Special Mini-Wash for you all!!!

[jons1077]

I finally came across my video camera so I thought I'd treat everyone to a little mini-basket action today. This is my favorite machine ever and I can always thank Mike for sending me this cool mini-basket! I'd been looking through some of the archives and videos on the site and it encouraged me to do a mini wash "old-school" style.

Since moving to Portland, OR I've been able to virtually rebuild this machine. It has a new belt, tranny, boot, basket, and a lot of cleaning. All I really need is to find a working slow-speed solenoid and a good donor machine for the top and lid (it's pretty rusted). Otherwise this machine works wonders! Hope you all enjoy and I look forward to comments on the video!

Jon

 

[tolivac]

That video clip brings back memories from the depths of time!My Mom had a washer just like yours when she bought a Levitt house in Upper Marlboro,Md in 1969.She loved the Mini Basket!I used the machine on occasion as well.Her home came with the GE appliances package.

 

[jons1077]

tolivac

So glad you enjoyed it. My grandmother never used her basket. I snooped around one day and found it, the jet-swirl dispenser, and all of the booklets in the very top of the cabinet above the washer. Man I wish I had thought to keep those!

 

[pdub]

Jon-

Great video. That machine sure has come a long way and looks great. Congrats! What's next? Time to move the Maytag?

Patrick

 

[gansky1]

Very fun video - and a beautiful machine!!

I've seen quite a few Mini-Baskets on shelves at sales through the years and only knew a few people who used them regularly.

 

[appnut]

Jon, thanksd for the video and memories. I kinda figured out you did the wash on medium--confirmed after the panel view before the light shut off. Jon, there's that pop pop, ratcheting sound that happens right after the agitation stops. That is exactly the same noise my GE made at the end of the wash cycle on the Perm Press cycle using Normal Wash/Slow spin combination. It didn't do it at the end of the cool-down agaitation perior nor the at the end of the rinse agitation. Nor did it do it at all at the end of agitation phases on normal, poly/knits, or mini-quick cycles. That pop pop is just as if you were switching speeds while it was agitating (you know the big no no on GEs). Anyway, that is the exact reason why my slow speed was destroyed on that machine. What cycle were you using? See if that pop pop happens with the Mdium/Normal combinatino at the end of agitation phases on other cycles. Also, see if that pop pop happens with the Normal/Normal combinatino. My advice is, don't use that speed combintion if that's whre the pop pop only happens. It was 30 years ago this past April 28th the GE pair was moved into my apartment.

 

[cycla-fabric]

GE Slow first spin?

Interesting watching the GE mini basket in action, I haven't seen one before in operation as I didn't know anyone who had a GE washer. I did notice that it took a long time for it to come up to full spin speed after the wash portion was over, is that normal. On the final spin, the machine seemed to get up to full speed much sooner. Was it because it was spray rinsing and somewhat sud locked, or was that the GE way in the first spin to slowly ramp up to full speed before the final rinse.

Doug

 

[laundryshark]

Thanks for GE Mini Basket Demo!

From what I could figure out from the audio, it sounds like you did a good job of restoring the machine the way you like. Again, *as I routinely do,* I have added this video to my own personal computer collection with the help of Online.Movavi.com. Many thanks for sharing.--Laundry Shark

 

[jons1077]

Love the responses guys!

Thanks so much! I feel like the video is now officially a success.

To respond to some of the questions about the machine:

Pdub: Def. ready to get that Maytag down there. Just waiting for you to help. *wink wink*

Gansky: If you ever see any minibaskets, jet-swirls, filter-flo pans around I know plenty of folks who could use them. My filter pan has undergone alot of cleaning but, even with pure vinegar, I have not been able to get all of the build up off the top. Hoping I can find a cleaner one one of these days.

Appnut: The popping sound is generated by a couple of different things. What you heard was the mini-basket sitting loosely on the agitator. There are those little rubber contacts on the bottom of the basket. I was using a hot water wash and I think those rubber contacts softened up a little during the cycle and the popping sound went away. I've also noticed the filter pan do that too. It sits somewhat loosely on the agitator. Take it off and no more noise. I used the PP/Delicate cycle on this video...8 min. wash. Rinse water starts almost immediately into the first spin. I noticed this machine (which I think is slightly older than my grandmothers) stops that spray rinse halfway through the spin. Others will spray rinse and continue the waterflow all the way until the deep rinse begins. I don't know if that's a difference in timers or just something wrong with mine but it works so I ain't messin with it!

Doug: You are absolutely right. The spins on PP/Delicate tend to take longer to ramp up to full RPMs mainly because the spray rinse starts so soon for the cool down. In the video the machine was slightly sudslocked as well but the pump is so aggressive that it always flushes it out eventually.

LaundryShark: The new transmission was the key to this machine. It had been used and abused. The old tranny would freeze or get stuck sometimes it was so bad. The new one is plastic housed but had never been used before. It was MIB, still in the plastic. Dropped it in, got some new splines for the V-16 and V-14 agitators and I was in business. It may not be as quiet a transmission as the older metal cased ones, but she works and that is all I wanted!

Thanks again for the great feedback! More vids to come I promise!

Jon

 

[appnut]

Jon, I don't think you & I are talking about the same noises. I know exactly what the noise of the mini-basket as well as the FF pan is that you are referring to. I hope you'll humor me and tape a load without the mini-basket but use the same speed combination setting as well as the same cycle and let me obsedrve that version. I feel like I ought to know the noise I"m talking about since my GE did the same thing on the PP cycle. If I had heeded to what was going on, I would have stopped either using the PP cycle or used either N/N or S/S speed settings and not have the clutch doing that. Then my machine's 2-speeds would have lasted longer than just under 7 years.

 

[jons1077]

Appnut

OK sorry for the confusion. I actually do plan on doing another video w/o the minibasket soon. I'll be sure to record it on the different speed combos and I'll take the filter-flo pan off for parts of it too so you can differentiate the sounds you're hearing and see what it is.

Now that I review the video and your post I know what you are talking about. I was under the impression that's a normal sound you hear anytime a GE stops agitating because every single one I've ever used has done that. I thought it was the sound of the clutch shoes "popping" back away from the drum. It does it anytime agitation has stopped on any speed during any cycle. Did you ever find out what happened with your machine and why the clutch failed?

I will say I don't know what the condition of this clutch is. It's original and I haven't worked on it yet because I don't know where I can get parts for it yet. If it fails I'll try to put a 2-speed in for the time being. Honestly, it runs very quiet and doesn't seem to have any issues right now other than the slow-speed solenoid not engaging.

Let me know and I'll work on another video this week.

Jon

 

[appnut]

Jon, as many 2-speed FF as I've been around through the years, mine was the only one to make that popping noise and it was only on the PP cycle on mine with the N/S combination. It did not make that popping noise when I used Poly/Knits or Normal cycle with the N/S speed setting, just on PP and it was only the pause between the wash and start of the cooldown. It didn't do it at the end of the cooldown agitation nor at the end of the rinse.

 

[jons1077]

appnut

I'll try to get another video posted this coming week and we'll see what you hear. I'll keep listening to the machine in the meantime and see if something is weird about it. You know I can't run a cycle without being there!

Jon

 

[appnut]

I know Jon. I wish I was there with ya!! Maybe some day I'll come see you & Tony!! Bob

 

[jons1077]

Bob

I sure do hope you can! Maybe a Portland washin???

 

[impala276]

Mini-Wash

This is my first time I've ever seen the mini-basket in use. My relatives never used thier mini-basket. I was always curious about how the washer would fill the mini basket. And I see that first the water is filled in the normal tub. And when the washer powers up. The agitator moves and the filter-flo spout sends water into the mini-basket. How awesome is that?

Thank you for sharing that video. GE filter flo's are my favorite.

 

[jons1077]

Impala

Yes, definitely a cool machine. The mini-basket is a great feature for delicates and really small loads. I've enjoyed having it and make a point to use it when I can. More GE videos to come!

Jon

 

[gyrafoam]

Jon----

so glad to see this one up and running! I know you have wanted to use it for some time know. So whats next on your agenda?

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Jon - this is great to see some action from the GE! Thanks for taking the time to put together the video.

Guess what - I found the solenoids while digging around this afternoon. I'll get them out to you in the next few days.

Ben

 

[spankomatic]

Thanks so much for the video on the mini basket. We had the exact same machine but the light on the top was flat with the console. I think it was a 1966. I watched it for hours when I was a kid. My mother us to use the mini basket to wash her "Legs" nylons in. Don't see many of those these days either. I use to love to watch the filter flo and loved all of the buttons. In 1975 the transmission fluid started to leak and turn all the clothes green. That is when we got our first Maytag which I still have today.

Jim

 

[jons1077]

Boys and Girls...

Steve...You're not half as excited as I am. Everytime I run it it brings me back to grandma's house. Her machine was only 20 years old then! Mainly I want to find another avocado machine with the same lid hinges and replace this one because of the chips and rust. I can deal with it the way it is now though. I know the insides are clean so that's the main thing. The Westinghouse is running perfectly so no need to do anything there. I need to get the Maytag downstairs and get it going. That's my next thing.

Ben...I'm so excited you found them! I really hope replacing that solenoid does the trick. It would be so cool to have all three speeds! Then I'd have to do a video showing the different speeds for all those out there that haven't seen them before. You know I have some dainty delicates that need to be pampered with that slow speed.

Jim...Memories are what it's all about right? Too bad that machine had to go because of the tranny. Sure was an easy thing to fix but ain't nothing wrong with some 1975 Maytags either! Would love to see pics of those!

Jon