What is the problem?

[losangeles]

Hello AW, It has been awhile since I last posted. I apologize. I just do not have much of a collection to talk about, until now. A fellow AW member suggested I search out the vast amount of knowledge contained herein.

So what is the problem? I have been working on restoring a !963 Frigidaire Imperial Multimatic model WIA-63. I got this machine back in April this year and have been working to restore it in fits and starts ever since. I have replaced the water inlet valve, a timer and repaired the load selector and cycle selector, and got a new agitator made by our guy Bud in Atlanta. ( Man it looks very sharp) Today I finally got the washer all put back together and was ready to put it through a dry run. I added water to the pump and set it to agitate, and agitate it did. There was no tub turning or attempt to spin while agitating. Let it do that for about 5 minutes, then set it to spin. Nothing happened! The tub turned about 1/4 to 1/2 a turn counter clockwise and stopped dead. With the motor running I tried the turn the tub manually, but no go. Unplugged, I tried to turn the belts and pulley and again no go. I really want to see this machine wash. If there is anyone that would offer suggestions, advice on what to do next I will greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening. Tommy (Losangeles)

 

[Unimatic1140]

Sounds very odd

The tub should be turning clockwise to spin, not counter-clockwise. Can you turn the belts in a clockwise direction and see if the tub turns? The clutch wheel moves up and down slightly depending on the direction the motor is spinning to engage either the upper belt or lower belt. That clutch shaft which is threaded may need some lubrication.

This video shows the proper direction for the tub turning...

 

[swestoyz]

Robert's suggestion to check the helix (screw) clutch is a good idea, however I'm wondering if the problem is much bigger.

You mention that the motor was still running when you tried to move the tub by itself. Was the motor spinning the drive pulley, and the belt remained idle while the pulley was moving? You also mention that you weren't able to manually move the pulleys. Were you trying to move the pulley on the motor, or the pulleys on the transmission? If you put the timer back on wash does the transmission still agitate?

A very similar issue happened when I found a '63 Imperial several years ago. It agitated ok during testing, spun a few times, but after one last agitate/spin combo the whole transmission just stopped. When ended up happening is one of the dozen or so clips on the brake package came loose and lodged itself within the agitate arm at the base of the transmission, causing the bearing on the agitate shaft to separate (it tore the bearing race and the ball bearings fell out), and seized the transmission. It also didn't help that the transmission oil had turned to chocolate milk. In the automotive world that is the sign of water getting into the lower end.

I ended up rebuilding the transmission by rebuilding the brake assembly (clips from a spare used brake and new linings) and using parts from a spare transmission to rebuild the agitate arm. Getting it back together is a chore, but doable.

I truly hope this isn't the issue, Tommy. The inner workings of the Mutlimatic aren't the easiest to work on. Let us know what you find out.

Ben

 

[losangeles]

What is the Problem

Thank you Ben for you insight and suggestion. I can only hope and pray that the problem is not that complicated. My knowledge and expertise in this kind of repair is in as much short supply as the parts are.