Unimatic Cutting Out

The motor start switch is kicking in and out when it's trying to spin, this is a very common problem in the multimatic. The manual says that the belts need to be tightened but I had exactly the same problem you described, lower belt so tight it's about to snap the tranny case in two and the upper belt is still a little loose. I tore apart my 59 umpteen times, checked everything, replaced the pulleys and pulley bearings, clutch plate, on and on and to this day, the start switch still flutters a couple of times at the start of spin. I was ready to scream and claw my face a few times with that machine...

You can check to be sure that the clutch plate is moving freely on the shaft between the agitate and spin pulleys on the motor shaft. If it binds or is dirty and not making good contact with the spin pulley, slipping, etc. it might cause that problem but I would be willing to bet that it's the belts.

Frigidaire dropped the rapidry spin in the multimatics in 62 because of so much trouble and later, well in 1965, offered the rollermatic mechanism as a replacement for the multimatic.


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Post# 94455 11/17/2005 at 19:55 (6,734 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes Okay you Frigidaire Experts... Question for you- I've got new belts on the '64 and the machine likes to kick on and off repeatedly as it enters spin, even without a load. The lower belt is cinched up tight so I'm assuming it's the upper belt responsible for this action. And yes, the upper certainly could be tighter. Does this sound familliar? Is my only recourse pulling the belts and installing a smaller upper unit? The springs are already out to the outermost hole for greatest tension. Time for another pump gasket ; ) ? -Cory

Post# 94470 , Reply# 1 11/17/2005 at 20:35 (6,734 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes *Welcome to Multimatic Hell!* The motor start switch is kicking in and out when it's trying to spin, this is a very common problem in the multimatic. The manual says that the belts need to be tightened but I had exactly the same problem you described, lower belt so tight it's about to snap the tranny case in two and the upper belt is still a little loose. I tore apart my 59 umpteen times, checked everything, replaced the pulleys and pulley bearings, clutch plate, on and on and to this day, the start switch still flutters a couple of times at the start of spin. I was ready to scream and claw my face a few times with that machine... You can check to be sure that the clutch plate is moving freely on the shaft between the agitate and spin pulleys on the motor shaft. If it binds or is dirty and not making good contact with the spin pulley, slipping, etc. it might cause that problem but I would be willing to bet that it's the belts. Frigidaire dropped the rapidry spin in the multimatics in 62 because of so much trouble and later, well in 1965, offered the rollermatic mechanism as a replacement for the multimatic.

Post# 94475 , Reply# 2 11/17/2005 at 20:38 (6,734 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Cory, I assume you mean "Multimatic Cutting Out". Yes both belts have to be really tight, especially the upper belt which is the spin belt. Take a hammer handle and use it as a wedge between the egg shaped transmission and the motor to help tighten the belt as you tighten the mounting bolts.

Post# 94490 , Reply# 3 11/17/2005 at 21:48 (6,734 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes *Belt - size?* Hey Greg, I remember when we started working on this, and Robert gave the stock belt sizes (which I have fogotten, and cannot find in the archive), he said that you played around with different belt sizes. Do you remember what set worked best for you? If you don't mind Robert posting the stock sizes again - those are what we put in the washer. Thanks! Ben

Post# 94499 , Reply# 4 11/17/2005 at 22:22 (6,734 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Ben, it was 3L280 and 3L320