Servis super glide

[lancethecook]

I have just got myself a servis superglide , I have always wanted one so I'm well chuffed.
It is obviously going to need some TLC but so far the motor runs , the wringer turns and the rubber hose is in good condition.
Downside is the bottom roller on the wringer is in very bad shape although the top one is fine.
The wash disc dosnt turn, it appears to be stuck but I havnt spent much time on it to investigate.
My question is , what is the small red button sticking out at the front to the right of the pump lever?
It dosnt appear to do anything.
Does anyone have a spare bottom roller.
As always any advice or help is very much appreciated.
Thanks
Lance

 

[vacbear58]

Button

Lance

Is the button a heater re-set perhaps? Hopefully Mike will know, and also how to free up the pulsator. These machines really create a vortex in the wash tub - this is Mike's

 

[chestermikeuk]

Servis Powerglide

Another great find there Lance, the red button indeed is the Heater Overheat re-Set Button, if it boils dry, cover the heater with cold water and press in the red button to re-set..

If you have engaged the power wringer and used your foot to start it, then press the Top Red Button DOWN TO WASH, this will engage the spinning turbulator, putting your foot on the wringer disengages the turbulator..

To remove the turbulator, make sure the pump lever is set to off. then press down on the turbulator firmly and turn ANTI-CLOCKWISE, this will release it and you will be able to inspect underneath, to put back on, press down and turn clockwise.

A fab wash action, imagine that in a twintub or big top loader!!

 

[lancethecook]

Thanks for your advice

I have spent a little time on it today, the wash disc was jammed simply through being left unused for years , however it is now released and I did a test wash today .
Mike , you are certainly right about the wash action, very powerful and very efficient , far faster than an agitator .
Dare I say , a bit more in line with the Hoover pulsator action and indeed some tangling as well.
The heater also works fine so I just need to try and replace the bottom roller although it does do the job but could be better so if anyone could help with a spare roller I would be most grateful.
I understand that the machine dosnt have a pump but the emptying tube seems to work fine except getting the last of the water out.
I laid the tube down and got at least another two mugs of water out.
Is this normal?
Thanks
Lance

Ps , Al , looking forward to seeing you soon.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Powerglide

glad you got it working, yes not a pump but it pumps water, another great British design from those engineer designers @ Servis as was...as you have now seen its a little venturi pipe that when moved into position moves the venturi pipe into the flow of spinning water under the turbulator.

have just repaired johns outlet pipe that had split at the venturi connection and am about to do mine!! Never had much of a tangling problem, certainly less than a hoover, wash time is four mins....

 

[chestermikeuk]

We Need...

Your Best Galaxy Shot Please!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Or

Spaceship appearing

 

[chestermikeuk]

Blackhole

Emerging!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Draining

You are right to lay the pipe down for final drain, the bowl under the turbulator is deep to allow the accumilation of water to feed the venuri and cover the heater, there is also a little drain hole in the lowest point of the venuri pipe to allow final draining.

The instructions say to take out the turbulator , turn upside down on the floor and place the empty hose in it to drain the final amount.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wringer

Is the belt worn or frayed at all? or is it just that the bottom wringer is too smooth?
One trick an old engineer told me was to rub the roller with sandpaper or a sharp sponge scourer to make them grip better!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Underneath

When you remove the front panel (after taking off red togs and switches) it gives you access to all main parts, you can see how the other half of the venturi pipe protrudes lower down underneath from the tub shroud, the drain pipe then attaches over this and is a little wider at the end to cover the tub protrusion, the pipe then attaches to the venturi with the clamps - as the lower pipe only moves a few mm the hose is flexible and moves with it when TURNED TO PUMP...

Also you can see the lower end of the heater, rather like a kettle element and the Overheat protection stalk which comes through the front panel as you see with the red end cap on!!
There where a few cracks starting to appear in the pipe around and inbetween the clamps,I smoothed silicone sealant over it and then wrapped it in duct tape to get a few more years out of it!!

 

[matthewbrodie]

Great looking machine. I wish the U.S. had a better variety of compact machines. I also wish we had heater models models.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Superglide

Thanks Mathew, this was indeed a compact washer, it was launched to benefit the large number of UK kitchens / Sculleries and Laundry Areas that where small and compact, so this washer would fit "Under The Sink Draining Board" or any little corner of space - Servis had until this time been producing larger wringer models like the De-Luxe!!

 

[lancethecook]

Thanks for the advice

About the wringer. The belt etc is absolutely fine but the bottom roller is very badly worn , misshapen and cracked yet the top one is almost as good as new.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Rollers

Cripes Lance, never seen one that beat up before!!, would take a lot of sanding, now you may be in luck, Mathew raided a rather old fashioned family repair shop and he got a bag of rollers, my powerglide is here so will measure and see if any are the same in the rather heavy swag bag!!

 

[lancethecook]

Thanks Mike and Matthew

As you can see its in a pretty sorry state.
I have never heard the tip about sanding the rollers, My Parnall top roller slips quiet a lot even though the rollers are in very good condition.
Should i sand just the top one or both.
Once again thanks for looking out for a roller, i should be very grateful if you can find one.
Best
Lance

 

[mickeyd]

What a blast it must be to have one of those!

A little wringer that pumps and heats. Can never believe the cool things you guys have over there. Some intense washer lovers in those planning rooms back in the day. Close to a fetish with the pop off hose spouting out of and draping across the tubs and machines, and the plug in-pull out inlet lines, etc. I Love It.

 

Looks like the hook-up in # 12 is a pump port that could recirculate, Yes?

 

[keymatic]

Hey Lance...
Nice Powerglide !! I think the Red & Cream option was the most popular..I have had two, but trashed them down and kept parts, I only have one now, a nice Green & Cream one.
The one nasty hose i found with these machines was the tub to venturi pipe..it is a weeney hose, so awkward to get to and impossible to replicate !! sounds like yours is ok !!
Hopefully see it soon..Cheers Keith

 

[mickeyd]

And a pedal for wringing!

Icing on the cake. Going to look for vids of a Power Glide in operation.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Powerglide

Hi Mickey, yes a lot of features packed into a little washer, but back then they where designed and built by engineers and designers who by the parent company Wilkins and Mitchell built many power presses for industry here and abroad!!

The plug in hose`s are great to use unless that is you forget to plug it in and switch the pump on - the force will shoot a plume of water over the top of the washer in a 12ft reach!! (Now how do I know that?)

Positive Action Wringing was a feature on these washers way before it became mandatory, pressing your foot on the metal lever dis-engages the wash motion and starts the wringer, take your foot off and the wringer stops, to start washing simply take your foot off and press the small top front contol knob down!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Powerglide

Morning Keith, any pics of your rather nice not common Powerglide...ha ha, does it have the switches or knob control? Also do all the models vary because the red, white and cream versions that I have worked on all have the same very long empty pipe which directly plugs onto the venturi pipe and tub outlet - no separate pipe to be seen?

And as you may have read above, the stash of roller parts that Mathew found alas doesnt have any powerglide rollers in it for Lance - do you have a spare roller that he can have so he can use his "Darlo Wesher" at all?

 

[keymatic]

Hey Mike, hope you are well.

Both of the Red n Cream machines i have had and scraped have had a small connical hose which links the tub base to the Venturi pipe..I will try and send a pic over the weekend once i have taken a trip to the garage.

I will also have a look and see if there is a spare bottom roller, there must be one kicking around..lol
Cheers
Keith

 

[vacbear58]

Wringer Rollers

Keith

I will be seeing Lance in three weeks time so if you should happen up on a roller I could take it with me when I am going

Al

 

[mickeyd]

Yesterday,

Was so taken with the bridal train or giant sheet in Keith's cool advert in Reply 17, that I never noticed the holding tray for wrung items.

Then today, scrolling up from the bottom on Mike's posts I thought I saw a green tray attached, and then in the 4 machine display pic, and in Reply 19, there they all were indeed: TRAYS. So now we've got boiling, cyclonical washing, pedal wringing, built-in catch "basket" and a pump? What's next, an automatic timer????? So much fun.

Mike, you know our later Tags have a small pin-cushion like thing to press when wringing, strung among awkward cords, which many people soon remove and bolt the wringer to make it work without the safety device, but the attached pedal in the Power Glide seems like fun and not an annoyance.

#19 is wonderful, Mike. I'm guessing 4-5 pounds of wash and maybe 8-9 gallons of water. Smart, interesting little machines. Thanks.

 

[keymatic]

Hi Al, I will try and get to the garage on sunday to have a rumage around.

Here is a pic of a few machines i had when i was still living at home with my folks..probably aged 20 !! You can just about see my Green n Cream Powerglide at the end
Keith

 

[supermaticjames]

These are lovely little washers, through reading this thread I have learned a lot about them and I would definitely love to own one.

NOW! Where can I get an entire salmon pink kitchen like that of the one in the advert!

James.

 

[keymatic]

Hi Mike,

I think because the awkwardness of this little pipe, some people bypassed it, however if you had a pipe which went straight onto the tub how would the control lever work as this bolts onto the venturi pipe ? I had a quick look on the manual which shows the very small sump hose (8)

I went to the garage yesterday and found a roller, good condition and no cracking..Lance, have you got the coupling (small white plastic block) for the non-drive end ?

If you send me your email address, i will send you a pic.

Cheers
Keith

 

[lancethecook]

Keith

Thank you so much.
Yes , I have the block on the end , the roller which is in there is complete , just in very bad shape.
My email address is [email protected]
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks again.
Best
Lance

 

[lancethecook]

video of the super glide

i have made a video of the super glide however i am absolutely crap at uploading videos and adding links so if it dosnt work i appologise in advance.
I have also done a quick tour round the garage for a look at the other machines.
The superglide wringer is working but the bottom roller is shot and after doing the video i realised that the rubber from the bottom roller had rubbed off onto everything so i got out the Countess and washed them again.
The Hotpoint supermatic is Austins which he recently bought at auction and i collected for him, far too modern for my liking!
Hope the link works and hope you enjoy the video.

 

[lancethecook]

Powerglide

I have just realised that all the way through this thread I have referred to the machine as a superglide, it is of course a powerglide.