Spin issues with the '51 Frigidaire WO-65

[turquoisedude]

The '51 Unimatic has been sidelined for a couple of months now due to a severe case of the shakes... If I set a video to that Harry Belafonte tune "Jump In The Line" (with that line, 'Shake, Shake, Senora') it would have fit perfectly.

I had thought the problem was due to the bad flooring down in the Ogden laundry room so I hauled the Frigidaire out to the garage for some tinkering.

Not good...



The machine was level, too.

 

[turquoisedude]

Amazingly, my first instinct was 'read the manual'... Sure enough, a leading cause for what the Frigidairians of the day described as "excessive vibration" was a glazed snubber plate.

Well, that's where I started!

The snubber plate sure looked glazed to me. As directed in the manual, I cleaned both surfaces with fine sandpaper. I wiped down the cleaned surfaces with bit of varsol (a pearl of wisdom I gleaned from an old thread on Frigidaire service).

I even managed to get the crossbrace at the base of the washer back into place with a minimum of swearing!

 

[turquoisedude]

And after reassembly?

I think this dry test went a heck of a lot better....

 

[turquoisedude]

I had to try at least one test with water. I think I've fixed it now!

The real test is going to be with a load of laundry down in the basement, however. IF the washer still shakes too much in it's 'slot', Phil has given me an idea on how to firm up the floor. Now you all understand why I told real estate agents when we were looking for a house "No finished basement? No problem"

LOL

 

[Unimatic1140]

I sure hope the snubber and pump plate was the issue Paul, however... the problem with Unimatic washers with vibrations is most likely is caused by the rubber mechanism support becoming hardened with age. Unfortunately there is no great cure for this except to find a support that is in better condition. The harder the rubber the more vibration the machine has. When these supports were new the Unimatic washers were amazingly stable.

 

[sfh074]

Well ......

sounds like a great candidate for a repro. I've seen one of these rubber supports that was completely cracked in two. Something about turning the dial and causing the spin cycle to go into agitate .... or vice versa ..... and cracking these older hardened rubber supports.

The urethane I'm working with is super tough and would easily hold up to the vibration.

Bud - Atlanta

 

[tomturbomatic]

I sure am glad that it was not caused by transporting the tub on its side and having the steel filing in the balance ring mostly go to one side. The seismic forces engendered by that spinning could tear down a house.

 

As to the tub support, a brittle support will tear when the spin is deenergized and the mechanism brakes regardless of  how the timer is turned. We had that happen and it sent the tub careening into the cabinet with the most horrible shrieking sound of porcelain grinding away porcelain.

 

[turquoisedude]

Tub support repro

Bud, if you can make a new version of the rubber mechanism support I think I should get one! Maybe a couple... Just in case.

 

[gansky1]

Good work, Paul, a clean plate solved the shake, rattle and walk issues for me more than a few times.  

 

I don't think you'd have any trouble stocking and re-stocking an ebay store with mechanism supports, Bud.  They'd sell like hotcakes.

 

[Unimatic1140]

I'm sure making reproducing the support can be done Bud, and it would be an amazing to have that part new, but it has to be done carefully with testing. That support has multiple functions including the water boot seal for the outer tub, snubber and keeping the tub center. It also has two metal plates embedded into the rubber one at the top and one at the bottom. Too stiff rubber will cause vibration or too loose rubber will cause gyroscopic motions that can cause the tub to hit the outer tub at 1140rpm continuously. There also has to be no possibility of the rubber ripping as it could set up a possible dangerous situation.

 

[sfh074]

Gulp!

Sounds like a challenge. Would need a good one to make a mold from.

Do I have any takers? The next question would be how many would actually be wanted? It isn't worth the time and $$ if only a scant few are ever made.

BTW, I have the mold made for the '52-55 pulsator as of this week. Tom has first dibs and has patiently been waiting for like ever.

Let me know if you would like a fresh one for your '52-55 unimatic.

Bud - Atlanta

 

[tomturbomatic]

YAY! YIPPIE! HOORAY!!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you from someone who can't make anything but trouble!

 

[sfh074]

Yes Tom .....

I've noticed! .... lol, jk

 

[gansky1]

I'll sign up for the '52-55 pulsator!