Thread Number: 34196
The THOR lives again on this Easter weekend. YAY!! 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 513486   4/24/2011 at 20:18 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Well, we spent a fun day with Ron (Kenmore58) and celebrated our 3 birthdays together as we have done for the last 15 years or so. One thing that was on our agenda was to try to remove the washer tub and balancer plate from the Thor.

Chuck and I have been too busy to spend any real time on it. Fortunately, with the three of us tackling it, and with a lot of time and patience, we were able to to wrestle (and I do mean wrestle) the tub free. But, the balancer plate was another challenge! Rusted solid on the center shaft. After some more time, patience and Kroil we were able to finally get it free!!! After some clean-up, rust removal and tweeking, it works like a charm :-)

Now I can use the dishwasher attachment!!

Chuck will be posting some pics and video for anyone who is a Thor fan :-)

Thanks for a fun day, Ron!!!

Rich




Post# 513487 , Reply# 1   4/24/2011 at 20:19 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Once we got the tub and balancer out...

Post# 513488 , Reply# 2   4/24/2011 at 20:21 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Here's the balancer sitting on top of the (upside-down) tub. The rust was a contributor in not allowing us to get the basket off!

Post# 513489 , Reply# 3   4/24/2011 at 20:22 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

After a little cleaning, Rich started putting the dishwasher assembly in!

Post# 513490 , Reply# 4   4/24/2011 at 20:31 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Here's the view with the first of the racks in...

Post# 513491 , Reply# 5   4/24/2011 at 20:31 (4,743 days old) by kenmore58 (Rhode Island)        

kenmore58's profile picture
I have to say it was a fun day and great to finally get Rich's Thor up and running completely.

Now it's on to Phase II -- my Thor. Several issues to deal with including getting my tub and balancer plate out. Then it's onto finding out what has been leaking oil (and I do mean LEAKING)! And then getting the transmission unstuck.

In all honesty, Rich and Chuck are more hopeful than I am of getting my Thor up and running. But I will keep everyone posted.

Ron



Post# 513492 , Reply# 6   4/24/2011 at 20:32 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

And Ron giving us a Vanna of the dish rack before he puts it in...

Post# 513493 , Reply# 7   4/24/2011 at 20:32 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Racks in!

Post# 513494 , Reply# 8   4/24/2011 at 20:46 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Here's a video. First, the bottom section (water spray assembly) in action. Then, the full action with plain water and an improvised glass top. Lastly, same as before with a little soap added! The scraping sound was rectified by adding a couple of washers as spacers on the central shaft after the videos were shot.

Rich did run a load of dishes through it, and it seemed to work quite well, despite previous misgivings!

Also, a good amount of the rust has been removed and otherwise dealt with (rust reformer, scraping/brushing, painting, et cetera.

Chuck



Post# 513503 , Reply# 9   4/24/2011 at 22:01 (4,743 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
Wonderful to finally see that in action - thanks for the great pics and video! What a fun Easter you had :-)


Post# 513511 , Reply# 10   4/24/2011 at 23:26 (4,743 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

Wow, my own washer to dishwasher fantasy come true.  When I fantasized about this as a kid, I had no idea anything liike this had ever existed. 
Post# 513519 , Reply# 11   4/25/2011 at 00:18 (4,743 days old) by A440 ()        

Very interesting! 

Thanks for the video!

What a trip back in time!

Thanks!

Brent
Post# 513523 , Reply# 12   4/25/2011 at 01:21 (4,743 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Thanks for the great video,  does the "spinning plate at the bottom"  somehow act as a pump to get the water to the spray arms?  After watching the video, i still do not quite get it.  Looks like a fun vintage Easter project.  Thanks again alr2903
Post# 513533 , Reply# 13   4/25/2011 at 05:05 (4,743 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Thor - Dishwasher

 chestermikeuk's profile picture
Wow, great work there boys,all the hard work payed off..!!! when you said rusted I was expecting a rustbucket,that tub outer is MINT considering how old it is!! I hadnt realised the overfow top filler pipe re-circulated the water solution all the time, It sure looks a fun machine to use - Ta for showing & sharing with us..

Cheers, Mike

Post# 513539 , Reply# 14   4/25/2011 at 05:52 (4,743 days old) by Easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
Wonderful video . . .

 . . . of the Thor dishwasher. I used one of these in the early 1950's, but had no idea how it worked inside. It's almost as interesting as Robert's video of the Bendix Economat squeezing out the water.

I'd love to see the Thor dishwasher loaded with dishes in it.

Thanks for sharing and for all your hard work.

Jerry Gay

Post# 513544 , Reply# 15   4/25/2011 at 06:23 (4,743 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Thor!

 peteski50's profile picture
Absolutly awsome I think this is the first dishwash attachment I saw working!
I hope you guys are doing well.
Peter

Post# 513545 , Reply# 16   4/25/2011 at 06:23 (4,743 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
Interesting Concept.

 toploader55's profile picture
I never would have thought that Thor would use the Ocillating Concept to distribute water.

I visioned more of a Impeller or Youngstown Concept. I'm glad to see you got that Gem running. Eddie

Post# 513546 , Reply# 17   4/25/2011 at 06:28 (4,743 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Thanks, all!

I'm heading off to work but when I get home I will reply with a description of just how it works. It's so simple !! Think centrifical force :-)

Rich

Post# 513549 , Reply# 18   4/25/2011 at 07:16 (4,743 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
THOR DISHWASHER

 combo52's profile picture

WOW thanks for showing us this very rare machine in operation. When Jeff and I were kids around the mid 1960s we saw one of these machines thrown away at a dump and i remember looking at all the parts and wondering how well it worked.
Post# 513585 , Reply# 19   4/25/2011 at 11:12 (4,742 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Ditto John's WOW

 mickeyd's profile picture

Amazing with all the unusual movements in the bottom, when it get the water going, it looks like......... a dishwasher.

 

Another mystery or forbidden cycle unveiled. So many have waited so long to see this. Thanks, Rich& company.

 

I can't wait to hear how it drains when you get home from work.
Post# 513659 , Reply# 20   4/25/2011 at 16:02 (4,742 days old) by dishwashercrazy (West Peoria, IL)        

dishwashercrazy's profile picture



It sure is great getting to see this video of the Thor Dishwasher in operation. Mechanically, we had operated my machine, and had mostly figured out how it operated, but I envisioned that the water only sprayed out throught the tubes on the counter clockwise "agitation stroke" (which is the stoke movement again the water being swirled clockwise around the tub by the spinning bottom plate). But now I see that the plate spinning in the bottom of the tub actually moves enough water to feed the spray tubes when they are in both the counterclockwise and clockwise "agitation strokes" movements. Amazing. Someday, I am hopeful that my Thor Dishwasher will to be operational as well.

Post# 513696 , Reply# 21   4/25/2011 at 18:42 (4,742 days old) by appnut (TX)        
Other part of my washer to dishwasher fantasy

 appnut's profile picture

My main one was converting a pulsating Frigidaire such that filling with water only to a point and then it pulsating and throwing up the water to wash the dishes via the energy ring at the bottom. 

 

And I"m with you Eddie, that's how I envirsioned it worked.
Post# 513699 , Reply# 22   4/25/2011 at 18:55 (4,742 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        
Congratulations Rich!

 That's the very same washer and dishwasher attachment I grew up with. It seems your washer is missing a filter, rectuangular shape, like a small squirrel cage, that fastened by downward pressure on top of the bottom of the washer, where the draining orifice is. This filter would clog with wet lint, and had to be cleaned rather often so the washer would drain properly. Furthermore, our dishwasher attachment had a bakellite round cover, black color, wich had a small orifice in the side to allow the water to pass from the filling gooseneck pipe into the dishwasher.

I hope you enjoy it!
Emilio

Post# 513707 , Reply# 23   4/25/2011 at 19:49 (4,742 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Sorry but I worked late.

 Chuck will post a video that we just did which explains, hopefully, how it all works.

" I hadnt realised the overfow top filler pipe re-circulated the water solution all the time"....... Mike, it doesn't. The water isn't recirculated. I was using a tube conneted to a watering can to fill it. The water, when introduced through the fill hole in the cover, stays in the drum for the duration of the cycle. When you turn the machine off to switch cycles the water drains out. New water is introduced for the next phase. Each cycle/phase uses approx 8cups of water.

I don't know why this concept didn't catch on. The water used in the washing machine truly never touches anything in the dishwasher.

I will get a video of it washing dishes. It may be a little wait as I'm going to run a bead of caulking/sealer around the drain tube. I think that the gasket is probably fragile so I don't want to take any chances :-)

A very neat machine. Fun to use and it did a nice job with the dishes that I ran through yesterday. Only took about 10 min! Once you take the cover off you can then turn the lever to dry and it spins the pan and water dasher at 600rpm to create a fan that dries the dishes in just a matter of a couple of minutes.

Thanks for all the kind words and it was a fun way to spend Easter weekend...Good friends, good food and good fun!!!

Rich

Post# 513710 , Reply# 24   4/25/2011 at 19:56 (4,742 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Hi Emilio,

 These things aren't missing. We just used the glass so that you all could see it in action. Mine does have the black porcelained cover that has an inlet for water and detergent. It has a little door that is hinged so that water can't come back out.

The lint screen was removed as I was cleaning it and the drain. I just didn't put it back for the pictures :-)

Thanks for the thoughtful observation :-)

Rich

Post# 513714 , Reply# 25   4/25/2011 at 20:22 (4,742 days old) by AutowasherFreak ()        

Very interesting, nice to finally see the dishwasher attachment in action.

 
Post# 513730 , Reply# 26   4/25/2011 at 20:55 (4,742 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        



Post# 513810 , Reply# 27   4/26/2011 at 02:05 (4,742 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Excellent...!!!

 chestermikeuk's profile picture
Well I hadnt noticed the base spinning so fast in the previous video, you made it very clear how it works- perfect tutorial, what a fascinating but simple machine!!! so the dishwasher has to be on all the time or the water drains out (unless pump draining)....

How do you know when the water is at the right level?? is it trial & error until a good splashing motion is achieved??

Happy washing, Mike

Post# 513829 , Reply# 28   4/26/2011 at 05:23 (4,742 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Thank You Rich.  I now understand that the wall of water in the bottom plate, keeps enough water available for the pipes on the wash arms to scoop & spray the water.  Thanks again for taking the time to explain this.  We really excelled at mechanical engineering and new ideas after world war II,  seems the emphasis is all on electronics these days.  arthur
Post# 513833 , Reply# 29   4/26/2011 at 05:51 (4,742 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)        

great video of the explanation of the movements. so glad to see you guys got this up and running. can't wait to see it in person. congrats. nice that today pod is about this unit also. hope you all had a good birthday.
Jon

Post# 513914 , Reply# 30   4/26/2011 at 11:28 (4,741 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Really can't get over this, Rich!

 mickeyd's profile picture

The engineer was a genius. The economy, the simplicity, the beauty: this is way better than I had imagined. And now we finally know it drains, the biggest mystery for me. Scooping flying water and shooting it up to hurl--MY GOD! Unimaginable!Surprised

 

Thanks a million.
Post# 513944 , Reply# 31   4/26/2011 at 13:52 (4,741 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

Amazing machine, Rick!  Congratulations on getting it going again and for the fun videos!  May you enjoy it for a long time!!
Post# 514049 , Reply# 32   4/26/2011 at 20:52 (4,741 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        
Cutlery basket

 Rich, now I remember that there was also a small rectangular basket for the cutlery, but I don't recall if this was attached in the lower rack or the upeer rack (maybe it was attached in the upper rack).
I assure you I must have watched the video a 100 times by now! Thanks for the great memories.

Emilio

Post# 514063 , Reply# 33   4/26/2011 at 21:36 (4,741 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Glad that you enjoyed it, Emilio :-)

 The cutlery basket is on the bottom in the middle. It goes around the center. If you go back up to the 4th picture of this thread you can see the cutlery rack. It's not large.

Chuck and I just shot another video of a small load of dishes being washed. I don't know how it came out. If it came out good then we will post it!

Again, glad to bring back some good memories. This is mostly why we all collect things. Isn't it?

Rich

Post# 514081 , Reply# 34   4/26/2011 at 23:48 (4,741 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Sort of a hybrid Spray arm machine and impellor unit in one.VERY CLEVER!

Post# 514210 , Reply# 35   4/27/2011 at 17:47 (4,740 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        

Hi Rich, please post the new video of the actual wash, no matter the quality! Jeeez, you surely hit the right nail in the right spot for me!

I saw the fourth picture with the cutlery holder, it's quite clear. I might be completely wrong (I was quite young at the time this dishwashing accesory was used in my family) but I remember a "distinct" and separate basket for the cutlery. One question though, is the whole gizmo made out of stainless steel, racks and all? Or is it made with pure aluminum or some sort of aluminum alloy? I remember it being rather heavy to lift!

Once again, thank you for the good times :-)

Emilio

Post# 514239 , Reply# 36   4/27/2011 at 19:43 (4,740 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Hi Emilio,

 Glad you are enjoying it. I think that you're enjoying the Thor more than I am!!:-)

I will have Chuck post the video as soon as he can.

You may be remembering a cutlery holder. Perhaps someone in your household added one.The one that comes with the unit isn't very large and it's not placed very well. It only gets water as it falls back down.

I don't know what the dishwasher drum is made of. I looked through all of the literature that I have and I couldn't find any mention of the drum. It does mention, in several different sources, that the racks are made of stainles steel. It don't think that the drum is. It's very grey looking and seems a bit light weight for stainless. It could be an alloy of aluminum. I would think that if it were pure aluminum it would stain dark with the dishwasher detergent? Maybe someone else has that info?

I hope to get the video up tomorrow for you!

Rich

Post# 514278 , Reply# 37   4/27/2011 at 23:11 (4,740 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

rp2813's profile picture

Wow!  Dishes that are spun dry!  That is too awesome!

 

Rich, add a video of the drying cycle to your list of requests.

 

Thanks,

 

Ralph
Post# 514331 , Reply# 38   4/28/2011 at 06:30 (4,740 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Hey Ralph,

Again, I'm off to work BUT the video will show you how it works! The dishes aren't spin dried. The water dasher, in the "DRY" mode will spin at the same 600rpm as the basin thus creating a fan effect that dries the dishes. It's a fan dry.

I'll try to have Chuck post it tonight.

Rich

Post# 514461 , Reply# 39   4/28/2011 at 18:50 (4,739 days old) by thor (Buenos Aires)        
Cutlery holder

 Rich, I have literally wrung out my brain trying to remember anything else about the cutlery holder. If I'm not mistaken, the cutlery holder was round, had a hole in the center, and was the "last" piece of the rack set that was mounted "on top" of the center post of the whole unit, and it could hold many pieces of cutlery. I'm sorry, there's no one left in my family who I could ask anything about it. In those times there were two live-in maids at my house, Lina and Andrea, who were actually sisters (please, remember this is South America and this happened more than 50 years ago!) and they would hand wash everyday's dishes. The dishwasher was used on Sundays (no maids on Sundays!) or when they were on vacation. Loading the dishes was a feast for me, I must have been 8 or 9 at the time!

Emilio

Post# 514567 , Reply# 40   4/29/2011 at 09:19 (4,739 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        





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Post# 514575 , Reply# 41   4/29/2011 at 09:45 (4,739 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Thor!

 peteski50's profile picture
Thanks guys for a really great video!

Post# 514584 , Reply# 42   4/29/2011 at 10:40 (4,739 days old) by appliancelou (Lyndhurst New Jersey)        

appliancelou's profile picture
thankyou so much for taking the time to make this video i love that thor its been on my wish list for years what great video thanks again lots of luck with it an enjoy your a lucky boy!!! lou

Post# 514586 , Reply# 43   4/29/2011 at 10:58 (4,738 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
Imagine the energy stars the Thor would get ~

 mickeyd's profile picture

Fills in CUPS rather than gallons!

 

No heat, double-fan dry!

 

Expect the Energy Feds at your door, clamoring to build a shrine to the Almighty Thor.Wink

 

Thank you, Gentlemen, for a classy video.
Post# 514587 , Reply# 44   4/29/2011 at 10:58 (4,738 days old) by tlee618 ()        

Great video, thanks so much for sharing it with us. The Thor looks like a very fun machine.

Post# 514637 , Reply# 45   4/29/2011 at 17:16 (4,738 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
YAY...It's Friday.

 I have had a killer work week. Hopefully I can have some play-time now :-)

Sorry that I haven't addressed everyone but I will try!

Thanks again for the kind words of encouragement and glad that you all enjoyed the video. I am having lots of fun with this Thor. As many of you know it was my "must have" machine. I still can't believe that I got the machine, dishwasher attachment and all of the paperwork/instructions in the span of just a month! The Thor gods must have been smiling down. Great big thank-you's to everyone that helped make it all come together. Send good thoughts, now, to Ron for the success in getting his running.

It realy is a remarkable machine in its simplicity. The dishwasher shouldn't be nearly as noisy as it was. I have been doing some up/down adjustments to the washer arm and now it's quiet. The noise that you all heard was the washer arms scraping against the bottom pan. OYE...was it noisy!! I chose to take the glass cover off and put the proper cover on for the final rinse as it seems that the shape of the cover works better at rinsing than the flat glass did AND I didn't want to chance breaking my glass table top with the near boiling water :-)

Chestermikeuk asks..."How do you know when the water is at the right level?? is it trial & error until a good splashing motion is achieved??"...... This is achieved by sound. It states in the instructions "With experience, you will be able to determine when the best water action has been reached by the sound in the machine" and..."Note: A medium spray must be used for best results on delicate glass-ware. Measure and pour one quart of water into the cover inlet hole for each operation. This will produce a finer spray..." I guess that was your gentle cycle :-)

I guess if ya all want to see it in real action you'll have to join us for the next wash-in!!! We would love to meet all of you and these toys are no fun unless we can share them :-)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Rich





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