Question for Collectors and Restorers ...

If you had asked me when I was 16 if I had ever intended to work on laundry appliances, my answer would have been "What?!?". But, as luck would have it, I was handed a set of circumstance that changed all that in about 5 minutes.

As a kid, I enjoyed my Mother's 1961 Kenmore very much. I also enjoyed looking at other people's washers AND looking at new ones on sales floors of Sears and other stores. We replaced the '61 Kenmore in fall 1974, with the usual excitement for me of a new washer to play with. What I did not expect was the eventual remorse for the loss of the old washer. I am a very sentimental guy anyway, so I always wished that we had simply put the old washer in the basement, but my folks would never have done that.

So, having learned that "lesson" of sorts, when faced with a failure of the '74 in 1981 that was going to force us to replace it (we even selected and paid for a new machine at Sears), I allowed my desire to keep the old machine to overpower the excitement of buying a new one, and I set out to figure or fenagle a way to keep that 1974 machine from meeting the scrapper.

The repair estimate from Sears on the old machine told us everything we needed, and I was able to get a slight discount on the parts AND get some service tech advice and tutoring on a similar machine. My Dad did as much work as I did, but somehow he and Mom agreed to my idea of the DIY work, which we did out on the back porch of our house in a February snow storm (covered porch fortunately). Magically the repair worked on the first shot, and the machine was like new. I was literally giddy, it really was fun to set out with a goal, and complete it exactly as I had envisioned even though the next day we cancelled the new washer.

That scenario though planted the seed of interest. When mentioning this to my chemistry teacher in school, he said "oh if you want to keep doing that, I can get you all the washers you want because I deliver them for Sears on the side". My parents were very firm "Not in our garage you don't!" so I wasn't able run with my "washer clinic" idea until 1990 when I got my own house.

I met a buddy in Charlotte who was happy to have a mentor and co-conspirator who so obviously enjoyed his profession and we worked out a deal with Sears for their haul-aways. From late 1990 to 1998, I re-habbed about 50 Kenmore and Whirlpool washers, all of which had been saved from the crusher. Suddenly I had turned my interest in using washing machines to a crusade to extend their usefulness, and I made money doing so. Now I just work on them for my own enjoyment, but it has been very rewarding to add that chapter to my lifetime hobby.

Gordon


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Post# 735800 2/17/2014 at 08:41 (3,721 days old) by NYCWriter ()
Checkrate/Likes I'm fascinated and impressed with how you guys can take an appliance that looks completely trashed and hopeless and turn it into something that just came off the assembly line, shiny and gleaming. How did you learn how to do it? And how long did it take?

Post# 735808 , Reply# 1 2/17/2014 at 09:20 (3,721 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *lots of info here* I have always been good around the house with electricity, plumbing, assembly, etc, but all the specifics of exact wash mahine problems and diagnosis and repairs and sourcing parts came from here. There's tons of info in a zillion threads, and you can also just take pictures and ask. Folks here have lots of experience and know various brands best/worst points, common malfunctions, etc. There's lots of parts and info available for Whirlpool/Kenmore, GE, and Maytag. And lots of old machines are available. When you get into lesser selling brands, Norge and Westinghouse, some Frigidaire, Speed Queen, it gets a bit rougher. My hat's off to all the folks who offer advice freely here, that's where I have learned everything from timers to plumbing valves to motor repair, thermostat diagnosis, seals, paints, bearings, etc. How long does it take? Some machines are up and running in a day, and then I have a 1950 Kenmore still awaiting more work after hanging around the basement 2 years.

Post# 735822 , Reply# 2 2/17/2014 at 11:02 (3,721 days old) by dosxxpapa (Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Just Start* I am still a novice compared to allot of the guys here. But I just got started by taking things apart. My first was my Bug Eye Kenmore Dyer that was on its was to scrap. This is my first restore. Luckily I found a donor machine just like it. So I was able to take two to make one good one. It took me several months but now it is my daily machine and it works great! I enjoy working on these great old machines. They are a great part of our history. And this site is invaluable landmark of information. So enjoy and just get started. Joe

Post# 735839 , Reply# 3 2/17/2014 at 13:05 (3,721 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes 1 If you had asked me when I was 16 if I had ever intended to work on laundry appliances, my answer would have been "What?!?". But, as luck would have it, I was handed a set of circumstance that changed all that in about 5 minutes. As a kid, I enjoyed my Mother's 1961 Kenmore very much. I also enjoyed looking at other people's washers AND looking at new ones on sales floors of Sears and other stores. We replaced the '61 Kenmore in fall 1974, with the usual excitement for me of a new washer to play with. What I did not expect was the eventual remorse for the loss of the old washer. I am a very sentimental guy anyway, so I always wished that we had simply put the old washer in the basement, but my folks would never have done that. So, having learned that "lesson" of sorts, when faced with a failure of the '74 in 1981 that was going to force us to replace it (we even selected and paid for a new machine at Sears), I allowed my desire to keep the old machine to overpower the excitement of buying a new one, and I set out to figure or fenagle a way to keep that 1974 machine from meeting the scrapper. The repair estimate from Sears on the old machine told us everything we needed, and I was able to get a slight discount on the parts AND get some service tech advice and tutoring on a similar machine. My Dad did as much work as I did, but somehow he and Mom agreed to my idea of the DIY work, which we did out on the back porch of our house in a February snow storm (covered porch fortunately). Magically the repair worked on the first shot, and the machine was like new. I was literally giddy, it really was fun to set out with a goal, and complete it exactly as I had envisioned even though the next day we cancelled the new washer. That scenario though planted the seed of interest. When mentioning this to my chemistry teacher in school, he said "oh if you want to keep doing that, I can get you all the washers you want because I deliver them for Sears on the side". My parents were very firm "Not in our garage you don't!" so I wasn't able run with my "washer clinic" idea until 1990 when I got my own house. I met a buddy in Charlotte who was happy to have a mentor and co-conspirator who so obviously enjoyed his profession and we worked out a deal with Sears for their haul-aways. From late 1990 to 1998, I re-habbed about 50 Kenmore and Whirlpool washers, all of which had been saved from the crusher. Suddenly I had turned my interest in using washing machines to a crusade to extend their usefulness, and I made money doing so. Now I just work on them for my own enjoyment, but it has been very rewarding to add that chapter to my lifetime hobby. Gordon

Post# 735858 , Reply# 4 2/17/2014 at 13:56 (3,721 days old) by bradross (New Westminster, BC., Canada)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Sharing of info - and lots of elbow grease!* There are undoubtedly a few professionals on this site, who have all the appropriate tools of the trade, manuals, etc. But speaking for myself, it has involved a little trial-and-error, and a LOT good, old-fashioned elbow grease! Additionally, there are fellow members of this site that are most generous with sharing their knowledge and experience. Unlike several members here, I have really only fully restored one machine - a 1935 Maytag Model 30 wringer washer, that essentially did come from a dump - or next thing to it. It had been left for years outside in the elements in Iowa. If you're interested in seeing photos of the restoration, I've attached a link to Flickr. Now that it's finished, I'm ready for another job! CLICK HERE TO GO TO bradross's LINK

Post# 735877 , Reply# 5 2/17/2014 at 14:49 (3,721 days old) by paulg (My sweet home... Chicago)
Checkrate/Likes *I'm a hybrid* In short: My father was an engineer for Hotpoint. We always repaired our own appliances. From him I learned appliance basics. I learned much from visiting the factory and playing with the sample parts he'd bring home. Ultimately electronics were my love so I went into electronic engineering and spent 30 years in television. I went to work for a company that manufactured both televisions and appliances. I ended up responsible for both electronics and appliances which kept me rather current with the technologies. Career flexibility worked well for me.

Post# 735897 , Reply# 6 2/17/2014 at 16:08 (3,720 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)
Checkrate/Likes My dad repaired appliances from before I was born, til he retired about 14 years ago. So I guess it's "in my blood" to tinker with them.

Post# 735899 , Reply# 7 2/17/2014 at 16:13 (3,720 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)
Checkrate/Likes ha ha greg told me a long time ago just go for it and learn as you go. tons of help and advice to be found here. you just have to take it slow and easy but its worth it in the end that's for sure..

Post# 735905 , Reply# 8 2/17/2014 at 17:32 (3,720 days old) by dosxxpapa (Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes *Awesome!* Awesome Maytag Brad!!! I love it!!! Joe+

Post# 735944 , Reply# 10 2/17/2014 at 20:02 (3,720 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)
Checkrate/Likes *I've loved and restored vintage cars* for over 40 years... but loving machinery of all kinds have latterly transferred that love to vintage appliances, an unrequited love since my grade school years... one advantage being that they take up a hell of a lot less space and they don't cost 40 grand or more to acquire! And I'm finding out that they are just as much fun!!! Don't be intimidated, dive in and enjoy the ride!!!

Post# 735934 , Reply# 9 2/17/2014 at 19:43 (3,720 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)
Checkrate/Likes *I took a lot of machines apart* and read a lot of manuals late at night in bed - but my Dad was mechanical and I had restored an Edsel in HS and worked on the family cars so washers were easy from that. Paulg ! I love your avatar!! Chiberia??? And how was the Sunbeam coffee??

Post# 735953 , Reply# 11 2/17/2014 at 20:22 (3,720 days old) by maytag63 (South Berwick, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes Just like some of the other members, I read manuals at night and researching information from this site. Also help from members. Always liked to take things apart when I was a kid. Now I'm at an age that I have more time to pursue what I like.