Westy L5 - Is it a Laundromat yet? Is it a Laundromat yet? Is it a Laundromat yet?

[turquoisedude]

And judging by this picture taken yesterday, I think the answer has to be YES!!
After a lot of frustration on the weekend with trying to stop the water leakage from the fron door, Hubby actually helped me engineer a solution that holds water!
Here's the cabinet, mostly reassembled. I still have to touch up the maroon paint on the Westinghouse name plate that would go on the top panel and I cannot for the life of me remember how the lower access panel clamps are attached to the frame... I am hoping I took a picture...

 

[turquoisedude]

The "before" picture...

The basement 'workshop' was getting a little out of control by the end of the day Saturday... I was driven to get that leak issue resolved, what can I say...

 

[turquoisedude]

The leaky door

I suddenly got the idea that maybe the door itself had not been reassembled properly, so I took it apart and tried adding gaskets. That just made things worse. After a couple of tries, I went for the analytical approach. With just the inner door panel on, it became clear why the leak was so bad. The door glass just didn't make enough contact with the boot. See that gap between the door boot and the bottom of door opening? That was the problem!

 

[whirlaway]

Really Pretty

It looks like brand new.You did such an outstanding job,as usual,Wonderful,,,Bobby

 

[toploader55]

Beautiful

Looks like you just uncrated it. Excellent Job !!!
BTW, you and I should get together as I am also gainfully unemployed for the winter . LOL

 

[turquoisedude]

Closed-cell foam to the rescue!

With Hubby's help, I removed the old door gasket completely and we built up an overlapped layer of foam on the door glass itself.

 

[turquoisedude]

The new gasket is thicker

But I can still get the door closed! It extends right over the door panel, but that is what we were aiming for. Now, is it enough to stop the water flow???

 

[turquoisedude]

Water stays in the tub!

For a change... LOL Seriously, the new foam tape really did the trick! The picture doesn't show the water sloshing around in there that well, but it was!

 

[turquoisedude]

Look Ma, no leaks!

We also resolved the leak coming from the water fill inlet - A couple of washers around the fill tube stopped the drip that accumulated at the bottom of the tub!

 

[westingman123]

yes, it IS a laundromat!!

Well, I've been awaiting this thread with bated breath. My L5 has been sitting there looking at me with sadness. When you get yours done and take a breath, I'd love to e'mail or chat with you about the process!! Your cabinet turned out really well, I was considering the powder coat route, but I may now be convinced otherwise. Congrats on a beautiful restoration!

 

[turquoisedude]

Coming soon....

The maiden wash! I still would like to buff up a few rough spots on the cabinet, and I still have issues with that spin solenoid being so blasted noisy... I hooked up the solenoid from the CL8 and it is silent! I am convinced that the solenoid I put on the L5 is not right for this machine somehow. Thinking I should swap out the CL8 one and then find a new one for the CL8...
Now the hard part - I won't be getting to work on the Westy again until the weekend of November 7th and 8th! I will be counting the days....

 

[revvinkevin]

YAY PAUL!!!!!

Congrats on the amazing restoration of such a beautiful machine! I'm glad you were able to solve those annoying little "last minute" problems!

Can you tell me what the differences are between the L-5 and the CL-8 please?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[turquoisedude]

Just different models!

The L5 is an earlier model (the first to feature the 'Weigh to Save' door) made between 1949 and 1953; the CL8 is a Canadian-made version of the L8 made between 1954 and (I think) 1956. That's the one I picked up this summer with the matching dryer. Guess what my next project is?? LOL
BTW - for the changer, the oil I used was called Heavy Duty Gear Oil, SAE 80-90. I got that in a auto-parts place.

 

[christfr]

its so so cute i love it....... just like mine yeah for you .. now we want a vid of her running

 

[circlew]

Great work Paul

That's an earlier version of the machine my Mom got when I was a baby. It was a '56 Deluxe, so guess it must have been an L8. I took it apart when we got a new one in '65, and I kept many of the parts including the tub, but most have been thrown away except for the knob, cord and LaundroFile. Wish I'd kept the rest so I could give them to people on here who need them.

 

[gyrafoam]

Beautiful job! Looks wonderful.
As for that solenoid it just wouldn't sound right without a healthy "WHACK"!

 

[swestoyz]

YAY Paul! While it has been a saga - without all the hard work it wouldn't have been as fun. You have shown a very difficult principle to learn - at this point in the game, ingenuity is what is going to keep these machines washing.

Congrats!!!

Ben

 

[golittlesport]

Beautiful!!! Just like my Aunt Margie had in her kitchen in Buffalo, NY.

 

[turquoisedude]

That solenoid is still troubling me...

It's not the loud whack when the solenoid is powered up that is the issue; the darned thing buzzes like a swarm of killer bees on steroids. The one on the still-unrestored CL8 is virtually silent. Methinks the "compatible" replacement is not all that compatible. I thought it might be a power issue but that does not appear to be the case... SIGH...