Timer question

[westytoploader]

Hi everyone,

Well, I recently acquired something else. I won't give much away yet, but I will say it's a washer and 22-23 years old at the very least. Those of you who have seen the Studio in its recent 'slightly cramped' state (especially now that I've had to move the portable appliances down there) will know that I need another appliance like another hole in the head, but considering the color I couldn't pass this one up. Will be posting the reveal in about a week or so after it's back up and running again.

Besides a small rust hole in the outer tub I need to patch (not a problem) and a general cleaning up, one thing I noticed was that the timer is VERY stiff. You really have to turn the dial HARD to get it to move. What could be the cause of this, and what is the best spray/oil I could use to lubricate it and free it up? Can even plastic-case timers develop rust in the cams? I do know the machine received *very light* use in a pool-house (which was probably non-climate-controlled and humid), however, if humidity was the case, that doesn't explain why there's virtually no rust on anything else.

Any advice is appreciated! Looking forward to seeing everyone in Tucson later this month!

Thanks,
Austin

 

[drmitch]

Considering the color? Looking foward to this one!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Austin use contact cleaner and electrical lubricant. Do not use anything like WD-40 in a timer because the oil acts as an insulator and could cause the switches inside the timer to not make proper electrical contact during parts of the cycle. Here is what I use, you can get these products at the link below. They are for restoring TV tuners, but work just as well with washing machine timers.

http://www.tubesandmore.com

 

[mayken4now]

Good advise for any timer. Do it before the timer motor fails.

Ok. Austin, reveal.

Steve

 

[panthera]

other possibility

Not likely, but the shaft is damaged.
Or something is jammed.
I would first try Samantha's sprays out. If they don't help, then stop and open 'er up.
Let us know - I am curious.

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Keven,

That could be a possiblity except that the shaft pushes in and pulls out just fine. I just now looked at the repair manual and it said that even the plastic-case timers can be disassembled, which is good. When I have more time in a week or so I'll go get the contact cleaner/lubricant (and a few other things I need) and go at it.

The few 80's White-Westinghouse/Wards washer I saw on Craigslist had stuck timer shafts in the "on" position, or broken knobs. Ours developed the "stuck on" problem as well, shortly before we got rid of it.

And no, this, unfortunately, is not a Westinghouse. Wish it was though ;-)

--Austin

 

[westytoploader]

And...it's older than I thought! Apparently it was made in June of 1978. The agitator was replaced at one point, which sort of threw me off there.

 

[danemodsandy]

Colour:

Ahhhhh:

June of 1978, and a colour unusual enough to warrant a mention.

Sounds like it might be a Kenmore in Platinum. Other colours available then were white, coffee (unshaded "new" version of coppertone) and gold.

 

[danemodsandy]

Oh, Yeah...

Forgot the dread almond.

 

[panthera]

well, that is good news

A bent shaft being nie on to impossible to fix. Keep us up on your progress!

 

[gansky1]

"Small rust hole in the outer tub..."
"agitator has been replaced which threw me off..."
"even plastic case timers can be disassembled..."

My vote is a General Electric or a derivation thereof.

 

[mixfinder]

OIL in WD40!?!?!?

Robert,
Please indulge me with some technical discussion of WD40. A while back in a post about Sunbeam Mixers, I said I used WD40. I was sniped and the reader was informed by the sniper that WD40 is not a lubricant, it is a drying agent. In this thread you advise not using WD40 because it is oil. Who is right and what is the rest of the story. I've had my Tiara sideways every since.
Kelly

This is a picture of Sunbeam MM in Sandelwood which I have owned since 1968 which has operated, faithfully, without a repair.