Westy L5 - almost ready to reassemble

[turquoisedude]

Well, after three very busy weekends in August (the Wash-In in Illinois, a trip to North Central Ontario for the Viking dishwasher, then back-to-back trips to pick up the GE dishwasher and Canadian Westy washer/dryer set) I finally got a full weekend in Ogden to work on the L5.
No pressure, but hubby just bought a new car and made it crystal clear that it was going to live in the garage... The nerve!!
So, Saturday I did the first coat of appliance epoxy on the cabinet. The weather was iffy and I was scared that having the open garage door would result in soaking my paintwork. Fortunately the rain held off until later in the day!

 

[turquoisedude]

Paint fumes, anyone?

I am not a professional painter, nor do I want to be! I realize that I should have been wearing some kind of a mask (well after all the paint I sneezed out later in the day).
This is definitely one of those 'Kids - don't do this at home' shots...

 

[turquoisedude]

So while the paint dried...

I started to put the tubs back together. That POR-15 stuff did a great job, but I am still digging out of my fingernails!
There's another piece of advice - wear sturdy gloves if you use that stuff! I used latex gloves and they broke...
The replacement door boot is ready and waiting!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Das Boot!

I cheated and put the door boot on to the front section of the tub before putting the tub halves back together again.
Anyone who has done this before will know what I am about to say - it ain't easy!! I actually enlisted an extra pair of hands to get the 'garter ring' seated properly.

 

[turquoisedude]

Looks like new!

The front part of the boot is now ready to get attached to the cabinet front - hopefully sooner than later!

 

[turquoisedude]

Second coat time

So, after doing some other tinkering and rearranging in the garage (and being careful not to stir up dust!) I put a second coat onto the cabinet. Not perfect but not bad for a rank amateur!!

 

[turquoisedude]

Door panel ready

Looking nice and shiny again!

 

[turquoisedude]

Access Panel

Also bright and shiny again!

 

[turquoisedude]

And while not shiny...

The new solenoid for the speed changer looks good! It works wonderfully - what incredible luck finding a NOS direct replacement for the original one! As you may recall, the solenoid was probably the cause of death for this machine...

 

[turquoisedude]

Space - the final frontier?

Well, I managed to clear some space in the garage for hubby's new car... I'll be posting another thread of what I had to do to the basement!
But I am determined that the L5 will be living in the basement and will be hooked up for regular use!!

 

[aldspinboy]

Fantastic!!! Paul, It's going to be BEAUTIFUL !

Darren k

 

[rayjay]

Paul, What a great machine, I want it, I want it. lol

Once you start using this machine, you will not want to use any other. I had a LT800E from 1984 and love it. I regret throwing it out.

Ray

 

[tlee618]

Paul, that is going to be a beautiful machine when you are done. That tub looks brand new!!! Great job on the boot too. Terry

 

[autowasherfreak]

B E A U T I F U L ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

It's going to look absolutely Fantabulous when it's finished. Just from what you have done so far it looks brand new. Can't wait to see the finished product, and see it in operation!

 

[electron1100]

Brilliant

This is an excellent job and well worth the effort, I wish you every success

Gary

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wow

Hi Paul, that restore looks amazing, we need a quick lesson on Prep n Painting for sure!!! Your garage space looks like its ready for a few more vintage washers with all that space, AND do I spy a Hoover Wringer Washer??

good luck with the spraying, Mike

 

[soberleaf]

i paint like that all the time!

usually on the front porch! to hell with paint masks! let there be fumes and more fumes!

love your pics, the outer cabinet is looking wonderful!

it's great that you found the solonoid that you needed. i know that feeling well! i didn't realize they used that type of speed changer. the 2 westy's that i have had previously used a pulley type changer engaged with a solonoid.

what a shame to waste that big beautiful garage on a new car! it would hold so many dishwashers and washers! oh well, what we do for love!

looking forward to more pics, love these restoration pics!

 

[christfr]

ooooohhhhh lookin good

 

[swestoyz]

Woo hoo - everything is looking good! Hell, better than good - GREAT!

Honestly, better you than me ;-)

Ben

 

[appnut]

Awwright Paul!! Way to go man!! You'll be having a new slant on laundry efforts this winter!!

 

[frigilux]

Looks fantastic, Paul!

I've said it one hundred times, but my hat's off to all of you who do these wonderful restorations! I wouldn't make it past step 1.

 

[gansky1]

All the work is worth it!

 

[toploader55]

Excellent Job Paul.

Looks Great.I'm waiting for the restaurant to close to start a few of my projects. BTW...e-mail me if you want me to pick up that KitchenAid Portable for you. Eddie

 

[christfr]

ohh thats the washer i got to play with at gregs. loved it.. thats what gave me the bug to find one