Someone in the club just picked these up today...

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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The machine runs, belt spins, pulleys turn, wig wag seems to be moving back and forth, but no agitation or spin. Dick S. and Eddy1210 have told me it is probably just the wig wag cam bars so we'll see upon closer inspection.

The paint is in beautiful shape and the chrome is perfect. This machine even has the suds saver option but the pump for that was removed and the hose capped off.

Both washer and dryer have full length lighted consoles as well. I'm looking forward to working on these and getting them all cleaned up and running.

Patrick
 
What a beautiful set! I am so happy that you got these Patrick and can't wait to see how they turn out!!
 
Very cool, Patrick - use them in good health!

I hope it's just a simple wig-wag control to get it running again. It sounds like they may have just removed the diverter valve for the suds-saver so you may be able to get that feature operable again pretty easily too.

Congrats on the find - any washer & dryer in turquoise just takes the breath away!
 
Congrats Patrick and welcome to the Kenmore club! These Kenmores are fixable since they made that design so long, hope it is still simple though. Nice set!
 
BOO YAH!

Wow Patrick - big Boo yah shout out for turquoise! What a guy guy Jon is for keeping an eye out for such beautiful machines.

Looking forward to seeing these in their lighted glory. Beautiful - just beautiful. 1966 was such a great year for washers.

Ben
 
Thanks All!

I will take more detailed pics and post them as I start working on them.

Gansky, you are right that it just looks like the diverter has been removed. I will take a pic of that area so you can see.

Steve, the dryer sensor goes all the way around the drum with a hump on one side of the drum and a black flipper on the oppsite side. It's pretty cool looking.

Not being familiar with Kenmore's (sorry, was born with Frigidaire blood) I had to read the lid to see how the controls operate. Of course this is a condensed version so if anyone has any detailed info on cycles, operating instructions, etc., I would be eternally grateful. It says to choose your cycle, then pull out the timer dial and turn until it stops, then push in to start. Well, the timer dial never stops so don't know if that means whatever stops the timer at the appropriate spot is broken or what. The timer does advance normally which is a good thing. At the end of the spin (even though it doesn't spin) you hear a clank like a brake or solenoid engaging so something is working down there I guess. I hear the fill valve buzz when it's supposed to be filling so that's a good sign but haven't hooked it up to water yet.

I'm very excited to work on and learn more about these machines. A big THANK YOU to all who responded and share my enthusiasm. More to come.

Patrick
 
GORGEOUS LADY K!

Im Jealous! you will have a wonderful time with her. I'd love to see the "Roto-Flex" in action sometime..I'll have to make a road trip!

Rich
 
Congratuations Patrick! These are just beautiful machines!

Check the wig wag, and also check the wiring to the wig wag. The wires are flexed as the machine is running, so one of the wires may have broken. The outside plastic of the wire will look fine, but the wire core itself may be broken. If you do not have test equiptment, you can still test the wiring.
Hold one end of the wire, and pull slightly on the on the other end. If the core of the wire is broken, the plastic cover will stretch out slightly. If one of the wires do that, the core is broken. Simply repair the wire, and you are good to go. Try to position the wiring for the wig wag so that it moves as little as possible as the machine is running.

Again, those are wondeful machines! Can't wait to see your "after" pixs!
 
Thanks Rich - come visit anytime. It looks like you've got quite the collection yourself.

Rickr - Thanks for the advice on checking the wires to the wig wag. That could be the problem. While the machine is running the wig wag does move back and forth. Would it be moving if one of the wires was broken?

I look forward to having fun with these. Just the initial wipedown with 409 I gave them really brought out the shine.
 
Patrick, the wigwag moves anytime the motor is running. It shifts the transmition from neutral to wash to spin. The wig wag has two magnetic coils. If one coil is burned out, or is not powered up because a wire is "open" the machine may spin but not wash, or may wash but not spin. I think that your problem is the wig way, or a broken wire. Best of luck with your new found treasure. Let us know what you find.
 
Wow, I saw that pair on Portland Craigslist the other day! Patrick I'm so glad you got them. IIRC they were in a house with a bunch of roommates, no? If so, could the washer's issue(s) be caused by overloading?

Regardless, congratulations!
 
Rickr - I'm putting my money on the wig wag. I'm hoping that's all it is. I'll keep you posted.

David - Yes, this was the set on Craigslist. The whole process of getting these was very interesting. When I initially emailed him Friday, he said there were 2 other people ahead of me that wanted them. I said OK, and for him to let me know if they changed their mind. I didn't hear back from him all weekend and just assumed they were gone. Then Monday I didn't check my email right away and Jon calls me advising to get on this right away. (Thanks Jon!) The guy had sent out a mass email to everyone who had initially responded that the first taker got them. I wrote to him 30 minutes after he sent that out. Needless to say he called me back to tell me they were mine and that every person who had come to look at them were women who thought they'd be cute until they saw them in person and realized they would be more work than what they were prepared for. One womans husband called him and bitched him out for trying to sell broken down junk to his wife.

I told him I was a collector and he responded "now I've heard everything" and then said he was glad they were going to someone who would appreciate them.

I feel very lucky I got them. This will be a fun weekend.
 
Way Cool!

Congrats Patrick on your fantastic find! those are definitely sharp looking machines......Mark
 
Cycle selection buttons and timer knob stop....

Patrick -

You are on track about the cycle selector buttons and timer. The user is supposed to depress a cycle option button, then that button determines which cycle of the three or four in the timer is used. The water temperature that goes along with is determined at this time as well by the timer. When the cycle button is pushed, a mechanical pin is set to engage a slot in the timer, and lock the timer from rotating (this is where the stop comes from) until the knob is pushed in to start the machine. This way if you know you are washing white cottons, you just push that button and turn the knob until it stops, then push it in and go - the machine is supposed to run the white cottons cycle.

One simple suggestion would be to press a couple of the major cycle buttons, white cottons then colored wash and wear, etc, and make sure the pin selector system is not in "neutral". On the couple machines I have, you can lightly depress a button and make it release the old selection but it won't select a new one. At that point the timer just "free wheels" until a cycle is firmly selected.

I have seen them when the pin stops no longer work as well. I have a machine just like yours in my storage (in white) so if you can't make that function work, maybe I can access mine and with pictures etc. we can determine what is not working on yours.

Let me know if I can help you - there are a number of knowledgeable people here so I'm fairly sure that someone here will be able to help you get over any hurdles you have.
 
Also about the wig wag

Patrick -

Everyone seems to be thinking the wig wag (control magnet) is causing your lack of spin and agitate issues, and I would agree as well. Don't be too alarmed that it doesn't agitate though as some machines have a dry agitate portion in the timer (usually where suds return would be OR in the last 2 minutes of wash) but others don't. Yours may not be able (per the timer) to agitate without the level switch being satisfied.

Has that machine been used recently? I had a problem with my recent restore (of a newer but mechanically almost identical machine) which had not been used in 8 years. The lubrication on the spin cam bar and the yoke support had dried into a sticky glue, and the parts had frozen in place. I could hear the proper clicking sounds that are essential for spin to begin, but nothing happened because the parts were stuck. That may be something you want to check as well.

Check the wiring on the wig wag - there should be a white wire attached on each solenoid (they should be two plugs off the same wire), and a red or brown wire on the left one (this is the spin solenoid) and a yellow wire on the right side (the agitate solenoid). Maybe you'll be lucky and the wiring was removed or connected wrong?

Good luck Patrick - those are two VERY NICE looking machines.
 
Thanks Gordon

I appreciate the detailed info. I will print out these details and take a look at what's going on underneath.

You also may have shed some light on the cycle selector buttons as one of them sticks out farther than the rest unless you push it in and then they are all flush. The guy told me it happened after he was replacing the bulb once so I'll take the cover off the control panel and see what's going on in there.

As far as the last time it was used, the previous owner said recently, but I have my doubts as the machine seems pretty dry and all others I have picked up had residual water in them.

Thanks again EVERYONE for all the great info and comments.

Patrick
 
May not be the wig wag

Hi,

I have this same exact set and it had the same exact problem (and some others). The Gold Roto Swirls get very brittle and the splines strip out at the top of the transmission shaft. If your agitator spins free, and the belt spins, the wig wags, etc. you may need another agitator. I went with a white one, as it was easier to find and does not have the tendency to strip out.

Hope this helps, and hope your machine has the correct water valve with 3 solenoids. If not, it may not work properly.

If you need any other help, let me know.

Mike
 

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