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

[kenmoreguy64]

Recent use?

Patrick -

The button trap in your machine should hold in my guess about 12 to 15 ounces of water, maybe a little more, and they stay full a long time (months) after last use. If there's no water in there or if it's nearly dry, the machine hasn't been used lately. You can see it if you shine a flash light on it with the machine standing up, OR if you lay it down, you'll get water coming out of the top of the tub, lol.

Mike's suggestion about the stripped agitator is interesting....an easy way to check that and at the same time the transmission's ability to engage agitate is to raise and hold the plunger on the agitate solenoid (the right side) while you turn the trans drive pulley manually (clockwise) with the machine off. It won't take long to engage the cam bar and switch it to agitate. If the trans goes into agitate, the agitator itself should be locked and can't be rotated by hand.

Switching both wig-wag functions manually like that is a good way to know if your problem is electrical or mechanical in nature.

Keep us posted Patrick!

 

[frigilux]

Wow, they're beautiful. And the skirtless agitator is so freaky. Love 'em. Congratulations!

 

[mickeyd]

What a great day--another "green" Lady K

Re: free spinning dial--Also play around with the "Select" button # 14 making sure it's not stuck.

Didn't know that the Suds models had separate pumps. Always thought that the big CLANG when you started the suds was the valve shifting on the only pump. So you just may have a Suds on you hands after all, with a new hose and a few reconnections down under. Finer minds than mine will know.

I love that agitator. I have a shiny mint ribbed Roto-swirl in mine and would gladly trade you in a Portland Minute. When the Penta is in full flex, the clothes get sucked down as if by a cyclone. Stunning!!!!!!

Nice Work, Buddy Jon! I hope we're as lucky with the gas Duomatic.

 

[Dick_S.]

OMG Lady Kenmore.......!

....I didn't spot this thread until after we had talked this evening. Why didn't you let me know it was there? Boy you work fast for someone who had just picked them up.

They're beautiful and a big hearty and warm welcome to the wonderful world of Kenmore! ((--:: You'll love them, I'm sure.
We'll talk soon.

 

[pdub]

Mike - I took the agitator off the post and it doesn't appear that the splines are stripped. Also not sure about the water valve but I will check it out and definitely let you know. Thanks for the advice.

Gordon - The button trap is full of water so the machine isn't bone dry. It's just that under the lid and in the tub there appeared to be dust which I didn't think would be there if it were used recently. I can't really get to checking out the wires on the wig wag yet as I have other obligations tonight but will definitely go over them this Saturday at the latest. I'm hoping it's a broken wire or connection as Rickr advised.

Frigilux - Yes, it is an odd looking agitator isn't it. A face only a mother could love? One thing good is I guess I have a wide selection of agitator's that would fit this machine.

Mickeyd - I will let you know what's going on with those buttons and timer dial. So many things to look at.

Dick - This thread took on a life of it's own and I didn't know it had started (thanks to Jon) until I discovered it after we talked. Wow a lot of Kenmore expertise here that I look forward to learning from.

 

[chaskelljr2]

"pdub":

And don't forget, a lot of Kenmore fans are here too. And I am one of them. I'm not going to say that I am the biggest one here, but I consider myself one of the biggest.

That is ONE BEAUTIFUL SET you got there.

When you got that washer going again, would you be willing to shoot a "YouTube" video with you loading, operating and then actually seeing this beautiful washer at work???

I for one wouldn't mind seeing that. Seeing you push one of those buttons is probably going to be the next best thing to heaven to me.

--Charles--

 

[jons1077]

Patrick,

Sorry! I was just so excited you got them that I couldn't help myself. I thought I'd do one of those "mystery" threads.

Jon

 

[70series]

Gorgeous set of Lady Kenmores. Congratulations on getting them.

That Roto-Flex is truly a unique agitator. I saw one work in video featuring a Brazilian Brastemp washer, and I must tell you the action looked gentle in the way it treated clothes. It was not swishing them around with the vigor of other agitators. As I remember, that was a selling point in the Sears ad promos back in 1965 when it first was introduced.

Have a good one,
James

 

[pdub]

Charles - I'll do my best to get a video like you describe. I know Kenmore fans appear to be just as passionate as Frigidaire fans so I look forward to learning all about them.

Jon - No problem that you started the thread! I'm actually glad that you did because it motivated me to upload the pictures sooner. I'm happy that you are as excited as I am over these machines. Thanks for your friendship.

James - It was Rodrigo (bestcleaning) that has the Brastemp washer with a similar agitator. I have attached a link to his pictures that show the agitator. Pretty cool.

http://automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/...ESTCLEANING.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/BESTCLEANING

 

[jons1077]

Patrick,

Anything for you my friend! Well, unless it was a GE...

hehe

Jon

 

[mickeyd]

Loving both

Pat, that awesome sound the Multi makes during the second minute of spin when the clutch click/bongs into high spin is just as satisfying as the famous solenoid sound the KM's make as they shift from drain to spin. Having Frigi's and KM's is almost like having two perfect lovers, neither of which you could ever dream of parting with. You'll come to love the KM's as much as the Frigi's. Promise!!!!!

 

[bestcleaning]

Congratulations

Very beautiful turquoise set. Congratulations! I love the fantastic Roto-Flex agitator without base. It has deep action and better rollover.

 

[gansky1]

Has anyone else noticed the suds are much less troublesome in the machines with the Roto-Flex than with other standard capacity agitators?

 

[mickeyd]

Yes

Same as in the early Hotpoints where there is no paddling of the upper waters or the surface water. Really like the extra tub room made available without blades or spirals. More than that, love how the clothes fly down the column almost Frigidairesque in action. Some where in the archives is a flick of the very action of which we speak.

 

[christfr]

ah you go patrick way cool....

 

[jons1077]

I know!

You go girl!

 

[pdub]

A Closer Look

Today I was able to start the cleaning process and see what the insides of the machine look like with the top open. Here is a pic showing how dirty the inside of the machine is. I guess this would be normal for a machine made in 1966 however I do believe this machine may have gone unused for some time.

 

[pdub]

These are the solenoids that operate the bleach and fabric softener dispensers. A true timer controlled timed release system.

 

[pdub]

These are the tubes that lead from the top of the machine and empty into a clear plastic tank that empties into the tub when the solenoids are activated. Very cool system.

 

[pdub]

Fresh water fill flume.