Work begins on the1957 Speed Queen TOL

[jetcone]

This machines hails from my familie's hometown Vancouver BC. It was Ken Seto's mom's washer then his sisters washer. It was well used and well cared for. But even after 57 years of use there are some things that need addressing. And those things are usually buried deep in the mechanics.

 

I found the transmission to be completely frozen. So I started there.

 

 

 

[jetcone]

Getting the belts off was a chore!

Since the transmission was frozen it took herculian knuckle effort to move things enough to get the belts off the pump pulley but here is the tranny out on the lab bench:

 

[jetcone]

The dark goo in the

tranny was the lubricating oil in 1957. Today it is basically mud. No flow no lubrication and because these transmissions are exposed to atmosphere it has oxidized and evaporated so that the factory fill level is no longer there.

 

 

[jetcone]

First a full cleaning

to find out whats up with the frozen pinion gearing, thats the little post beside the big wheel.

 

You can see from the photographic evidence what happened :

This type of transmission depends on flowing oil to operate, it has pinions sunk in large bearings with oil galleys cut into the pinions, these galleys pump oil up and around the pinions and bearings. If they can't do that the pinions will overheat and "gall".You can see the pitting on the shaft caused by lack of lubrication.

 

The thing is you can keep running these trannys if you use them everyday,long after the oil has lost it lubricity and won't notice this as the mechanism doesn't have time to lock up. But one day it will and this one did.

 

[jetcone]

I clean my mechanisms with Kerosene

its a large molecule that is almost impossible to soak into the skin or breath but you should work outdoors, another great cleaner for this is simple green. But I didn't want to use water in the tranny.

 

You can see me picking out oxidized oil from the teeth of the pinion and big gear. This is where great pressure develops between the teeth of the gearing and this is where oil is needed most. This "stuff" has turned too  a caked mud-varnish and has to be scraped out.

 

In photos 12& 13 you can see me cleaning out the oil galley in the bearings, very important! This is where the oil is pumped to after lubing the bearing surfaces, it must be returned to the tranny case otherwise a lot of pressure will build up and lubrication will stop.

 

Its important to realize every transmission of this type will have oil screws, and portholes where the oil must flow through.

Tomorrow- refilling with Royal Purple and demonstrating the full 210 degree arc-uate action!

 

 

 

 

[ken]

What a beautiful set. Glad to see they're being brought back to working order. Would it have been acceptable to cut the belt instead of having to fight so to get it off? You probably plan on installing a new one?

 

[washman]

My god!

Finally, an Arc-Cuate 210 torn down, revealing all it's machined glory!

These pics are without a doubt the best I have seen of an old SQ being repaired.

Total respect to you for getting a hold of this machine and taking the time and effort to put her back in working order!

Newbies take note of this: notice the metal in this thing, the machine cut gears and the overall quality of the design. You absolutely will not find this on any modern machine today. That is why this machine will be rebuildable and back in working order in no time!

Now pardon me while I drool as I download and save these pics for posterity sake!

And finally, please keep us posted on the progress. If you could upload some vids to youtube, I would be most grateful!

 

[yogitunes]

WOW....haven't seen one of these apart in years.....keep up the great work, and pics, I am watching with a close eye to every detail...

if possible Jon, can you do a quick vid of the gears in motion with the top cover off?...

there has been discussion over that 210 degree stroke, now may be the chance to actually measure it...there is also something about that 'oscillation swing' that gives these a power stroke....just a unique design compared to most rack and pinion trannies...

 

[washman]

Ok I am going out on a limb

How about a wash in or just a road trip? I'd love to come up there and see this fine machine in action!

Sorry for inviting myself but I am overjoyed at this project and also will be following closely your progress.

 

[yogitunes]

I didn't want to push the idea myself....but this would have made a great restore for a wash-in type class gathering.....

but that only comes from my admiration for these solid tub machines....

question, what does the 3rd toggle switch for the washer do?....it states "Time", but what function does it play or control?

 

[jetcone]

Wow I haven't really looked over the

controls yet. I will look into the "Time" question. As I said stay tuned for the 210 arc-uate demonstration folks.

Yogi although it would be great to have a wash-in class it takes too long to restore so that's why I create these threads.
I'll look over the calendar and maybe we can have a wash in in my tiny basment!

 

[cadman]

Jon...

Hats off to you- What a messy job, I can't believe the consistency of that oil! Will stay tuned for updates......

 

[hippiedoll]

jetcone...

i have to say you take some really GREAT pictures of that transmission. i can't believe what that oil looked like. it reminded me of the melted chocolate fountains that they are starting to have at some buffet places.

even though i don't understand the workings of the transmission or how it works, i enjoyed looking at your pictures. and i still can't believe how clean you got the inside of the transmission from all that oil!!!

GREAT job there jetcone.
and THANK YOU, for sharing the rebuilding process. i will be following this thread to see how it's all coming along for you!!!

cheering for you on this side of the computer....

)

 

[turquoisedude]

Yikes, Jon, I had no idea that a washer's  transmission oil could get that thick and gooey...   Great pictures and play-by-play - I'll be ready if that 57 SQ that was dangled over me in Montreal ever surfaces again...LOL 

 

[nmassman44]

Jon thats an amazing teardown of that transmission. Did I see right in one of the last set of pics there was a number imprinted in the lower transmission casing in photo 4 of 4 10-21? I wonder if thats the casting date when they made the master casting from which all these transmissions are made from. That transmission was well made...not like what the SQ Eversmooth aluminum transmissions of today.
I remember the sound of that Arcuate transmission in my mom's SQ washers as it would wash kinda like a popping sound on each stroke.Very powerful sounding. Cant wait to see what else you do to these two.

 

[toploader55]

Can't wait to see and hear these running

The Washer will bring back memories of the "Speed Wash" on Main Street in Buzzard's Bay.

Back in the Early 60s, they had 4 Banks of 6 Speed Queens. A busy day there was a "Solenoid Symphony".

Another stellar restoration in progress.

 

[jetcone]

Eddie

I love that term "solenoid symphony"! The frog pond in Chatham had the same thing in the '60s! Banks of yellow speed queens delishus!

 

 

 

[swestoyz]

Wow, very nice Jon!  I love a good transmission tear down.  I'm somewhat spoiled by my pop's shop.  He has a solvent tank in which stuff like this gets soaked and cleaned in.  One of the bonus points of having an automotive hobby background, too.

 

One quick question - did you cut a new gasket for the case?  Looking forward to seeing how things turn out!

 

Ben

 

[jetcone]

Tranny operation

Ben, the original gasket seems fine so my new thing is to try to keep the machine as original as possible.

 

Here is the tranny operating.

 

 

Next vid will be proof positive of 210 Arc-Cuate action!

 

 

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fyW2UBi2m4