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swestoyz

swestoyz

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Sep 27, 2004
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Location
Cedar Falls, IA
Woo - what a fun weekend!

On Friday Robert, Nate, and myself conveyed upon Omaha with a single mission in mind: to re-operate the 1956 Frigidaire Unimatic mechanism. Greg graciously opened up his home and garage for the procedure.

All in all it was a great time, and the rebuild couldn't have gone easier. I'll let the experts chime in, but once we got into the mechanism there was little needed to be done - it was in fantastic shape!

So, with the replacement clutch spring installed, the WI-56 can again live up to the intended promise General Motors proclaimed: 1140 RPM!

Here are a few shots of the rebuild. As always, no pictures were taken of us in our pressed lab coats, but pretend each of us had the appropriate attire on.

Here we have said mechanism, with the bell removed.

11-9-2008-22-55-41--swestoyz.jpg
 
Moments later the replacement spring was installed (check your local Ace hardware for various clutch springs in stock) and was ready for some fresh non-detergent Air Compressor oil. NOT Rotary Screw air compressor oil which I had brought with by mistake. Blue fluid = bad. Yellow-green fluid = good.

11-9-2008-23-01-54--swestoyz.jpg
 
And hold your breath - spinning!

There are a few small issues that will need attention before she sees full-field duty, but all in all, the coaches and apprentices were very happy with the end results. Isn't she pretty?

Again, a big thanks to Greg, Robert, and Nate.

Ben

11-9-2008-23-11-23--swestoyz.jpg
 
Well, Jesus Christ riding shotgun with Moses on G-d's chariot, I have never seen anything like that Unimatic transmission assembly. It looks like it could be the transmission for the engine on the Titanic. No wonder the g*ddamn things spun so fast! Thanks for posting!
 
Wow guys, what a fascinating operation! It must have been so much fun to restore this beautiful machine back to its orginal glory!! I know that you guys had a lot of fun along the way! Congratulations Ben!!!
 
Great work Ben, Jim Frigiman and I did his 1952 Unimatic a couple of weeks ago. Rebuilding is always a learning experience. Good for you, for getting right in there and learning to rebuild and get your hands dirty....The more you do it the easier it gets.......
 
Those machines look built

The transmission looks like an automotive crankshaft.

Just one question:
When it oils, does it yell "Oh-G-D, OH, OH!!!"
Running away, don't hit me.
 
I've never seen one inside.....

I always wondered how those things worked. Now I have a very good idea. That trans looks like its built like a tank.
Good job GM.
 
Thanks for the congrats guys - certainly is a favorite in the collection. The WO-65 is severely jealous that the WI-56 has two rings and a lighted timer!

NIce job guys, what'd you do to repair the hole in the tub?

Took some plumbers expoy to seal the hole up. Gave it a good 24 hours to cure, even though the tube proclaimed that it would 'harden to like steel in 20 minutes'. The next evening I put some JB Weld over the inside and outside to create a nice permanent seal. I'll be ordering some grey POR-15 to give it a final coat to match the beautiful grey in the tub. It won't be perfect but certainly usable. I don't have an after photo - but here is a before shot. This tub was NASTY. I do thank the nastiness though for preserving the tub and mechanism support, as both were in like-new condition hiding in the nasty muck. Heck the whole machine was practically like new.

11-10-2008-21-04-16--swestoyz.jpg
 
Looks great Ben. Did you take the oil pump apart? Those little seals always drive me crazy if I don't remember which way they go against each other!
 
Frigidaire

Hi Ben, glad to hear the renovations turned out FAB, all helps when you know what you are doing and many hands make light work!!! That mechanism sure looks like it would last out two machines..

What is it with Gregs garage!!! I remember another Frigidaire SuperUnimatic Machine having an identity crisis in that garage...LOL I believe "The Owner" is still having an attack of the vapours!!!

I found some more information of the Frigidaire jetamatic model we had over here, Ill post a new thread...

Enjoy & happy collecting, Mike
 
ben

looks like you got a nice new bearing in there too bad you never heard it spin with the old one, the comparison between the two is very different!

But that machine looks like a low use machine for sure that tub support still has its blackness to it!!!! Most are coverd with a rust patina after years of use, I bet that was a tub defect and it rusted through way too prematurely so the machine was not used after that and so I did'nt get the heavy use these machines can stand!!

enjoy!

jon
 
Great job Ben!! Glad to see another Unimatic "back on the road" <:

Did you really find a spring at ACE Hardware that could be used as a torque spring for a Unimatic??
 

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