Calling Dr. Bombay------------------

Steve -

Regarding the timer - If I'm reading this correctly, what I think you're saying is that the cam followers have stopped 'engaging' - ie. moving up and down over the bumps and valleys in the cams. Instead it just "free-wheels", is that right? Does the machine operate this way? Maybe that is a dumb question, but I want to be sure I understand what's happening.

I had a timer in a '68 low silouette machine do the same thing - it would engage for a while properly, then "fall out" and would just turn without engaging any of the cams. Somehow, it always re-engaged, but the washer was never in operation when this happened, I was simply moving the timer to a cycle for use. I took it apart and found the "pull to stop" mechanism was causing the whole timer shaft to pull the cams away from the points/followers.

The '68's timer was a standard frame type, however some Kenmores shortly after that went to the quick disconnect design. My '72 Lady has a quick disconnect. Do you know what type is in your friend's machine? I think the standard frame timers are more prone to cam disengagment and may require a spacer or other adjustment like mine did. My solution was to swap a better timer from a control panel I had saved. If your friend's machine uses the same timer as the 1970 / 1972 models (there were several quick disconnects that sub for one another used on those models) then I may be able to help you with a replacement. Send me the model number and I'll do some searching.

Good luck Steve - let me know how I can help!

Gordon


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Post# 304109 9/16/2008 at 17:47 (5,692 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)
Checkrate/Likes The subject is a WO-65-2 that I rebuilt a few years ago but never put into service because of my move.I have given this machine to Surgilator1 in Atlanta. When I rebuilt this machine I replaced as many of the old parts as I could including the torque spring. So it came as a surprise that when we fired it up she wanted to pulsate during the spin cycle----and the tub brake did not want to engage. After speaking with Gansky about it he indicated he believed it to be a torque spring problem-----but I was thinking perhaps it was a tolerance issue since the brake would not engage. Sooooo, today we started the process of tearing down the machine to find the cause of the problems. As we peeled away layer after layer of the mechanism, I did not see anything unusual----until we got to the torque spring----which was indeed broken. It had sheared-away about two-thirds of the way to the top (if stood on end in position) and the area a row above and below the shear had gapped open a bit. My question is whether you or anyone else has encountered this type of break AND how common would it be to have a NEW stock torque-spring break? Of course, there is always the question in the back of my mind that maybe something in the rebuild was done incorrectly, AND if so, I certainly do not wish to sacrifice a very hard to find torque-spring to find out. I am always careful to check the tolerances but am not a trained tech., using GM/Frigidaire instruments/tools to measure with which is always a concern. Opinions? ALSO there is another patient----a 1968 LK (Piano-Key type) that has had its timer recently rebuilt. When installed one could hear the increments as the timer moved and now, all of a sudden, when the timer is turned it is silent. It moves----but is strangely silent. Opinions?

Post# 304115 , Reply# 1 9/16/2008 at 18:08 (5,692 days old) by kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Re: The Lady K timer* Steve - Regarding the timer - If I'm reading this correctly, what I think you're saying is that the cam followers have stopped 'engaging' - ie. moving up and down over the bumps and valleys in the cams. Instead it just "free-wheels", is that right? Does the machine operate this way? Maybe that is a dumb question, but I want to be sure I understand what's happening. I had a timer in a '68 low silouette machine do the same thing - it would engage for a while properly, then "fall out" and would just turn without engaging any of the cams. Somehow, it always re-engaged, but the washer was never in operation when this happened, I was simply moving the timer to a cycle for use. I took it apart and found the "pull to stop" mechanism was causing the whole timer shaft to pull the cams away from the points/followers. The '68's timer was a standard frame type, however some Kenmores shortly after that went to the quick disconnect design. My '72 Lady has a quick disconnect. Do you know what type is in your friend's machine? I think the standard frame timers are more prone to cam disengagment and may require a spacer or other adjustment like mine did. My solution was to swap a better timer from a control panel I had saved. If your friend's machine uses the same timer as the 1970 / 1972 models (there were several quick disconnects that sub for one another used on those models) then I may be able to help you with a replacement. Send me the model number and I'll do some searching. Good luck Steve - let me know how I can help! Gordon

Post# 304132 , Reply# 2 9/16/2008 at 20:24 (5,692 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)
Checkrate/Likes *Hi Gordon------* Yeah, youv'e got it, the Pull to Start mechanism is what we think the cause to be. The model # is 110.680490 if you have an xtra timer Surgilator1 is seriously interested! Thanks!

Post# 304160 , Reply# 3 9/16/2008 at 21:36 (5,691 days old) by kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes I'm so sorry Steve, I don't have that one. It is a quick disconnect timer, at least based on the number I see from Sears. The original should be part number 360557, which subs to 373846. I checked ebay for either number, but nothing is currently listed. Surgilator1 can have ebay send a notification when something is listed with those numbers, or I can have them do it for me. Perhaps one day someone will list the contents of someone's old shop and that timer will be in the group. It happens often and that's how I got the 12 or 15 late 60s/early 70s timers I have now. Sorry man! G

Post# 304193 , Reply# 4 9/16/2008 at 22:14 (5,691 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes Don't know anything about the Unimatic, and I have never worked on the Lady K timers. I am sure someone will figure these out for you though.I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed... <: Talk to you soon Steve.

Post# 304197 , Reply# 5 9/16/2008 at 22:18 (5,691 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes That is odd Steve, maybe the NOS torque spring was bad to begin with. I would put in another spring and bench test it first.

Post# 304273 , Reply# 6 9/17/2008 at 12:07 (5,691 days old) by fltcoils (South Bend, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes *Torque spring dims* Might anyone have the dimensions for the torque spring? wire diam coil outside diameter number of turns (coils) etc There are quite a few tension springs available from century spring and other vendors, springs which might easily form the body and then be reshaped on the ends to make what you need. just an idea. centuryspring.com/...