goblue
New member
JED awesome find. the washer tub looks like its gonna need some elbow grease but man there beauties for the age.
The Best of 1955, PART 2
- Thread starter tuthill
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Some more pics. A lot of the rust just washed right off. It fills, but doesn't agitate. Check out the link to the video showing the lack of agitation. The spin was too noisy for me to let go for any length of time, it was like a ROAR. You can also see that video on YouTube.
I am open to any suggestions as to why it won't agitate.
I am open to any suggestions as to why it won't agitate.
Detergent & More.
I seem to remember something about there being a chemical in liquid detergents that can be harmful to the neoprene in Frigidaires. As for the loud spin (I haven't yet found the video) it might be a bad bearing, but I don't know which one. As for the lack of agitation, it could be seized bearings, a bent part, oil turned to grease, or some other problem. The folks here will know better than I will. The motor does come on and hum, so at least that is working.
Congratulations on your Unimatic. I hope you enjoy it for years and years. Also, thanks for sharing with us!
Congrats,
Dave
I seem to remember something about there being a chemical in liquid detergents that can be harmful to the neoprene in Frigidaires. As for the loud spin (I haven't yet found the video) it might be a bad bearing, but I don't know which one. As for the lack of agitation, it could be seized bearings, a bent part, oil turned to grease, or some other problem. The folks here will know better than I will. The motor does come on and hum, so at least that is working.
Congratulations on your Unimatic. I hope you enjoy it for years and years. Also, thanks for sharing with us!
Congrats,
Dave
While I haven't seen the video (youtube is blocked at work) but it sounds like water has gotten into the transmission. Not a huge deal, but I wouldn't use the washer anymore until the transmission gets a complete restore. If there is water in there running it will cause wear on gears.
My 1958 WCI-58 Turquoise Unimatic had water sitting in the transmission for over 25 years outside on the farm and I was able to restore it to brand new condition.
My 1958 WCI-58 Turquoise Unimatic had water sitting in the transmission for over 25 years outside on the farm and I was able to restore it to brand new condition.
Just lovely!
Congratulations on scoring this set - you'll have lots of fun with them. The original books are a real bonus, too.
Enjoy them!
Congratulations on scoring this set - you'll have lots of fun with them. The original books are a real bonus, too.
Enjoy them!
Oh and before I forget...
oh and the reason it wont agitate is the gears are frozen (with surface rust) together. Again not a show stopper, but it needs to be taken apart, cleaned with mineral spirits and rebuilt, including a new spin bearing and fresh oil. The spin bearing is a $10 part still available at any bearing retailer.
oh and the reason it wont agitate is the gears are frozen (with surface rust) together. Again not a show stopper, but it needs to be taken apart, cleaned with mineral spirits and rebuilt, including a new spin bearing and fresh oil. The spin bearing is a $10 part still available at any bearing retailer.
Nice score
there Jed!
They will polish up beautiful! Like Robert says the tranny needs a good cleaning, the gears and the filter screen for the oil pump too. You probably have water in there since it would have to pass through the spin bearing first and that is why it is screaming!
I've had my share of screechers in my day!
Once you spin it with the new bearing you won't believe the difference!
And just think your clothes will be "live water action" clean from now on!
have fun these machines restore nicely
jet
there Jed!
They will polish up beautiful! Like Robert says the tranny needs a good cleaning, the gears and the filter screen for the oil pump too. You probably have water in there since it would have to pass through the spin bearing first and that is why it is screaming!
I've had my share of screechers in my day!
Once you spin it with the new bearing you won't believe the difference!
And just think your clothes will be "live water action" clean from now on!
have fun these machines restore nicely
jet
Jed, I still get all tingly thinkin' about this wonderful score you've gotten. You deserve this wonderful set!! Congratulations!! Bob
golittlesport
Well-known member
Congratulations!!!
Greetings from your cousin pair in California. I agree with you...I think those are the most beautiful set in the world! Rebuilding the Unimatic transmission is not that difficult and many in this club can help you. I watched Greg Nunn rebuild mine with help from Robert and Jimmy. I even got to get my hands dirty. My grandmother had this set when I was a boy and my mother had the filtrator dryer (paired with a Westinghouse Laundromat. Sometimes I still can't believe I have them. As the instruction book says... "You will find your Frigidaire Imperial Automatic Washer a joy to use." (And exciting to watch!)
Thanks for posting all the pictures. You are already making great progress....lint chaser ring in place and everything. Did you get the brush to clean the filtrator?
Cheers!
Rich
Here is a pic of mine...
Greetings from your cousin pair in California. I agree with you...I think those are the most beautiful set in the world! Rebuilding the Unimatic transmission is not that difficult and many in this club can help you. I watched Greg Nunn rebuild mine with help from Robert and Jimmy. I even got to get my hands dirty. My grandmother had this set when I was a boy and my mother had the filtrator dryer (paired with a Westinghouse Laundromat. Sometimes I still can't believe I have them. As the instruction book says... "You will find your Frigidaire Imperial Automatic Washer a joy to use." (And exciting to watch!)
Thanks for posting all the pictures. You are already making great progress....lint chaser ring in place and everything. Did you get the brush to clean the filtrator?
Cheers!
Rich
Here is a pic of mine...
golittlesport
Well-known member
pulsator
The rubber pulsators get a bit of a star shape as they age...mine looks like yours. It is cool that the original agitator is still in your machine. Many Unimatics had their original agitators changed out wth jet-cones.
The rubber pulsators get a bit of a star shape as they age...mine looks like yours. It is cool that the original agitator is still in your machine. Many Unimatics had their original agitators changed out wth jet-cones.
golittlesport
Well-known member
I bet it won't be long
until you get your machine purring away and washing like this
until you get your machine purring away and washing like this
Looking good Jed!
Certainly appears that there was water sitting in the tub for good amount of time. When you had the pulsator column out did you get a chance to inspect the water bellows at all?
Also - did you do a dry run before hooking up the washer? If possible always try to do a dry run on a machine prior to filling it up. Always fun bailing out a tub full of water with a plastic cup! (I know, I've done it multiple times - did I learn?) ;-)
- Ben (green with envy!)
Certainly appears that there was water sitting in the tub for good amount of time. When you had the pulsator column out did you get a chance to inspect the water bellows at all?
Also - did you do a dry run before hooking up the washer? If possible always try to do a dry run on a machine prior to filling it up. Always fun bailing out a tub full of water with a plastic cup! (I know, I've done it multiple times - did I learn?) ;-)
- Ben (green with envy!)
