ROLLERMATIC AGITATE SHAFT QUESTION!!!!!!!

[soberleaf]

need some help here from the frigidaire experts. i am trying to get the agitate arm disconnected at the bottom so i can pull it up thru the top as i know can be done from previous posts here. this is on the custom imperial 1965 model that i dropped off my truck 2 weels ago.

here's the questions. on one of my other rollermatics, a later model, the shaft is connected to the agitate arm by screwing into that walnut shaped coupling that is directly above the endd of the agitate arm as shown in pic below. this is the same walnut shaped coupling that my 1-18 has and i had no trouble unscrewing the agitate shaft from it. it came off very easily.

but both my other rollermatics that i have here now are 1965 models and they both have is called a "ball support" in the manual i downloaded from this site. this ball support is rubber and looks like a small tire.

does the agitate shaft screw into this ball support like the later models screw into that walnut coupling?

the manual says you have to grip it with a special pair of pliers and "pull down on it" to remove it and i have no idea what they are talking about! that is my next question, what does this mean?!

so that's what i need please, advice on how to remove this shaft from it's ball support. this shaft must come off so i can pull entire shaft and jetcone out thru top after removing bellows clamps ofcourse. then i will tackle hub nut and yes, i did get that wrench as some of you (jetcone especially) have suggested to me. it arrived this week.

appreciate your knowledge here.

 

[soberleaf]

here is a pic

of one of my 1965 rollermatics and that "ball support" can be seen on the left side of the pic, again above the end of the agitate arm, looks like little black roller or tire.

if the agitate shaft unscrews from it how to i even grip it tight enough to do so, it's rubber and a bit soft?

 

[gyrafoam]

Yes, the "ball support" has a short threaded "male" stub at the top that screws into the bottom of the shaft.

 

[gyrafoam]

Oh, and the ball support pliers are a rare critter. They have rather wide curved ends to them to conform to the round shape of the support. Without the specialized tool you just have to be inventive. It is possible an auto supply store may have such a pliers.

 

[soberleaf]

what about using

a large pair of vice grips, if i can't find a pair of pliers that resemble the origional ball support pliers pictured in the rollermatic repair manual.

any other suggestions?

 

[gyrafoam]

Well you better wrap the ends with tape or something soft, so as not to tear the rubber. I think a lot of my concern would be with not wanting to mash the damned thing out of round.

 

[soberleaf]

well,

if i can't find suitable pliers to grip it without mashing it i don't see how i can remove that shaft. i'm glad the one machine works perfectly, that eliminates this problem there. and the later model that i picked up with a very much rusted tub (that will have to be replaced) has the metal coupling that i can easily grip with vice grips as i did on my 1-18.

wonder why frigidaire used a rubber coupler on these first early models, didn't they realize that 44 years later these couplers would be a bitch to get off for us vintage appliance collectors?

i will keep trying here, it has to come off, i intend to tear this machine completely down!

i think i might make a round clamp type device out of wood that i can bolt to it that will hold it firm while i unscrew that shaft.

when there's a will...... there's relatives!

 

[gyrafoam]

Well, are you completely unable to remove the agitator nut without the whole shaft turning on you?

Go ahead and stop "wondering" why Frigidaire did what they did. They are GM----ok----'nuff said. A better question would be why, in their infinite wisdom, they made so many stupid little changes every model year with nauseating regularity?

I hope you are able to get the damned thing off without a problem.

Best wishes!

 

[gizmo]

suggestion

I have never seen a Rollermatic in the flesh, but could you use some worm drive hose clamps, such as car radiator hose clamps? You would use five or so of them, all side-by-side around the rubber. clamp them around the rubber, with the adjusting screws on them all in line. Then you could use some multi-grips (water pump pliers I think they are called in the USA) or locking pliers to grip the clamps and turn them and thus turn the rubber. They should be able to grip the rubber without damaging it.

chris.

 

[soberleaf]

that's a good idea

i never thought of worm gear clamps. i will experiment.

reason i have to remove shaft from ball support is a stuck nut! top agitator nut came off fine, top cone and center cone came out fine, but bottom cone is held on agitator shaft by a nut that i cannot budge. i have tried gripping shaft from below right above ball support with vice grips and they will nut hold it solid enough for me to loosen that nut!

so my next plan was to remove shaft from ball support, pull whole thing out top and then i can work with that shaft and get that nut off!

here's a pic of that nut right above the bottom cone.

 

[soberleaf]

another

view

it's rusted on there pretty good but i am soaking it in pb blaster and it will eventually be off, i refuse to give up!

i want this washer completely torn down, i even intend to take motor off, everything off! i want to see exactly how it all goes together for future reference and since i dropped it off the truck and destroyed it's beautiful top and console i have nothing to lose now! and when it's done it will run again, come hell or high water! that's how determined i am on this one!