Turquoisedude tackles another Timeline....

[turquoisedude]

Insprired by the recent acquisition and rehab of that 55 Norge dryer, I figured my next project should be the 1955 Norge AW450 washer.  

 

This is the washer that surfaced in Syracuse New York in spring of 2016, just months after I had rescued a 1956 AW432 from central Massachusetts (and I wish to sincerely thank launderess for posting the craigslist ad for that '55!!).   I bought the machine with the intention of using it as a parts donor for the 56.   I remember that I got it going pretty quickly (the experience of reviving the '56 was still fresh in my withered brain) but that it had leakage issues. 

 

Of course I had to drag it out of mothballs for an evaluation.   It started right up, no sparks, no flames, no burnt outlets... LOL 

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Recalling there had been a leak, I still tried a partial tub load of water. 

 

It looked good and on the initial spin, I did not oberserve any leaks!

 

 

[turquoisedude]

Feeling really brave, I filled the tub for the next test.  

 

I am always in awe at how a Norge moves the water around!!

 

 

[turquoisedude]

And the spin this time around.... Well....  I found the leak, I guess!

 

 

[turquoisedude]

I observed that the water was coming from the centre of the outer tub, right above the drive pulley and brake.  After seeing this, I recalled that the likely cause is the boot where the drive shaft for the tub and transmission assembly goes.   

 

Hubby was away at a conference in New Orleans so he couldn't kvetch about the new lake in the garage... 

 

[turquoisedude]

I've been reviewing the Norge doctrine since I got the dryer running, but I was a little scared to try removing the tub and transmission.  As it turned out, it was really not a big deal!  After removing the three bolts on the drive shaft, the tub and tranny popped right out.  The hardest part may well have been removing the cabinet from the washer base. 

 

That tub and transmission design reminds me of the '66 Blackstone, but I digress....  

 

[turquoisedude]

And what have we here?  Looks like a family of mousies spent the winter in the tub snacking on bird seed and insulation...  GGGRRR!    

 

Fortunately, it was just a wet mess that I had to deal with; the rotten little rodents hadn't chewed any rubber parts or power cables. 

 

Note to self: ask Santa for a cat this year.... 

 

[turquoisedude]

Once the outer tub was cleaned out, I got to see the infamous boot.  And no wonder it leaked... That boot is pretty far gone!

 

Fortunately, ganksy1 (Greg) had contacted me when I first got the 55 Norge to let me know that a VW axle boot could be used as a substitute for the original BW Norge boot.  I managed to find one today and my order has been placed.

 

It's actually looking good for this machine now.  I was sure that I'd wind up cobbling together one machine from this one and the 56;  however given the scarcity of Norge washers, I also felt compelled to at least try and rehabilitate the 55.  Of course I still have work to do on the 56 (I think the motor bearings are shot) but I am now feeling confident about working on these machines.  Fingers crossed!!

 

[gansky1]

More excellent work, the Norge is a fun machine to dig into. Hope you have good luck with the boot, a little German influence never hurt any washer

 

[appnut]

Paul, you are time less in determination. 

 

[hippiedoll]

WOWZERS...

That outer tub!
And that boot!

I hope once you get the VW axle boot on there, the NORGE will be ready to do the TWIST once again after all these years!

Come on baby, let's do the twist...
D

 

[norgeway]

When u start washing in that thing, you will fall in love!

THATS a REAL washer!

 

[turquoisedude]

What's lurking in the garage?

If trolls live under bridges, what horrible creature might be nesting in a Norge?? 

 

All right, enough messing around... there's work to be done!

 

[turquoisedude]

I apologize for not documenting this better, however, I was helped by Hubby with the 're-booting' of the 55 Norge. 

 

Recall that I found a VW axle boot; well it arrived just before the weekend = perfect timing!   The upper opening of the boot was too small for the Norge washer shaft opening, however.  I couldn't stretch it enough, but it looked like if it was (carefully) cut, it would fit.  This is where Hubby saved the day - my shuddery hands would have turned tha boot into a pile of rubber shavings no doubt.   The base of the boot had to be trimmed - there was a slight lip at the bottom that would have interfered with the clamp that attaches the boot to the bottom of the inner tub.  And the opening had to be widened; we cut the top protrusion right off.  That had to be stretched to fit the upper part of the drive shaft opening.  We managed to fit it, but then had a good deal of cursing to get the cursed Corbin clamp over the top ridge.  We did it and I did a brief water test - no leakage observed!  Hubby then suggested that we get the tub back in to see if the teeth of the tub drive would engage.  They did, but I now realized that I had no pictures....  I tried running water into the outer tub with the wash tub back in and observed no leaks once again.  At this point I thought to hell with removing the tub to take pictures.

[this post was last edited: 7/23/2018-14:42]

 

[turquoisedude]

I also didn't show the before and after pictures of the outside of the wash tub and the inner tub after de-scaling.  This washer must have been used in a really bad hard water area!

 

Well, knowing the boot was solid, I figured it would be time to attack the cabinet.  My first thought was to repaint it, but with a good cleaning, I think I can get away without it.  

 

That tub lid is another matter... I left it too late in the day yesterday to start painting it, so that will happen later this week with any luck.  

 

[turquoisedude]

My last cleaning task was to try and remove the residue from the lip of the tub opening.  It was much easier doing this with the lid off, trust me.  That grey scaly build-up was really ticking me off; I finally got it removed using...wait for it... steel wool!  I need to touch up a couple of chips and then figure out how to re-attach the inner lid gasket when I get back to this later in the week. 

 

I am still surprised that I had practically written this machine off, but here I am - getting it back into shape.  Amazing what a matching dryer will motivate one to do.... LOL 

 

[stricklybojack]

.
The scuzz behind the lid must in all cases be EXERCISED...

 

[hippiedoll]

Looking good there!

Wow, you're really coming along & making progress! Keep up the amazing job! Can't wait to see it all finished!
)

 

[mrsalvo]

My hat is off to you!! Very impressed with your determination and know how. I can't wait to see the finished restoration. Thank you for saving the Norge, one of my all time favorite machines.

Barry