The first escapee from storage

[kenmoreguy64]

All:

Here are a couple pics of the first escapee from my storage trailer.

I realize that this vintage of Kenmore is not everyone'e first choice to be viewing, however this is the very machine that I bought for my sister in 1990 for her first apartment (she'd asked to borrow my 1986 Kenmores that were in storage and I said "no" because I am intensely fussy about how those machines are treated). I didn't want to leave her empty handed though while my machines were sitting idle, so I bought this washer and a matching dryer for her. I got the washer from a rebuilder/repairer and doing that infused the energy/drive in me to do the same, and thus started my hobby. I had always been fascinated with washers, but had only repaired my mother's washer once or twice.

So, I found it only fitting since I am expecting to reinvigorate my hobby now, that I start it again with the same machine that started it last time. This washer has been stored since 2000. My sister got over 10 years of use out of it, and when she replaced it with a new high line Kenmore DD, I had to have the washer back.

Today I worked on it for almost 7 hours. It's ready to wash laundry now, has new tub seals, centerpost gasket, water pump, belt, and I transplanted on a porcelain top that I scavenged years ago for this machine. For a 28 year old washer it looks pretty ok.

There will be more to come as I move on into some of the more interesting specimens in that trailer!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

A look under the hood

The porcelain top I had was from a machine with a bleach dispenser, but mine doesn't have one. Beggars can't be choosers though, and this piece is far better than the original acrylic enamel painted one, as it is beginning to do what all the acrylic parts do when the come in long term contact with water: rust.

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks great!

 

[funguy10]

I like the Maytag-esque central-dail design. Also, our old washer (not the Oasis but the one we had before it) had a bleach dispenser. Of course the Oasis does too because the lid is always locked during operation.

 

[jons1077]

Very cool!

That's the washer I grew up with. I believe ours was from 1980/81. Ours did not have a bleach dispenser either but everything else is the same. I didn't like the DA agitator so I switched it out with a pentaswirl. Normal things that kids do right?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

These were great washers to grow up with. My machine is not supposed to have that bleach dispenser hole, however I took what I could find when I got that top. I usually fixed every machine that would be a decent top donor so when I came across this top already separated from the machine, I grabbed it.

My washer is indeed a 1980 vintage machine - made in week 16 of 1980 in fact. It was fun yesterday putting power to it for the first time in 8 years.

 

[gansky1]

Your washer looks great - and good as new now as well! Will you find another home for it eventually or keep it as the "foundation" washer for your collection?

A neighbor of ours that had been washing for a family of five in a Hoover portable twinnie got this washer & matching dryer for her birthday from her mother. Her mother went to Sears to buy it for her and dodged suspicion by paying for it in the housewares department. Alice couldn't figure out what she was doing over there and then came home with nothing. The next day, the delivery truck pulled up and brought in this set. I was more excited than she was - this was when I fell in love with the Penta-Swirl...

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Thanks for the cool comment gansky!

I will likely keep that washer due to the sentimental value. In fact, I have a huge pile of work for it to do later today (been letting it pile up for two weeks).

I have another identical to it in the trailer, and one similar that has a penta-swirl (they're shown in the pics). Back in the day, they were EASY to find homes for. Now I worry that they'll be harder to place than the older stuff.

Sometimes the stories behind washers are as cool as the machines themselves! It must have been neat to see the look on your neighbor's face when she got her new machines.

 

[goatfarmer]

I just put a similar washer for sale on my floor. For the older BD Whirlpool's, and Kenmores, I can usually get $60-75.00 each for them. Usually get them for free, or no more than $5-10.00. I don't put anything into them, though, they have to work, or they get scrapped.

 

[jons1077]

Crossover Kenmore

Here's one of those interesting crossover Kenmore washers. I can't remember where someone mentioned it but this is that weird clothesguard. DD transmission and newer outer tub, etc., but old DA agitator and console. Pretty interesting.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/for/598520169.html

 

[mulls]

Large capacity

Hello friends,
What was the first year of large capacity KM/WP machines?
Tom

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Re: Crossover washer

Those were introduced in the 1983/84 time frame. Kenmore had belt-drive 24-inch machines that appeared similar immediately before that, and so when the DD hit the market they made them look the same, to match the large capacity belt drives that were still in production.

I remember being horrified by those machines!

Yes, that is the clothes guard. I mentioned that sometime last week regarding another post. Others may have as well.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

First year of the big-tub Kenmores

Tom -

I have been trying to figure that out for a while, but from what I can tell, it was sometime around 1967. There was one model from then until 1972, when there were two models, at least in the catalog. Not all models made the catalog though.

It was the 1974 line up that had two new agitators, and used gearcases in common with the standard tubs. Machines prior to that used Roto-Swirls or an odd straigh-vane on muscle meds. 1974 was the first year I think that the Lady K was a big-tub.

Prior to 1974 the large capacity machines were a supplement to the model line-up. Post '74, they were the major focus, though Kenmore sold many a machine in standard capacity for a number of years later.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

To goatfarmer....

Do a lot of belt drives still come in, working or not?

 

[goatfarmer]

I've been seeing quite a few of them lately, don't know why. The last 3 I picked up just needed minor things done, and cleaning. A few before that leaked through the center.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

The centerpost gasket is a common leak point in belt-drives, at least in later models, but I'm sure you already know that. I nearly always change them when working on a machine, leaky or not, because I know it will leak there eventually.

If you find anything interesting that you aren't going to put on your floor, how about letting me know? I might be able to give it a home!

 

[goatfarmer]

Will do! Describe interesting, though. I have a BD Lady Kenmore 90 series, in almond, in storage, I don't think I'll be doing anything with it. It has the dispensers in the top, IIRC, it didn't pump the water out.

Interesting like that?, Or something older?

 

[jons1077]

oooh!

That sounds like a nice machine! Penta-swirl agitator inside?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

If it's in good shape, that is VERY interesting to me. I am a belt-drive fan in general, early or late. I may actually be a little partial to the newer ones in SOME ways (ok, don't everyone cane me at once) because I was able to not only use one during the later days, but also own one new as well. I love the early stuff as well.

I just went scavenging today at a local "dealer / reseller" (that's southern speak for junk yard), and I found 8 belt drives there - I wanted them all, but most have been out in the sun for years.