Skeletons in my Closet!

[supremewhirlpol]

Got this machine from bigalsf. Many many thanks to him for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to help with logistics and for being nice enough to even give me such a machine. It needs much work, but getting it running should be as simple as solving an unbalanced 3 phase circuit!

DWD8600UCLWH
V1400057G[this post was last edited: 11/9/2011-20:38]

 

[supremewhirlpol]

When first arrived, motor, pump, pulley, etc. were not in machine. I have reinstalled the motor and pump, as a start to reassemble the machine.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Box of what else came with the machine.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Glass is frosted! My hat off to the genius that thought of this! That person must lack common sense!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

other side of door

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Opening looks good.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

The boot was very stiff, has some cracking. I've started to restore it as best I can. Have applied to the boot some rubber roller restore solution, that I use in the restoration process for laser printers. Boot is more flexible now, but still working on it.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Drum looks good.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

These machines are walking dinosaurs. Parts are very hard to find, not to mention the drive mechanism is overly complicated and inefficient, these machines just suck. Time to change that!

 

[supremewhirlpol]

What's in this box?

 

[cfz2882]

drive mechanism

that GE combo looks to have almost the exact same belt/pulley arrangement as the
Ca.1961 RCA whirlpool combo i was given and stripped in 1979-the whirly also
had a belt going up to the blower-IIRC there was some sort of solenoid clutch to
engage the blower drive pulley...
Yes,electronic motor control has came a long way in the last 50yrs LOL.

 

[tolivac]

Frosted glass as a window replacement?and guess its time to simplify the drive mechanism of that Combo machine with a new Leeson motor and VFD?You have a GE Combo WD "Kit"!You have to supply the assembly instructions!Neat machine-will be interesting to see the final result!

 

[jetcone]

this

<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>will be interesting for sure.

 

 

[swestoyz]

What's in this box?

I hope it involves a 3-phase motor and a VFD!!!

Any chance you could post a link to the rubber restore product? I've been soaking the Maytag Combo boot in glycerine for years now and it has helped, but I'm open to other options.

Ben

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Hey Melvin!

Really good to see you again. I can't wait to see this! This is why I love this site. Always something new to learn!

RCD

 

[autowasherfreak]

It will be very interesting to see what you do with. The frosted glass sucks, LOL.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Rex, Andrew, Ben, that's correct! The VFD is on the way. I'll post a good deal of instructions, maybe even some schematics. There will be several big modifications. ModLRC3PH is fitting the VFD and 3 phase motor to the GE combo. Have to use IEC motor due to clearance issues. There will be a surprise feature added in ModLRC3PH that will only be revealed in the final video. Before I get too involved in ModLRC3PH, we have to establish what the other modifications will be.
Ben:
I've posted a link to the site, however it looks like they have changed suppliers, as the bottle is not the same.

http://www.feedroller.com/store/adv...rds=Cleaner&osCsid=i8ohu17ht0mvd4qi8o0q2eqag0

 

[supremewhirlpol]

What is ModCDSRRW? Hint: What does it have to do with this dishwasher? What is special about the GE Combo?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

What is ModCDCW? Hint: What does this fan have to do with it? What do condensing dryers really need?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Just in time for Holloween... Dr. Frankenstein's laundry

I just can't escape the feeling that the phrase "It's ALIVE!!!" will be used before all this is over... LOL!

RCD

 

[tolivac]

Can't remember the brands-used to use two types of rubber restorer in maintenance of broadcast studio gear-one came in a small brown glass bottle.You use only a TINY amount of this stuff on a part like a pinch roller for a tape deck.I made the mistake of soaking one in this and it swelled up! the other rubber restorer was in a plain metal can.It was better than the bottle type-used the type from a can on tape deck pinch rollers and turntable idler wheel tires.Now with digital----who needs rubber restorer?

 

[supremewhirlpol]

In general I don't see that much info online about these machines. Here is a video of my thoughts as to how the mechanism works.

 

[qualin]

Good luck getting that old beast restored.

I'm interested to see how your modifications will work with the older technology inside that machine.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I hope that this project will be just as successful as that

Me, too! Keep us posted!

-- Dave

 

[tolivac]

Like the videos on how the machine works and the collection of 3Ph motors.Very interesting.I don't have any such motors at home-but sorrounded by them here at work.All over the building and in the transmitters.Lets see-20hp cooling water pumps for the older CEMCO transmitters.Allis Chalmers-and they are on "soft start" drives.230V 3 Ph.Each transmitter has a 5Hp 230V Westinghouse 3Ph motor for the main cabinet blower,and in the blower room-a 15Hp 3 Ph 230V blower.These have Westinghouse motors-now replaced by WEG motors.The GE transmitters have 15Hp 3Ph 230V main blower motors and 5Hp 3Ph for Aux blower.No large pumps in these since the cooling is "Vapor Phase' cooling.The European transmitters have their motors rated in kilowatts instead of HP.they run off 3Ph 380-400V.One of these motors on an outside cooling unit has two three phase windings for dual speeds.Runs the cooler blower.The idea was when the coolant temp got over a certain temp the blower motor goes to high speed-as it cools down then switches to low speed.Its a BBC brand motor.And various 3Ph motors in the building-for HVAC blowers,and pumps.Others are for the air compressors here.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Qualin:
For the mechanical side, the special belts, speed changer motor, and one of the idler pulleys will be taken out. The original motor and pump are being taken out, as well. The electrical side is more complex. Part of the circuit for the heater depends on the centrifugal switch of the original motor in order to operate. For that part of the machine, I will have to look at more closely as I will have to use something like SSR, or triac to handle the amount of current that the heaters will pull. Speeds will be programmed into the VFD, use low voltage signals for the terminal strip. The surprise feature of ModLRC3PH will require a dual timer that has relays, both NO and NC, and time cycling feature.

Dave:
The Edged Sapphire Blue Whirlpool is a very fun machine to use. It can be quite messy, and a little animated.

Rex:
My 3phase motor limit is ~7.5 hp. They get to be just too heavy to move down stairs. I have a 230VAC 3 phase source, but not a 460VAC or 575VAC source yet. WEG motors seem to be very good(to me). Multi-speed 3 phase motors are kinda special.

No guesses on what the other modifications are?

What is ModCDSRRW? Hint: What does it have to do with this dishwasher? What is special about the GE Combo? The GE combo needs lots of water. The busted Frigi dishwasher will provide the container.

What is ModCDCW? Hint: What does this fan have to do with it? Fan will be part of the water cooling system. What do condensing dryers really need? Condensing dryers need cold water.

There is one final modification: ModGECCL. What is this modification? Hint: TOL GE washers and dryers of this era have what on their consoles for productivity? The hint is in the picture below.

Picture owner member geextrarinse.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

THANK YOU!!!

I'm going to save that picture. A GE DispenseAll! This washer (with it's matching dryer) is what started it all for me. My Grandmother owned them when I was small and I remember being captivated by the washer. Finding this washer (and dryer) would be coming full circle for me...

RCD

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Andrew:
Yeah I wish I had a machine like that one too. In fact any GE FF washer with the console work light like the one above would do. If anyone has one of these that they want to get rid of, I'd be willing to part with a few choice machines just for it. I borrowed this picture from a post a few years ago made by member geextrarinse. I believe he has one of those models. In general you don't see very many GE FF machines around now.

ModGECCL: What is this modification? Hint: TOL GE washers and dryers of this era have what on their consoles for productivity? They have a worklight.

ModLRC3PH: can't say what the acronym is just yet, as it will ruin the surprise.
ModCDSRRW: Modification Condensing Dryer recycle water
ModCDCW: Modification Convert Drain water to Cold Water
ModGECCL: Modification GE Combo Console Light

 

[supremewhirlpol]

This motor needs to go. It only has 2 speeds and won"t do very much good

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Ah ha! There's the problem!