Vintage Kenmore Portable Washer

[sarahperdue]

or one thing leads to another.

I used my little Kenmore washer the other day and finished up by giving it a good cleaning and waxing... I thought I'd removed the screws on the bottom of the motor unit to give a better polish and cleaning. Alas, as I removed the screws, I heard a couple of nuts fall into the motor compartment. Oh, bother, now I have to take it apart to figure out which screws needed the nuts...

And when I got it open, I could see a lot of old grease leaking around the gear box.

Which brings me to my question--while I'm in here should I repack the gears? and if so, what kind of grease should I use. I have a quart of Kitchen Aid mixer grease that I have used on some Mixmasters. Will this work?

Thanks,
Sarah

And the assorted kitchen gadgets in the inside picture? I was trying to felt a sweater and tossed in extra stuff to increase the agitation.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Just as long as you realize that is not a THOR dishsmasher.

 

[sarahperdue]

Help!

C’mon, guys, help a girl out. Please, petty please.

Sarah

 

[rp2813]

Sarah

I don't think that seepage looks too terrible considering the machine's age.  If you were using it as a daily driver, it might be worth opening things up, but if it were me, I'd consider the the nuts that fell after loosening the screws an omen.

 

[vacman1961]

I wouldn't mess with the gear case, the leakage is not that bad considering it's age. But two things I would advise you, first I would not put it onto of my glass cooktop for fear of scratching the cooktop or cracking it and second, I wouldn't put any metal items in the porcelain wash tub, if the utensils hit the sides it will chip the porcelain and it was rust. It looks like it is in nice shape for its age, I would leave well enough alone and enjoy it. I had a much later version of that washer from Sears that I bought in the 80's, it was harvest gold plastic, and I believe it was made by Rival for Sears, it was a fun little washer.

 

[agiflow3]

Did Whirlpool make this ?

 

[tomturbomatic]

No. Small portable washers were made by Nesco, Knapp Monarch, Proctor Silex and similar small appliance manufacturers.

 

[agiflow3]

Thanks Tom I didn't think so. 2 Sears stores in my area shut their doors this month. The one in Woodbridge NJ and the other one in New Brunswick that has been there for decades.

Are all stores in the US officially closed now ? Are there any still operating ?

 

[panthera]

You absolutely may use the KA lube

I would love pics. I did a similar washer about 12 years ago with the same lube I use for KA and Mixmaster and it is still
running smoothly.