The Westinghouse rides again

[roto204]

Roger found a bearing that fit the motor, and with a lot of felt, oil, and TLC, we got the machine back together. We're currently addressing its many leaks, but we did five (six?) loads in it, just for sport

The only current annoyance on it is that it's really tough to get the boot to seat properly in the groove around the door. It seems to always want to pop out at the bottom, which causes it to piddle if the suds get high. We think that the slight rust around the bottom may cause issues with seating the seal.

There's obviously an art, too, to seating the pulleys on the motor shaft. Too far in, and the high-speed spin belt rubs the large drive pulley; too far out, and the speed changer clatters against the solenoid lever.

(Pissy!)

But, after much tweaking, oiling, and greasing (sounds like a good weekend), we're up and washing. Once it's dry and mechanically stable, it's time for a repaint!

Thank you all for your help with this ongoing project. It's greatly appreciated!

--Nate and Roger

P.S. -- Don't even try to use Mexican phosphated detergents in this puppy.

Where's that JonDash when you need it? Front-load libbers need their low-sudsing detergent! :-D

 

[roto204]

Felt: $3.50.
Oil: $2.75.
New sleeve bearing: $1.00.

A healthy Westinghouse: Priceless.

By the way, it is the same year as Lightedcontrol's dryer; the dryer belongs with the TOL washer, though. This was the MOL. Ross found the manual for it

 

[roto204]

Optimism

Ross has been a wonderful source of endless optimism on this project. I've felt gunshy after the Kenmore, so the first couple of cycles felt weird (you know, the "Well, it made it this far, but it'll probably die on the next cycle" feeling). The subsequent ones have been better, though, and Ross calmly pets the machine and says kind, nurturing things to it

 

[toggleswitch]

I knew he was a good mother.

...yeah well OK.

We ALL love Ross but he may be a bit too rough to touch MY timer. If ya know what I mean. --wink--

Who luvs ya baby?

 

[retromom]

YAY!

Nate, Roger, and Ross.....

Can't wait to pull up a couple of chairs and watch the action on this terrific Westinghouse! Isn't tenacity a great thing!

BTW...what's that little avocado number sitting next to the Westy? ;-)

Venus

 

[toggleswitch]

Nice @$$

Good for you, 5 loads in a day!

....and what is that little machine, whose rear we see with white, yellow, green and a galvanized piece.

HUH, HUH, HUH? ?

 

[toggleswitch]

oh Venus we posted nearly simultaneously. Didn't see yours till mine was done.

But it's always good to let the lady get there first!

 

[gyrafoam]

Yay! I'm glad you have her up and running! Don't worry too much about the "piddling". Wouldn't be a "Rustinghouse" without it!

 

[roto204]

LOL

Yes, Steve R., I like the way the machine assertively pees on the floor when you pop open the door after a load of wash. It's rather like having the dog come up to you and wazz on the floor while looking intently at you. But what can you do? It's adorable.

Yay for concrete floors that don't care.

LOL Venus and Toggle, yes, the Westy should be all pretty again by the time you're here!

And I can't tell you what the little number to the right of it is. It's a surprise! Roger will have to tell you about that.

Or maybe we won't...and you'll have to see it to believe it!

I will tell you that it is tiny, fun, effective, efficient, and avocado...and made for a company that went away in 1975.

:-D

--MysteriousNate

 

[toggleswitch]

I will tell you that it is tiny, fun, effective, efficient, and avocado...and made for company.

AVOCADO? Sweetheart... if it's avocado in shape or color..
GET TO THE DOCTOR QUICK

 

[toggleswitch]

oy vey.
I'm Steve R too. Don't confuse me! LOL

 

[toggleswitch]

OK OK I SWEAR..

I will be CALM, TAME, ADORABLE, CUDDLY, CIVILZED, KIND POLITE, PC AND NOT AT ALL LIKE MY SCREEN PERSONA.

So can I please request some caffeine?

Scouts' honor.
OR den-mom will open a can of whoop @$$.

 

[roto204]

Yes, we'll have caffeine.

Roger makes amazing coffee.

Or else, I'll make...instant!!

*runs gagging*

:-D

 

[Unimatic1140]

Well a big YAY goes to you guys for getting that machine up and running again! How fun it must be to see the suds splashing around when you've done the all the work (and cursing).

You might try a bit of silicone in the area that the boot keeps slipping off. Let it dry for 24 hours and it should hold it in place for.

 

[laundryboy]

Avacado

Hi guys, I want to guess that the little green machine is a twin tub Panasonic portable, I have been looking for one of those for a long time, I remember my aunt having one, I have her small avacado Hoover dryer now.. So if anyone knows of one arround please let me know, thanks
Laundryboy
Chris NY

 

[toggleswitch]

Be nice to me Chris, and I will see if I can sweet-talk the boys out of it, and get is shipped to you.

I can be VERY persuasive.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Is that avocado number a Bradford, mayhap?

And Nate, is it my eyes, or does the top panel on that Westy overhang the slant front? Is it supposed ta?

Nice machine!

veg

 

[roto204]

Whee!

You go, Veg! It is indeed a Bradford! Laundryboy, it may very well be a Panasonic twinnie, as the instructions on the lid (under the English) are in some sort of Asian-looking character (sorry, not an expert here).

The front on the Westy does overhang. You'll notice that Lightedcontrols' Westy dryer has an overhang too in thread 4104.

 

[westytoploader]

WAY TO GO NATE & ROGER!!

WOOHOO!!! Glad it's up and running again! The slant-front vertical-tub machines are my favorite type of Westy FL...can't wait to see it in person and get some potato-pulley action!! Mine does drip the excess water from the door boot when you open the door after the cycle, and yes, I've learned the hard way by using Mexican detergents (except Ariel OxyBlue which is OK in moderate doses) in my Dual-Tumble, basically a window COVERED in suds! Luckily since my machine is "topless", I can reset the fill and pour a liberal amount of FS through the air gap...LOL, and the suds are gone in seconds. I wouldn't worry about washing a load in it and having it break mid-cycle, especially since there's no transmission to pee oil! That's the difference between a Westinghouse FL and a "rustbucket" BD Kenmore...and since you've done 5 loads you're well on your way

I'm glad this machine isn't suffering from the cabinet rust that has plagued every single Westinghouse and White-Westinghouse FL, right up to the Dual-Tumble machines made from 1989-1994 (I believe); they were idiots to use enamel coating instead of porcelain. A new coat of paint and it'll be good as new!! YAY!

That Bradford twinnie looks VERY kewl as well...now on to finding its Norge-design portable automatic cousin!! ;-)

--Austin, who is DEFINITELY coming to Arizona in March/April 2006...

 

[westytoploader]

Almost forgot...

If you're in need of good-smelling detergent that doesn't oversuds and choke the machine, yet provides enough suds for good washday drama, try Fresh Start! Works wonders in my machine, especially when I rig it to tumble in one direction!

 

[roto204]

Cool!

That's awesome--thanks, Austin!

I'll poke around for some Fresh Start. :-D

Yes, the paint is annoying--chalky enamel abounding! It doesn't have any fatal rust, but it will definitely need repainting, as little rust "blips" have arisen here-and-there. Porcelain would have fared better, but it's almost nice to have the enamel, because then you can easily repaint the whole thing. Either way

Yay!! I'll be looking forward to seeing you in March/April!!! :-D

 

[christfr]

great job

how cool.. am happy that shes up and runnin..yeah! just wish someone out there had and extra changer..then id have mine up and runnin..they are fun to take apart thats for sure.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

christfr st louis mo

What is a "changer" ?

 

[westyslantfront]

Yes, there are plenty of interesting machines with the Tucson Gang....and there are more coming. Nate, Roger, and I will have plenty of surprises by March.

 

[laundryboy]

Hey Toggle, I am a very nice guy LOL,, It would be a dream come true to have the twinie esp in avacado hey Nate any pics of the twinie??
Chris

 

[appnut]

Nate, that MOL machine sure does have lots of style. I gotta pat myself on the back for recognizing there should be dispensers on top (the TOL version). You know, the mind is the first thing to go.

 

[toggleswitch]

are you sure men's MINDS go first?

and for everything else that a man needs there is Cialis and Viagra.

 

[roto204]

LOL

Bob, you were right about the TOL--no worries :-D I wish this machine did have dispensers--sometimes it's handy, especially when there's a tub full of suds and you're looking forlornly around for a place to put fabric softener to save your bee-hind. (And opening the door is NOT an option at that point!)

Happily, it clears suds really quickly in the first rinse :-D

Toggle -- oy!

Chris, I'll have to dig; I don't think I have any twinnie pictures on me. I'll see if we can run a load through it soon and get a few for you

--Nate

 

[laundryboy]

Hi Nate, did you happen to snap any pics of your little green Twinnie...I have the matching Dryer,,