mickeyd
Well-known member
OOPS: WHO'S
Snooze ~ LOL
Snooze ~ LOL
Who's That Lady?
- Thread starter turquoisedude
- Start date
Paul,
Would this help?
lawrence
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-196...516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257af6e7dc
Would this help?
lawrence
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-196...516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257af6e7dc
turquoisedude
Well-known member
Thanks Lawrence! Unfortunately someone beat me to it... dang!!
More on water levels...
I am not sure why I didn't think of this earlier, but most of the owner's manuals I've been collecting for the early through late 1960s Kenmores mention in the controls section how much water is going to be provided with each fill level on the water level switch when the machine has a selectable switch.
LO is usually 11 gallons, MEDIUM being 14 gallons, and HI being 18 gallons. This was so nearly universal in these various manuals that I considered that a common setting in all the 29-inch standard capacity machines until I saw that Kenmore service letter to the field. Machines that had only one level filled to 18 gallons. Machines that had two were usually 11 and 18 gallon settings. Machines that were infinite were selectable anywhere between 11 and 18 gallons. See a trend there?
In 1978/1979 max fill dropped to 17 gallons, probably to tweak the rating on the yellow energy guide. The other settings didn't change.
Being that the tub is full at 18 gallons, which I think is about an inch below the rim on the inside of the wash basket, an 11-gallon LO setting would would be pretty much right at the 2/3 full mark.
One thing I've noticed, and we found it out first-hand with Andy's beautiful '66 Lady Kenmore at the April Wash-In - his level switch, set to the lowest of LO, had the tub 3/4 full or more and still going, and we started to be concerned that the machine would overflow. It didn't, but obviously the switch was not functioning properly. I think after several fills and tweaking of the switch, it was working better. We decided that after a long period of non-use, it had become in-accurate or 'stuck'. I've had the opposite happen, where machines fail to fill all the way, and as time goes on, they fill several inches lower than they did originally.
G
I am not sure why I didn't think of this earlier, but most of the owner's manuals I've been collecting for the early through late 1960s Kenmores mention in the controls section how much water is going to be provided with each fill level on the water level switch when the machine has a selectable switch.
LO is usually 11 gallons, MEDIUM being 14 gallons, and HI being 18 gallons. This was so nearly universal in these various manuals that I considered that a common setting in all the 29-inch standard capacity machines until I saw that Kenmore service letter to the field. Machines that had only one level filled to 18 gallons. Machines that had two were usually 11 and 18 gallon settings. Machines that were infinite were selectable anywhere between 11 and 18 gallons. See a trend there?
In 1978/1979 max fill dropped to 17 gallons, probably to tweak the rating on the yellow energy guide. The other settings didn't change.
Being that the tub is full at 18 gallons, which I think is about an inch below the rim on the inside of the wash basket, an 11-gallon LO setting would would be pretty much right at the 2/3 full mark.
One thing I've noticed, and we found it out first-hand with Andy's beautiful '66 Lady Kenmore at the April Wash-In - his level switch, set to the lowest of LO, had the tub 3/4 full or more and still going, and we started to be concerned that the machine would overflow. It didn't, but obviously the switch was not functioning properly. I think after several fills and tweaking of the switch, it was working better. We decided that after a long period of non-use, it had become in-accurate or 'stuck'. I've had the opposite happen, where machines fail to fill all the way, and as time goes on, they fill several inches lower than they did originally.
G
I found the document I was referring to above, and I'm going to correct a couple things I mentioned. First, its in the 1968 publication for 1969 and 1970 Kenmores, not the earlier models. Also, I think I have a better understanding now why Andy's machine may have filled so high as well...we thought it was a bad pressure switch, but now it seeem not!
Being that this is one of Robert's ephemera documents, I won't quote it in too much detail and thus spoil the fun if people want to purchase it, but it quotes that the water level revision is for models equipped with the Vari-Flex agitator. Max fill is raised from 11" to 12.25". That is more than a ten percent increase.
It goes on to state that all models which specify the Vari-Flex have a LO water level of 8", and those that specify the Roto-Flex have a 9" LO level.
A nine-inch LO water level on a Roto-Flex is only two inches below the max fill of 11-inches. Very interesting!! There is obviously much less variation in these machines than the more evenly spaced 11, 14, and 18 gallon fills.
I always wondered what the reasons where behind the demise of the Roto-Flex afer only four or five years, but this may provide some logical insight.
Gordon
Being that this is one of Robert's ephemera documents, I won't quote it in too much detail and thus spoil the fun if people want to purchase it, but it quotes that the water level revision is for models equipped with the Vari-Flex agitator. Max fill is raised from 11" to 12.25". That is more than a ten percent increase.
It goes on to state that all models which specify the Vari-Flex have a LO water level of 8", and those that specify the Roto-Flex have a 9" LO level.
A nine-inch LO water level on a Roto-Flex is only two inches below the max fill of 11-inches. Very interesting!! There is obviously much less variation in these machines than the more evenly spaced 11, 14, and 18 gallon fills.
I always wondered what the reasons where behind the demise of the Roto-Flex afer only four or five years, but this may provide some logical insight.
Gordon
autowasherfreak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
- Messages
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<span style="font-size: large; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Those old WP/KM belt drive machines, were very quiet. I find their sounds quit relaxing. </span>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">PS: She's beautiful
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<span style="font-size: large; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-size: large; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">PS: She's beautiful
</span><span style="font-size: large; font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">
</span>
Thanks for tracking down the documentation concerning the revamped water levels for Kenmores, Gordon, and thanks for sharing your Kenmore expertise.
I was so used to 1959-1960 water levels that I was taken aback when I saw the water level I knew as medium (or "halfway between LO and HI" as our manual stated) being referred to as low.
It's true: You learn something new everyday.[this post was last edited: 2/20/2013-07:33]
I was so used to 1959-1960 water levels that I was taken aback when I saw the water level I knew as medium (or "halfway between LO and HI" as our manual stated) being referred to as low.
It's true: You learn something new everyday.[this post was last edited: 2/20/2013-07:33]
turquoisedude
Well-known member
Update on the Lady's performance
Not long after the Lady Kenmore moved to the Ogden Laundry, I observed some weirdness with the permanent press cycle. At the cool-down phase of the cycle, the machine just stopped on me. I used another cycle selection to complete the load of clothes but I was not amused. I didn't rush into any immediate repairs ('cause we all know how much I like to jump to conclusions... LOL). I studied the literature I have on the machine and it seemed to me that the 'stall' was because the washer should have been letting in cold water. I tested that theory with the 'cold wash' button - I saw right away that there was no water flowing. I feared that there was yet another issue with the fill valve (I had lots of fun with that in my attempts to keep the original valve intact). Well, I let this all percolate for a few weeks and today, after managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with the GE Combo last week, I decided it would be worth a careful look.
First thing I did was to test the cold solenoid by powering it with a direct AC cord. Damn thing worked... So I figured the next logical thing to test was the wiring.
And there it was - right in my face... When I first got the washer, I had noticed there were two leads in the console that were not connected to anything. I foolishly assumed these were in place for a suds-saver (not on this particular machine). Well, we all know what happens when we assume, right?
I had forgotten that I have a schematic wiring diagram for this machine. When I checked it, one of the wires was for the cold solenoid and the other for the fabric softener dispenser solenoid. Reconnecting them to timer took me about 5 seconds. After that, I had my cold water flowing again. YAY!
Now, I need to test the full permanent-press cycle. This Lady's about to be "married" to a Baltimore Beau, so she HAS to be perfect, right??
Not long after the Lady Kenmore moved to the Ogden Laundry, I observed some weirdness with the permanent press cycle. At the cool-down phase of the cycle, the machine just stopped on me. I used another cycle selection to complete the load of clothes but I was not amused. I didn't rush into any immediate repairs ('cause we all know how much I like to jump to conclusions... LOL). I studied the literature I have on the machine and it seemed to me that the 'stall' was because the washer should have been letting in cold water. I tested that theory with the 'cold wash' button - I saw right away that there was no water flowing. I feared that there was yet another issue with the fill valve (I had lots of fun with that in my attempts to keep the original valve intact). Well, I let this all percolate for a few weeks and today, after managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with the GE Combo last week, I decided it would be worth a careful look.
First thing I did was to test the cold solenoid by powering it with a direct AC cord. Damn thing worked... So I figured the next logical thing to test was the wiring.
And there it was - right in my face... When I first got the washer, I had noticed there were two leads in the console that were not connected to anything. I foolishly assumed these were in place for a suds-saver (not on this particular machine). Well, we all know what happens when we assume, right?
I had forgotten that I have a schematic wiring diagram for this machine. When I checked it, one of the wires was for the cold solenoid and the other for the fabric softener dispenser solenoid. Reconnecting them to timer took me about 5 seconds. After that, I had my cold water flowing again. YAY!
Now, I need to test the full permanent-press cycle. This Lady's about to be "married" to a Baltimore Beau, so she HAS to be perfect, right??
turquoisedude
Well-known member
Yay - it worked!
Over the weekend, I did not one, but two loads of permant-press items to try out the latest 'tweaks. I was thrilled to find that the cold solenoid kicked in when it should have AND the fabric softener dispenser fired at the right time!
I will definitely have to make a video of the 'cool down' phase of the wash cycle - my now-dead 66 Inglis had that feature and I forgot how neat it was. Stay tuned!
Over the weekend, I did not one, but two loads of permant-press items to try out the latest 'tweaks. I was thrilled to find that the cold solenoid kicked in when it should have AND the fabric softener dispenser fired at the right time!
I will definitely have to make a video of the 'cool down' phase of the wash cycle - my now-dead 66 Inglis had that feature and I forgot how neat it was. Stay tuned!
Looks to be
in beautiful shape Paul! Love the color! Don't forget to use the scrubber cap on hubby's collars so he shines at work!! We wanna see vids of that too! And then the ironing to flat as a pancake, then Hubby will be singing your praises!!!
in beautiful shape Paul! Love the color! Don't forget to use the scrubber cap on hubby's collars so he shines at work!! We wanna see vids of that too! And then the ironing to flat as a pancake, then Hubby will be singing your praises!!!
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