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

[pdub]

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.

 

[rickr]

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.

 

[zipdang]

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!

 

[goatfarmer]

I thought that was the infamous set from Chicago a few month's back. Nice set!

 

[pdub]

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.

 

[saltysam]

Way Cool!

Congrats Patrick on your fantastic find! those are definitely sharp looking machines......Mark

 

[kenmoreguy64]

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.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

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.

 

[pdub]

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

 

[gewa1054wguy]

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

 

[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.