Taking apart a 1964 Montgomery Wards/Norge Plus-Capacity Washer

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Here is the brand new bearing all installed in the outer tub support, the spin should be silent now. (silent for a Norge lol).

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Since the hub has some corrosion damage I put a thin bead of silicone around where the outer rubber part of the seal sits to prevent leaks around the outer edge of the seal. If the hub was new and the metal was smooth this wouldn't be necessary. Its all part of 50 year old washer restoration that they don't cover in the service manuals.

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Cool pics!

And a great explanation of the process. I've never worked on a Norge design before, so it's great to actually see how they are put together. Thanks for sharing the info. Have a good holiday!
 
You're such a good teacher.

Yeah, the main spin bearing looks like a space craft part after re-entry. Grins. Learned that to look that bad, only a leaky seal could have let water in long enough to cause such damage. Fire and water, so bad in the wrong place. I understand now. And the close-ups show the seal damage clearly. Must be the light in #13 that makes the "gray" look so nice.... nice, that is, till you see the rich dark new one and the bright brass ring in the middle... ORRRR... is that the bearing? LOL Thanks.
 
Joy!

Congratulations on the joy of maximum wash action! That's a beautiful machine, and it represents some of my favorite Montgomery Ward aesthetics, stacked "M|W" logo with a ring of dots and all.

I enjoyed reading about your repairs and the whys and wherefores of what was making it misbehave--amazing that a faulty motor could do all that. I'm so glad you kept at it and fixed her up--she's beautiful!

To answer a question you asked long ago and I missed, the Wards Roger and I found lives on to this day. My then-boss inherited it, preferred it over her Kenmore, and did all her wash in it. The torque spring issue is nil if there is a full load of clothes in the tub to hold the agitator down. It only caused issues with small loads, where the agitator batted and tangled the clothes prior to spin, causing grievous out-of-balance conditions.

Speaking of which, we washed a rug in our MW the other night, and it was completely out of balance--but never knocked or did anything out of the ordinary. All I noticed was that the clothes were wet after the spin, and I sussed out the rest. I guess if it's out of balance during spin, it has a way of never coming up to speed--the tub oscillates wildly, but it stays put. Weird. But cool!

David is so totally attached to the Wards that he has told me it's the only washer he'll use. So, I guess I'd better keep my eyes peeled to keep us in a steady supply of them. (He hated the Whirlpool.) He enjoys the monster capacity and aggressive wash action. The neighbors enjoy the way it rearranges picture frames on their side of the wall and shakes loose plaster dust out of the ceiling. :-)

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Well, I'm going to have to admit that I'm a sucker for the agitator design on the '64. That's the same type as on the first washer of my mom's that I'm able to remember, which was a mid-to-late 50's vintage Norge.

Robert, I hope you'll post a video of the washer going through its cycles once it's up and running again. Truly a labor of love that you've documented above.

Ralph
 
Nothing better,

Than seeing a minty new fresh bearing fitting into an old well used casing!!! and you do make it look easy, but that comes with practice & patience....AND having the correct spanners and wrenches...and the nouse to improvise!!!

Along with a good silicone, rust treatment and enamel paint, thats in every restorers toolkit, looking forward to the vids!!!

Are those bearing kits just for washers etc or generic for other uses?? and what is the cost??

Cheers, Mike
 
Are those bearing kits just for washers etc or generic for other uses?? and what is the cost??

Mike those bearings are used in all kinds of applications and that is why they are so easy to get yet today. This bearing cost right under $11. The large double main bearing I bought for my Apex Wash-a-Matic was used by Ford apparently in engine applications.
 
With this time and effort, will there be a See It Wash video offering? Then you have to do the timeline and the Norge box set will be complete. You have nothing better to do, right? ;)
 
Second That...

A SEE-IT-WASH VIDEO would be awesome for this machine. I'm sure that agitator can knock the dirt out of the toughest loads...

Malcolm
 
Robert, surely you cannot possibly think I've been ignoring this thread. I HAVEN'T!!! I'm just in awe!!! And I"m very grateful you took the time to do this work and not send the machine packing to the curb!!! Now I know I'll seee it for sure in person some day.
 
And I"m very grateful you took the time to do this work and not send the machine packing to the curb!!! Now I know I'll seee it for sure in person some day.

Totally Bob, I'm looking forward to the day you get to experience it again after all these years. :-)
 
very informative

and entertaining. love the close up pics! thanks for the tips on the silicone and the torch.

i have yet to tear down a washer that is not frigidaire but i may have to in the future here so your pictorial was great!
 
i have yet to tear down a washer that is not frigidaire

Everything else is cake compared to GM Frigidaire washers. You started the learning process the hard way ;>)
 
i don't know

but i would feel a lot more confident tearing down a frigidaire rollermatic or even 1-18 than doing what robert pictorialized above!

i just picked up a 1978 speed queen solid tub machine and i am hoping and praying that the water seal is good on it! i can't even get the agitator to come out! gonna let it warm up in the house a couple days then try it out here!

one good thing about solid tubs is that the main tub seal is only submerged in water when the tub spins and drains unlike the constant wear and tear on the seal that comes in a perforated tub machine. probably why none of my rollermatics needed a new tub seal but my 1-18 did.
 
The Wards is back together and sounds MUCH better. Here is an brand new HD video showing off the super strong agitation of this cool machine. Listen closely to the sound of the transmission...

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That's a BobLoad of jeans & darks if I ever saw one. Intense wash action for sure. As an adult, I can see why our W'n'W/Durables cycle was set for 7 minutes of wash time. That's pretty much what a load of towels in our Norge15 looked like when I was doing laundry. All sounds very "normal" and "familiar" Robert. Oustanding job--yeah I'm biased, but have a right to be.
 
Oh no, that never ever sounded like a Maytag Helical drive. I didn't know what a Maytag sounded like until 1966. Totally diffeernt sound completely. The Maytag was rather soothing and calming compared to this.
 
Wow Robert, I bet that machine wasn't that quiet when it was brand new. Thanks for sharing the fun video.
 
NORGE WASHER REPAIR

Excellent job Robert its neat to see it running like new again. It sure doesn't sound like a MT washer, ever notice how the quieter washers and dryers are often the ones that last the longest. I do think there is sometimes a correlation between noise and longevity. As far as ease of repair goes I would rank automatic washers from the 1960s-the 1970s in this order [ this is for major repairs involving the transmission main seals and bearings etc ]. The easiest GE FFs next MT helical drive washers, next Frigidare rollermatic washers then WP BD washers and I would still place the Norges last, so again a great job Robert.
 
If you listen reeeaaal closely, you can hear the clothes fibers begging for mercy ;)

Great job, Robert!
 
me too!!

i say great job getting that bearing and water seal in!

i know that feeling of satisfaction when it is all done and washing away!

great thread, lots of great pics and very informative! and a movie at the end. what else could anyone ask for but maybe some popcorn!
 
Fantastic Job Robert!
It looks and sounds like it just came out of the box!
I remember when you posted pictures awhile back but can't remember the story.
Was this an estate find?
Thanks for the pictures and the video! It is so quiet!
Love the way it thrashes the clothes to get positive laundry results!
Brent
 
"Maytag was rather soothing and calming compared to this

No kidding, Bob!

The sound of a Norge/Signature IMO can best be described as "un-nerving."

What Dan said!

Beautiful job and nice looking machine regardless, Robert!
 
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