YEEHAW!! The '77 Dispensall rides again!!

[westytoploader]

My 1977 GE (the "Texas Tankless Dispensall") was sitting for the longest time with the inner tub pulled. The reason? Right before the Texas Wash-In last December, I was about to put it in the Studio when I noticed it was spinning a little too off-balance, and, running it with the top off, it appeared that the inner tub was off-center and not mounted correctly. Not only that, but further examination revealed some HEAVY rust around the top gasket and underneath the transmission boot. Also, the transmission case was BADLY corroded from years of use, and I was afraid that simply replacing the boot wasn't going to be enough and that it would leak. Not to mention a new transmission would cost over $200, and was becoming NLA. Parts machines with possible "donor" trannies seemed few and far between, so, in the shed it sat for the next 3 months...

Until one night I got a call from Jerry H. in Massillon (sp?) Ohio, who I remembered from the 2005 Convention in Omaha. He said he had 3 rebuilt large capacity GE transmissions sitting in his appliance parts distributor, and explained that they were NLA and I could have one for the shipping. I was shocked, and couldn't have said "YES!!!" fast enough!!! So after ordering a few more crucial parts from RepairClinic, I was all set. The transmission arrived the week before last, and the parts arrived Friday, so I immediately got to work. Friday night I sanded and painted the outer tub with POR-15, and yesterday I installed the new transmission, boot, etc. Will go through more detail on another thread. By today (Sunday) I was ready to wash, removed the 1998 DD Kenmore, and installed the Dispensall in its place!!

Even though I still have the straight-vane of course, I prefer the 18 lb. Ramp Activator (courtesy of John P./Coldspot66). The action still amazes me...can't believe I went without it for 3 months!! It handled the big Bob-load with exceptional ease.

Jerry, I can't thank you enough for your generosity in helping me bring this awesome machine back to life again. And thanks for the AMP boot too...you'll be hearing that Ramp Activation shortly!!

Enough "bloviating" for now...here's a shot of the machine installed in the Studio and a link to the rest of the pictures! Enjoy!

--Austin

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-...TOPLOADER.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/WESTYTOPLOADER

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Gorgeous!

Hey Austin-

Congrats! Machine looks fabulous!

~Fred

 

[scott55405]

Very nice Austin! Does yours have the actual dispenser unit? Greg had one one time, but the dispenser was missing.

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Scott, mine doesn't have the dispenser unit, hence the "Texas Tankless" name. ;-)

 

[mayken4now]

That is really nice Austin. Next wash-in, would love to see it run.

Steve

 

[toggleswitch]

*SWOON*
*FAINT*
-applause upon recovery.

OMG. FABULOUS (in most rugged voice possible)
When is the next flight to Texas?

YAY AUSTIN

 

[westyslantfront]

congratulations Austin....looks like a fun machine...

 

[jasonl]

WASH-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The GE lives! And a fabulous AMP too! When's the wash-in?

 

[chestermikeuk]

Wow

Well done Austin

You make it sound so easy & simple...LOL

Does the replacement tranny have metal gears etc, was it the re-built models that had the plastic outer casing, or did all new later trannys have it??

Mike

 

[Unimatic1140]

Hi Austin, that's just great about the GE, congrats. Working on two machines at once are ya? I've been there.

What this, no videos?

 

[jasonl]

Videos

Well, as soon as the next wash-in we'll have lots of videos

 

[tlee618]

Austin, Congratulations on another great job!! That machine sure seems to have a lot of water action!! I know that you will have fun with it. Terry

 

[rickr]

Great job Austin! Those GE's are a bit rough on clothes imho,but they sure get stuff clean! I use mine for regular towels and "car towels" too. Everything comes out clean everytime.

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Austin - great job on the resto! This looks like a fun machine to have around - makes me wish I had my GE going. You've given me hope, LOL.

Ben

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations Austin. I love all the switches and dials on that machine.

 

[roto204]

Awesome!

Happiness is fresh boots and being rid of corroded parts. Congratulations!!

--Nate

 

[user 12105]

Excellent job Austin!! That filter-flo stream looks particularly powerful. Have loads of fun with it.

 

[frigilux]

A round of applause for you, Austin! I'm so impressed with the work you've done on your machines. I couldn't repair a washer given a map and a genius robot. Congratulations!

 

[retromom]

Map and Robot you say?

Frigilux:

It's because Westy takes after his mother. ;-)

Yeah, right...
Venus

 

[pulsator]

WOO HOO!!!!! The GE looks great Austin! Congrats on finally finding a new transmission, I know you have been dying to find one for a while!

 

[gansky1]

It looks awesome! You did a great job and the machine looks (and sounded!) great.

Congrats on a restoration to be proud of!

 

[frigilux]

Well, Venus, the boy must get his tool-box prowess from someone! My Dad could fix/build/reconstruct anything, but those genes definitely didn't download to the next generation, ha-ha...

 

[jerry]

How nice to see you have it all back together . In all the years I have done this I have never run across one with the dispensal system .Who knows someday I might find one. It looks just great!

 

[southernmdgeguy]

Great to see that up and running strong, and you make it look and sound easy! I too so impressed by the work you do. Another nice top of the line GE back in service, I have to keep looking!

Scott

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

You go Austin!
This is great!
You are really getting ahead in the game of repair! I think that this is just great!
Thanks for all of your pictures.
I think the sound of a GE washer never leaves your brain. I do have so many memories of them through my life. I love the sounds of the Activator, and the brake at the end of the spin!
Thanks for the photos!
Brent

 

[appnut]

Austin, I am glad you were finally able to complete the work on this. This is one of the epitomes of total flexible fabric care washers. And it's so good you have a General keeping an eye on those two Queens with those crowns on either side of the General. I can't wait. Umm, don't ya wish there was a see-thru filter-flo pan?

 

[peteski50]

Dispensall

Austin
This is realy a great washer
Best Of Luck!
Peter

 

[wmlask]

Dispensall Parts

Austin:

I may have the part you need to complete this machine.
Bill

[email protected]

 

[geextrarinse]

JEALOUS...

Does not even cover it!

I'm so glad to see those pics Austin! I'm wondering if you'd be interrested in photographing the machine with the top up so we can see the Dispensall Diverter. I've always been interreted in how it did that with the recirculation nozzle. I know there are the air tubes and all connected to the timer - but I've never seen it in person as you know I'm dieing to! I'm hoping to find my own of course but I'm also willing to just convert the GE I have since It's the same model without the dispensall. I'd just need a diverter and the lid - but honestly i'd just like the wide ramp - that would mmake me happy to watch even if it didn't have the diverter. I hope that someone does have a tank for you so we can all know just how it works. I'm also curious to know how the water is diverted and during which parts of the cycle. It seems that the water flowing to the right is for regular wash and the detergent recepticle and to the left for the fabric softner but when does if just flow out the center of the ramp? I need to live vicariously through you until the gods should grace me with my own.

Thanks again for sharing! - I will get you a larger filter flo pan if you don't already have one - it will be better for the angles that the water comes out with that diverter. I know they used to come with the 13" Super filter flo pans and I think you have an 11" one on there. I like the big ones - they filter the water faster and don't built up with suds. Oh and you'll need a mini basket of course!

Looking forward to the next round of pics!

Matt

 

[knitwits1975]

I too have fond memories of GE filter-flos. I wish now that my grandmother had kept her old machine, the one Matt's mini-basket came out of.