Thread Number: 33503
Frigidaire GMini washer/dryer set |
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Post# 504014   3/14/2011 at 12:29 (4,783 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Last weekend, I bought the Frigidaire GMini washer and dryer that were for sale on another thread.
I didn't repair the dryer yet (it works but it vibrates a lot) but I did repair the washer. I didn't take a lot of pics but here's a few. I noticed that unlike the Skinny-Mini washers, it has a General Electric motor. I don't know if it was replaced or not but if it's the original, it might be because it's a two speed motor? I had to replace a noisy bearing for the water pump but I had to keep the old seal (which seemed fine). The cold water valve was stuck but it didn't need to be replaced. I have just tried it in my garage and it works fine now. |
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Post# 504015 , Reply# 1   3/14/2011 at 12:29 (4,783 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504016 , Reply# 2   3/14/2011 at 12:30 (4,783 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504017 , Reply# 3   3/14/2011 at 12:31 (4,783 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504019 , Reply# 4   3/14/2011 at 12:39 (4,783 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504028 , Reply# 5   3/14/2011 at 13:18 (4,783 days old) by golittlesport (California)   |   | |
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Very cool machine! Thanks for the pics. I love the control panel. I bet your motor was replaced along the way. The Skinni-Mini model also had two speeds, determined by normal or gentle cycle on timer.
Although they can't compare to their larger siblings with the up and down agitation, I think these machines did a very good job and had decent capacity for their size. |
Post# 504092 , Reply# 6   3/14/2011 at 17:23 (4,782 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)   |   | |
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Post# 504115 , Reply# 7   3/14/2011 at 18:23 (4,782 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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These machines used GE motors almost from the beginning, some did come with Delco motors but they were gone from all GM Frigidare laundry by the mid 1970s. You can check the code date on your washers motor if you want to see if it was actually replaced. Of all the things that I ever saw fail on these interesting washers the motor was never one of them. |
Post# 504189 , Reply# 8   3/15/2011 at 00:43 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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I haven't checked the date code on the motor but I also think it's the original.
What are the things that usually go wrong on these? I'm guessing the pump seal/bearing, strange transmission design and maybe the timers too... Does anybody sells replacement parts for them? I'll try to make a video but I haven't bypassed the lid switch yet (it even stops filling when you open the door...). |
Post# 504200 , Reply# 9   3/15/2011 at 05:42 (4,782 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)   |   | |
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Well, this design, I believe is how Frigidaire made their REGULAR CAP. washers at the time...
I once saw a discarded "skinny mini-dual washer & dryer" set outside of a Pizza place (used, perhaps for washing & drying linens, there--though it was a strictly Delivery place) which had the "juice squeezer" agitator tub & might have been a "transitional machine" bet. the GM & WCi era, too... Never-the-less, there is a link to a Brochure in one of the posts, which chronicles the then-current Frig-y line-up, featuring the plastic, back-opening lids, w/o instructions & this tub design etc. -- Dave (Who also would like to see this machine in action, too! Though if I were to have "been around" and had to buy a "new machine", back then, I think I'd spring for a LARGE CAP. Frigidaire W/D set & just "go on the cheap" for the rest of my appliances, then--if I were to be on the same "budget", that I am now...) |
Post# 504240 , Reply# 10   3/15/2011 at 11:10 (4,782 days old) by mistereric (New Jersey (Taylor Ham))   |   | |
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Post# 504253 , Reply# 11   3/15/2011 at 12:01 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504261 , Reply# 12   3/15/2011 at 12:22 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504262 , Reply# 13   3/15/2011 at 12:28 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Sorry for the bad quality, I didn't bypass the lid switch so I couldn't open the cover more than that...
Overflow rinse CLICK HERE TO GO TO PhilR's LINK |
Post# 504263 , Reply# 14   3/15/2011 at 12:29 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504264 , Reply# 15   3/15/2011 at 12:30 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504268 , Reply# 16   3/15/2011 at 12:48 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504272 , Reply# 17   3/15/2011 at 12:53 (4,782 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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For these videos, I should have avoided washing this padded jacket that floats...
Here's the first video I should have posted! (wash cycle) CLICK HERE TO GO TO PhilR's LINK |
Post# 504323 , Reply# 18   3/15/2011 at 16:58 (4,781 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)   |   | |
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Post# 504354 , Reply# 19   3/15/2011 at 19:55 (4,781 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504371 , Reply# 20   3/15/2011 at 21:50 (4,781 days old) by KenmoreGuy64 (Charlotte, NC)   |   | |
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Post# 504405 , Reply# 21   3/15/2011 at 22:57 (4,781 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 504412 , Reply# 22   3/15/2011 at 23:04 (4,781 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)   |   | |
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FABULOUS MACHINE!!!! I can definitely add this to the list of must haves!!!
You'd think it would make sense for manufacturers to revisit design like these. Imagine how much water a solid tub agi-tub machine could save? And how much bigger they could be without any of the air pockets for floating baskets of the topload HE machines of today like the Cabrio/Bravos/Oasis machines! |
Post# 504440 , Reply# 23   3/16/2011 at 00:49 (4,781 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Kenmoreguy,
When I was a kid, my parents, my grand parents (on both sides) and a few of my aunts and uncles had various Inglis (Whirpool) belt drive washers from the seventies. It's been years since I've heard one but from what I remember, the sound is a bit similar (even if the mechanism isn't!) My mother and my aunts told me that I always wanted to see inside their washers while they were being used so they got me on their dryers and opened the lid of their washers. The few who didn't have Inglis washers in my family had Maytag, Speed Queen or Simplicity washers. Two of my neighbors had a GE Filter Flo washer from which I remember they removed the lint balls from their sombrero-shaped lint filter. I was always a fan of GM Frigidaire appliances (and pre-1980 GM cars!) but GM Frigidaire appliances were not popular in my region. The few I saw were from the 1950's and 1960's and most belonged to people who were much older than my parents. And I haven't touched to a GM Frigidaire washer until I got mine last weekend! But the first one I recall seeing was the one featured in "Freaky Friday" (the first movie my parents rented when they got their first VHS recorder!). When I was a teenager, I started collecting Life magazines with plenty of ads, including 1960's Frigidaire appliances. |
Post# 504445 , Reply# 24   3/16/2011 at 01:44 (4,781 days old) by pdub (Portland, Oregon)   |   | |
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Post# 504469 , Reply# 25   3/16/2011 at 08:08 (4,781 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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No Gordon it is you LOL, if I ever heard a WP that sounded like this there would be some thing seriously wrong. The agitatatub machines have a hollow sound because of the thin cabinet and plastic tubs, plus you can hear the slight roar of the several ball bearings that are turning whenever the machine is running. |
Post# 504481 , Reply# 26   3/16/2011 at 09:14 (4,781 days old) by bellalaundry (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504506 , Reply# 27   3/16/2011 at 11:36 (4,781 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)   |   | |
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Post# 504511 , Reply# 28   3/16/2011 at 12:04 (4,781 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)   |   | |
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Congratulations Phil on the machine and the restoration. You should know this is an EXTREMELY rare find. Your GMini standalone washer (without the dryer attached on top) is probably the only one we know of in existence. When the original owner posted this I didn't want to say anything because of the possibility of the price skyrocketing as we've seen in the past with some sellers. I've seen Frigidaire Agi-Tubs before but they all have been part of a stacked version. |
Post# 504513 , Reply# 29   3/16/2011 at 12:16 (4,781 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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In the picture the agitator looks fused to the tub, and this machine has been referred to as an agitub, but in the vids, it looks like the agitator is turning, not the tub. Is this an illusion? Very inexperienced with these, but a big fan, nevertheless. Thanks for all your time and trouble and sharing a magical find. |
Post# 504523 , Reply# 30   3/16/2011 at 12:58 (4,781 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 504525 , Reply# 31   3/16/2011 at 13:10 (4,781 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Post# 504528 , Reply# 32   3/16/2011 at 13:20 (4,781 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Robert,
I knew these were rare but I didn't know they were that rare (and I thought that they were probably more common than most pre-1-18 Frigidaire washers!). And even here in Canada, the 1-18 models seem to be almost inexistant. I've been searching for information on the GMinis since I saw an ad showing them (single speed W3-24 model shown). That was the first set I found but I didn't think it was so rare! If anyone has a set of 1958 Custom Imperial washer/dryer to trade for them, I'm open to offers! ;) |
Post# 504606 , Reply# 33   3/16/2011 at 18:14 (4,780 days old) by appnut (TX)   |   | |
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Post# 504871 , Reply# 34   3/17/2011 at 21:50 (4,779 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 505231 , Reply# 35   3/19/2011 at 17:30 (4,777 days old) by golittlesport (California)   |   | |
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Post# 505296 , Reply# 36   3/20/2011 at 01:15 (4,777 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 505359 , Reply# 37   3/20/2011 at 11:29 (4,777 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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These just sit on top of the agitator, I may still have an extra one around?. While your machines are much more rare and therefor interesting, I have always preferred the complete Skinyminni for collecting as it takes up less space and is 240 volts for faster drying. The complete machine I believe was the first fully integrated stack washer-dryer that was made as one piece at the factory and that used one power connection. The 208 and 240 volt models had a choice of drying temps and all had 2 sp motors in the washer. All major mechanical parts appear to be the same between the separate machines and the one piece model.
But the appeal of these machines would not have been very strong to potential buyers who were looking for separate portables in the 1970s. The quality of the portables from WP-KM were superior to these machines. So probably few of these were sold and those that were didn't last long. I remember one Frigidare dealer that I knew telling me that when the Skinny-mini came out he sold 48 of them the first year and ran 54 service calls on them the first year alone. That was even for the 1970s an unpressadented failure rate for new laundry appliances. |
Post# 505394 , Reply# 38   3/20/2011 at 14:22 (4,776 days old) by golittlesport (California)   |   | |
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Post# 505395 , Reply# 39   3/20/2011 at 14:24 (4,776 days old) by golittlesport (California)   |   | |
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Post# 505465 , Reply# 40   3/20/2011 at 19:35 (4,776 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 506348 , Reply# 41   3/23/2011 at 23:14 (4,773 days old) by PeterH770 (Marietta, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 506390 , Reply# 42   3/24/2011 at 07:45 (4,773 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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The worst failures are the main water-seal which if not found in time will ruin everything. Other problems were the multi-disc clutch and as Peter suggested the agitate cables would break and belts which were actually easy to replace. The belts were only sold in matched pairs so you always want to use them in a pair.
We saw quite a few of these machines that lasted nearly 20 years IF they were very lightly used, but if you tried to run say 10 loads a week in them they didn't last very long. The dryer part of the machine was far more troublesome than the washers. I spent many hours behind these dryers replacing bad blowers, idler pulleys, belts drum rollers, broken lint filter housings, bad motors and motor mounts, bad heating elements and on and on. Frigidare had quite a few fires with the heater design on these dryers, which is why WCI redesigned the heater box in he 1980s. And when these started to show up under the GE Space-Maker name in around 1986 GE made them change the dryer door and washer lid to metal to prevent fires from spreading. I always said that it was a good thing that Frigidare didn't try to make one of these in gas. |
Post# 506581 , Reply# 43   3/24/2011 at 19:35 (4,772 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 506584 , Reply# 44   3/24/2011 at 19:52 (4,772 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 506825 , Reply# 45   3/25/2011 at 16:49 (4,771 days old) by gorenje (Slovenia)   |   | |
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