Unfortunate news about the ‘63 Whirlpool

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maytag85

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May 11, 2017
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Sean A806
Hi folks, I have some unfortunate news about my ‘63 Whirlpool. The timer seems to no longer function as intended on the gentle cycle (haven’t got around to seeing what it would do on the wash n wear cycle). So here’s what happened, back in January the cam assembly separated in half (no idea how that happened), took the machine out of service and set it to the side. JB-Welded the cam assembly back together and used it a few times on the regular cycle and a few times on the super wash cycle, everything functioned as intended without issues. However, I decided to test it on the gentle cycle to be sure everything worked 100% before putting it back into service, it agitates and fills like it’s supposed to but here’s where the issues are: doesn’t spin on the gentle cycle and it spray rinses as though the valve is stuck open, timer advances to the rinse, fills up and does the same thing towards the end of the gentle cycle. Checked the spin solenoid and mercury capsule switch and those appear to be fine. Not sure how to go about fixing this issue with the timer (that’s why I created the thread about Midwest Timer Service) but all it appears to be is the cam assembly and nothing else. Kind of bummed about this, but I’m sure I’ll find a way to either have the timer rebuilt (up in the air at this point) or find a way to have a new cam assembly made (probably will be difficult to do) or see if anyone has a NOS 1963 Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII timer here in the forum.
 
Did some research and the part number is 364996. There’s a few on eBay with the part number of 364994, seems to be close but not an exact match.
 
That's the unfortunate thing about rebuilding these old washers. Everything may function mechanically as intended but if the timer goes out, the machine is no good anymore. Impressive that it lasted 60 years though, that's pretty amazing actually. I hope you can get this issue worked out.
 
Reply #2

Same here, everything else on the timer appears to be fine, just the cam assembly that’s messed up. If there were a way to 3D print the cam assembly or have another one made, the machine would be back up and running again. Even contacted MTS to see if they would rebuild the timer and unfortunately they don’t rebuild timers anymore, kind of a foolish for their business plan since it means fewer customers for them.
 
Reply #4

Here it is, the very front of the cam assembly separated from essentially the back half. JB-Welded it back together and I think it’s off kilter enough to cause it to not want functional properly on the gentle cycle.

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Reply #6

Here’s a picture of the timer dial. I think your 1963 Whirlpool Imperial has a similar but mine has everything built into the timer while the Imperial has separate temperature selections but otherwise has the same if not similar features to the Mark XII.

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Possible Replacement

Hi Sean, sorry for the delay responding. The timer I have may work for you, but it's from 1967. It has the same cycles yours does, but with the updated PP cycle. From a cycling standpoint it should work, but not sure it it will fit your machine (you may have to make a modification or two). I've attached pics so you can compare it to yours. If you think it will work you can have for the shipping cost. Hope it will work!

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I think it may work, but looks like it may not fit and possibly may have to do some modifications to get it to work. Does the updated Wash N Wear/Permanent Press run at regular speed or run at gentle speed?
 
Are the temperatures built into the timer? If not, may have to modify the timer so it’ll fill with the correct temperatures on the wash and rinse.
 
Timer for a 1963 mark 12 whirlpool

Hi Sean and Alan, unfortunately, the timer Alan has will not work on your washer without a lot of modifications it would be easier to fix the original timer.

In addition to not having the temperatures built into the timer, you have to be able to mount the stop lock plate to the front of the timer the shaft is different,

John
 
Reply #13

Thanks Al. Definitely a favorite out of all the machines I own, hopefully I can find a replacement or possibly find some way to 3D print the cam assembly since that’s all that is really wrong with it. Rebuilt the transmission 2 years ago back in May of 2021, it’s been in and out of service but has probably done at least 700+ loads of laundry since I rebuilt the transmission. May be a bit much to use a machine that’s almost 60 years old as a daily driver but really are only 45 years old since they were used from 1963 to 2005 and 3 years since I’ve owned them since 2020. If Midwest Timer Service still rebuilt timers, I’d practically would have a machine that’s been rebuilt but since MTS doesn’t rebuild timers (kind of foolish from a business perspective since it means one less customer for them), kind of bummed but I guess that’s how life goes at times.

This is what the gears looked like in the transmission when I rebuilt it 2 years ago, hardly if any wear at all.

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Now here’s a question I have, is it even possible to use the cam assembly from the timer Alan has? That’s all that I need to repair the timer on the 1963 RCA Whirlpool Imperial Mark XII.
 
Hi Sean,

I consulted my old 1992 whirlpool parts catalog, which has all the timers that had been used in their automatic washers from the 1950s to 1992, and that part number you listed is not coming up either as an original or as a replacement part. Can you verify either the original timer part number or the part number of what is in the machine now?

The original timer is probably a five digit part number. I am hoping that we can find some more recent sub numbers that might be in stock somewhere on eBay, etc.

Gordon
 
Reply #16

Hi Gordon,

The part number I came up with was from a friend Mikey Randall who used to be a repair tech for Sears many years ago, messaged him about the timer since he mentioned about MTS (Midwest Timer Service) but quickly found out that they no longer rebuild timers. After some searching around, that’s the part number he came up with 364996.

There are numbers 793-004-1, 84147, NM508-109-2, March 1963. Not sure if those mean anything but those are the only other numbers I can find on the timer itself.
 
That number 84147. Looks like the part number for the timer but you need the original cross reference book. I have one somewhere I don’t have time to look for it this morning but that number probably crosses over to the timer you need.

There’s a good chance I have a timer for that machine, but again it takes quite an effort to look for it.

I’m looking for someone to come and help organize all the whirlpool Kenmore parts. There are just boxes and boxes of them.

John
 
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