tighten it by turning a screw, however am afraid I may tighten the wrong thing,and break the glass dial. Any ideas on this one?
4) Is the pump/motor assembly to attach to the bottom brace, or just "float" on the brace? I can slide the unit across the brace, and wonder if this is correct, or if a fastener of some type may be missing. It sounds metal to metal as I slide the unit back and forth, and does not seem right to me. Also the inner tub seems to go off centre slightly after the spin cycle has finished.
Thanks for your answers in advance guys! Warning: I may think of more questions... lol!!
Ok, now for the questions...
1)This is the first timed fill machine that I have had. The machine fills and the water still runs in for a few minutes before the motor starts. The excess water drains into the outer tub. Do not have a problem with that, however.... It leaks slightly down the outside of the outer tub, from the fill flume area. Just dribbles. I should add the fact that the top of this machine was not attached when I got it. The machine rode halfway across the country with the top loose. The fill flume "channel" was brokenin half because of this. I did repair it with epoxy glue, then reinforced it with sheet metal. It looks ok, and is stronger than original. Could this still be the reason for the dribbling water down the back? If I shut the water flow somewhat, the dribble down the back of the machine does stop.
2) Speaking of the back of the machine, and outer tub.... There is a brace missing from the back, which attaches to the outer tub. It would be hard to reproduce this brace. Does anyone have an extra they want to sell me, and/or is the brace really needed anyway?
3) The timer housing is slightly loose at the top of the post. It shakes some during the spin cycle, which cannot be good for the timer/bulbs. I took the back off and looked, tried to tighten it by turning a screw, however am afraid I may tighten the wrong thing,and break the glass dial. Any ideas on this one?
4) Is the pump/motor assembly to attach to the bottom brace, or just "float" on the brace? I can slide the unit across the brace, and wonder if this is correct, or if a fastener of some type may be missing. It sounds metal to metal as I slide the unit back and forth, and does not seem right to me. Also the inner tub seems to go off centre slightly after the spin cycle has finished.
Thanks for your answers in advance guys! Warning: I may think of more questions... lol!!
Rick, it sounds like the tub is over-filling. Did you do anything with the water valve when you were restoring this machine? You may have to put a small ball-valve in the hose line to the fill flume to slow the pressure down. The tub should just fill to about an inch below the rim and then start to agitate. This could also be the cause of your dribbling down the back, the fill flume is designed to take only so much pressure and excess can spill out the back of the flume and down the back of the machine.
The back cover was missing on my WI-57 too, it might provide a bit more stability for the machine, but mine ran just fine without it.
The timer "box" being loose is a common problem. There are a couple of screws on the underside of the box you can try to tighten and then the front frame that holds the glass is attached from the inside. You may have to remove the timer and glass to shim these parts a little - just remember to remove the timer pointer/dial first!
The bottom of the pump has a shiny metal plate or cover that acts as part of the snubber assembly. If you tip the machine on it's left side (so oil won't run out) and support the mechanism with a 1 gallon paint can, you can remove the crossbrace from the machine, clean the pump cover-plate and also the snubber cup that you will find mounted on a spring on the crossbrace itself. These parts should be clean and dry to allow the tub to move as it's starting to spin. Rough, shaky and/or excessive vibration can all eminate from these parts being dirty and gummed up with grease/oil, etc. Use fine steel wool or very fine emery paper to clean the plate with - rubbing in a figure eight pattern until it's smooth and clean again.
Hope this helps!
The back cover was missing on my WI-57 too, it might provide a bit more stability for the machine, but mine ran just fine without it.
The timer "box" being loose is a common problem. There are a couple of screws on the underside of the box you can try to tighten and then the front frame that holds the glass is attached from the inside. You may have to remove the timer and glass to shim these parts a little - just remember to remove the timer pointer/dial first!
The bottom of the pump has a shiny metal plate or cover that acts as part of the snubber assembly. If you tip the machine on it's left side (so oil won't run out) and support the mechanism with a 1 gallon paint can, you can remove the crossbrace from the machine, clean the pump cover-plate and also the snubber cup that you will find mounted on a spring on the crossbrace itself. These parts should be clean and dry to allow the tub to move as it's starting to spin. Rough, shaky and/or excessive vibration can all eminate from these parts being dirty and gummed up with grease/oil, etc. Use fine steel wool or very fine emery paper to clean the plate with - rubbing in a figure eight pattern until it's smooth and clean again.
Hope this helps!
Hi Rick,
#1 I agree with Greg, it sounds like the problem is the water flow restrictor inside the water valve is bad and is allowing too much water pressure spray into fill into the flume. Its probably backing up as it is not meant to take that much pressure. Did you change the water valve to a new one? Solid basket washers need flow resistors inside the valves to compensate for different house water pressures. The Frigidaire valve is supposed to be set to add 2.5 gallons of water to the wash tub per minute of fill. The proper fill is for the wash is for the tub to fill completely up to rim and overflow for 10 to 15 seconds before wash begins and just about an inch below the rim for the rinse fill. As Greg stated you might have to add a flow restrictor on the small hose that goes from the water valve to the fill flume.
#2 Rick are you referring the lower back panel of the machine, or are you referring to one of the four braces that attaches from the very bottom of the outer tub to the side of the washer cabinet? For best stability you need all the braces and the back panel installed, but you can run it without. You can make a back panel out of sheet metal if necessary.
#3 The bottom of the pump/motor/tranny assembly (called the Unimatic mechanism) is just floating on a spring loaded snubber plate. As Greg suggested lay the machine on its left side, remove the cross brace and clean both the snubber plate and bottom pump plate with a good strong grease remover. Then I like to use sandpaper and rough up both surfaces and then clean once again with the grease remover.
#1 I agree with Greg, it sounds like the problem is the water flow restrictor inside the water valve is bad and is allowing too much water pressure spray into fill into the flume. Its probably backing up as it is not meant to take that much pressure. Did you change the water valve to a new one? Solid basket washers need flow resistors inside the valves to compensate for different house water pressures. The Frigidaire valve is supposed to be set to add 2.5 gallons of water to the wash tub per minute of fill. The proper fill is for the wash is for the tub to fill completely up to rim and overflow for 10 to 15 seconds before wash begins and just about an inch below the rim for the rinse fill. As Greg stated you might have to add a flow restrictor on the small hose that goes from the water valve to the fill flume.
#2 Rick are you referring the lower back panel of the machine, or are you referring to one of the four braces that attaches from the very bottom of the outer tub to the side of the washer cabinet? For best stability you need all the braces and the back panel installed, but you can run it without. You can make a back panel out of sheet metal if necessary.
#3 The bottom of the pump/motor/tranny assembly (called the Unimatic mechanism) is just floating on a spring loaded snubber plate. As Greg suggested lay the machine on its left side, remove the cross brace and clean both the snubber plate and bottom pump plate with a good strong grease remover. Then I like to use sandpaper and rough up both surfaces and then clean once again with the grease remover.
