Work Continues on the Kelvinator

[foraloysius]

Ah! The famous Magic Minute!! Robert, you are doing a great job on this washer.

 

[westytoploader]

Wonderful to see the Kelvi in action! YAY! A few questions: Is the plastic-finned agitator splashier than the rubber-finned ABC? And, with the sloshy agitation and the Magic Minute, why don't I see it oversuds like a Frigidaire when washing? Is the action different, or is it just the fact that you have to regulate the amount of detergent to avoid such a problem, as with Frigidaires and vintage FLs? I have to watch the amount of Tide I put in the Bendix or there will be a buildup of thick, heavy suds that takes a long time to leave...

As for the dispensers, I don't think it was a good idea to just open the valve to dispense the detergent/rinse/bleach, IMHO. You need to have some water flow to flush everything out. Also, if you're worried about LCB and the Kelvy's rubber parts, I prefer Biz to chlorine bleach. It gets clothes just as white, is safe for colors as well, and isn't as hard on the washer. Has a nice clean scent too. When I see a machine I can tell if chlorine bleach has been used; it causes premature rusting on the dispenser cutout. Not good...

--Austin

 

[JerseyMike]

Wow!

Great job as usual, Robert. Thanks for sharing.

Another, Kelvinator saved!

I truly admire those of you who can do this.

This thread inspired me to re-visit the vintage audio section of the museum, so I could once again hear a Jill Corey sing about the wonders of the 1959 Kevlvinator!

http://www.automaticwasher.org/vintage_audio.htm

http://www.automaticwasher.org/vintage_audio.htm

 

[bpetersxx]

kelvinator dvd

Great Machine.

I want a dvd of the Kelvinator when it is finished.

Pete

 

[gyrafoam]

Reply to Austin

The main reason I recall for no problem with the suds is that the machine kicked so much water over the side what was left was just the clothes and the suds! I also do not remember a knocking noise, but hey, its been a while! Austin, I sent you an e-mail re: the Westy F/L "repair master" book. Never heard back---bought it anyway. If you would like a copy e-mail me and I will send one. Friend looking for the "Converto-Vac" enjoyed your comments. He says thanks and he still has his wallet out if you know of anyone who has one to sell. -Steve

 

[kenmore1978]

Sounds

and there's the "click CLACK vrooOOM" of the start relay and motor in a non-impeller D & M DW as it starts up, and the "s q u EEAK!" as it spins down from pumpout. I think it's caused by the carbon/ceramic motor shaft seal.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Austin, to answer you questions, first of all the plastic and rubber finned Kelvinator dasher/agitators splash about the same, which is a lot of splashing. No Kelvinator washers like Frigidaire get very sudsy, those pictures were taken at the beginning of the wash cycle so it did not have time to get as sudsy as it did. But one very important point that I must clarify. You referred to sudsing as a "problem". Vintage Frigidaire's (especially Unimatics) and Kelvinators as well as other solid basket washers with large outer tubs were designed to handle lots of suds, the more suds the better in those machines. It is front loaders and modern perforated basket top loaders that have trouble with suds and you have to be careful with the detergent. Of course vintage Belt-drive Whirlpool washers were terrible with too much suds and GE washers too you had to be careful not to cause a suds lock. We've all seen the WCI-58 Unimatic video which show exactly how those machines handle suds.

By the way here is the before shot of the softener dispenser, yuk. This is why it needs to be flushed with water during its dispensing phase...

 

[kenmore1978]

clogged dispenser

To Kelvinator's credit, at least you could access the dispenser to clean it, the early KM's that used the reservoir system with the solenoids and plunger stoppers had to accessed by lifting the top and removing the reservoir. My '63 LK was a mess when I got it that way.