Thread Number: 33451
Possible help with THOR automagic ???
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Post# 503358   3/11/2011 at 17:46 (4,766 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

I am looking for some suggestions or solutions to ...how the heck do I get the washer tub out? I can remover the agitator but can't get the tub free. I have tried filling the tub with hot water, draining then removing the agitator and hitting the center of the tub with a mallet. I have tried a little WD40 but nothing is working.

Any suggestions :-)

Thanks lots!

Rich





Post# 503452 , Reply# 1   3/12/2011 at 05:38 (4,766 days old) by Easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
Thor tub stuck . . .

See if you can talk to Ross in Tucson, AZ. He had the identical problem with his Thor.

The tub sits on a large balancing plate, and the two may be rusted together. Ross has a mechanic, Dr. Manny, who is a genious at solvling these problems. I think Dr. Manny used a winch mechanism to brutally pull the tub out.

Ideally, the tub is easy to remove for insertion of the dishwasher.

Good luck.

Jerry Gay


Post# 503458 , Reply# 2   3/12/2011 at 06:13 (4,766 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Thanks, Jerry. I've just sent Ross an email. Cross my fingers :-)

Rich


Post# 503462 , Reply# 3   3/12/2011 at 06:36 (4,766 days old) by kenmore58 (Rhode Island)        

kenmore58's profile picture
Let's hope someone can come up with a solution. As you all know, a week after Rich found his Thor, one showed up in Rhode Island where I live and I now own that machine. Same problem with my machine. No matter what I do, I can't get the tub out.

Look forward to hearing any possible solutions to the problem.

Ron


Post# 503467 , Reply# 4   3/12/2011 at 07:52 (4,766 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        
Rich,

polkanut's profile picture

Are you getting the Thor dishwasher insert that ToyTime69 posted the other day?


Post# 503472 , Reply# 5   3/12/2011 at 08:11 (4,766 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Hi Tim,

Yes! Rod is such a gentleman to talk with as well as deal with. Very interesting man with many interests and talents. I look forward to having this dishwasher sometime next week. I will be so much fun to play with....if I can only get the washer tub out!!!

Rich


Post# 503496 , Reply# 6   3/12/2011 at 10:46 (4,765 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Have both of you with the stuck tub tried squirting Rust Buster down the center tube of the tub where it mounts onto the transmission drive shaft? It will probably take most of a bottle. Doing so would not only help release the tub from the shaft, but also possibly help unstick the balancer plate from the drive shaft.

That balancer is quite something. Inside it are two ring weights and it is partially filled with oil to allow the weights to move about easily. Since it rests on the agitator shaft, if it is rusted to the shaft and to the bottom of the tub, it could prevent removal of the tub.Once you have allowed the Rust Buster to work its way down the shaft and soak in a bit, add some more and then set the machine to Dry. The spinning might force the Rust Buster between the tub bottom and the balancer plate, breaking the bond between the two.

Like the Blackstone machine, the Thor rests on three feet, one at the back and one at each front corner. The nice thing about a tripod is that even if it is not level, it won't rock.

Now, a word about how the dishwashing feature works. At the clothes dry setting, the tub spins at 600 rpm. From a mechanical standpoint, the "dish-laundry" incorporates the use of both the low-geared agitator speed with the high speed spin to produce a high pressure spray over every cubic inch of space in the dish unit.

When setting up the "dish-laundry", the first item placed over the agitator shaft is a water distributor. This is a two-piece basin in which one piece is operated at agitator speed and motion while the other spins at 600 RPM or both may be rotated--and are-- at high speed for drying.

When the switch is turned to "dishes-wash", the clutch and brake solenoids are both energized. The clutch engages the agitator, moving the water scoops, while the brake releases the drive which spins the basin at 600 RPM.

The purpose in combining the two speeds is to build up a wall of water on the sides of the spinning basin by centrifugal force with the high speed and to scoop into the water wall with the agitator motion producing a 35-mile-an-hour surge of spray 52 times a minute.

After rinsing the dishes with hot water, the machine is switched to "dry". The spinning action below the dishes begins with both the basin and large scoop arms whirling together at about 600 RPM. By removing the cover, the resulting circulation of air--such as a fan-- drys the dishes in a matter of minutes so that they may be put away soon after washing. This is the part of the operation I remember because the dishes were slightly vibrating as the ladies removed the dishes and finished toweling them dry back in early 1955.


Post# 503503 , Reply# 7   3/12/2011 at 12:17 (4,765 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)        
This is "Too good to be true."

mickeyd's profile picture

 

 

 

How long I've waited and how many times I've hoped to learn the ways of this ancient artifice. So much more exciting and intricate than I imagined. Can not tell you how much I appreciate this, Thomas.

 

Thank you very much. My head and scoops are spinning madly. So is the drain open throughout the operation as in your KA "warm-up" cycle? I know that the Thor pump is always on like the Frigidaire's, etc., but I can't see the answer here regarding sump, recirculation, and draining--as if you haven't done enough work alreadyWink


Post# 503516 , Reply# 8   3/12/2011 at 13:16 (4,765 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Go to thread 33395, #8. The part closest to the building is the water distribution unit. The wide basin is the "sump" except that it only holds water when spinning. When it stops, it drains. The jets have long arms that extend into the curve of the basin and it is from there that they pick up the water. With the Thor, the pump turns whenever the motor is running. That is why it can give overflow rinsing when washing clothes. The pump cannot be used for dishwashing because no part of the machine that comes in contact with the clothes washing operation comes in contact with the dishes in the dishwashing operation.

Post# 503535 , Reply# 9   3/12/2011 at 14:20 (4,765 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        

Thanks Tom. I will try that. Is Rust Buster the same as WD40? I've used a bit of WD40 but no luck, yet!

Thanks for the description of how the dishwasher functions. I'm now more excited to see it in action :-) Now it makes sense that when I put it in "wash" mode just the center shaft gyrates. When in spin just the tub spins but when I put it to dishwasher the tub spins as well as the center shaft gyrates. VERY COOL!!

I'll keep ya all posted!

Rich


Post# 503562 , Reply# 10   3/12/2011 at 15:58 (4,765 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Actually, Rich, Rust Buster is a far better product, IMHO. It comes in a platic bottle with a zoomspout and is easy to direct to where you want it. Buy two bottles for the project, just in case. You are going to need to get most of one of them down that tube around the tranny shaft.

Post# 503565 , Reply# 11   3/12/2011 at 16:28 (4,765 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Rust Buster....

Where do you get it? I tried C.A.P. as well as Wallmart with no luck. I have Kroil which is a very good penetrating lubricant. It has a great ability to creep. I am just concerned about this stuff doing damage to the motor, tranny, etc...



Post# 503571 , Reply# 12   3/12/2011 at 17:04 (4,765 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
I'd give PB Blaster a try...

Post# 503598 , Reply# 13   3/12/2011 at 19:04 (4,765 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
PB Blaster

I did see that at Wallmart. I am trying Kroil and if this doesn't work then I'll try PB Blaster or Rust Buster...if I can get it.

Thanks!
Rich


Post# 503611 , Reply# 14   3/12/2011 at 20:16 (4,765 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Rust Buster is a clear alcohol-based solvent. I find it at the appliance parts store, but why can't you Google Rust Buster and find where to buy it instead of looking for something at WalMart? Squirting Rust Buster between the tub tube and the drive shaft is not going to affect the tranny and the motor is under the outer tub. If stuff can run from where you are putting it to the motor, you have a hell of a lot of trouble.

Post# 503622 , Reply# 15   3/12/2011 at 20:56 (4,765 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
Thanks Tom!

I just happened to have to go to Walmart and C.A.P. for other things so I figured I would look while there. I will google it!!

I was concerned about leaking because, not knowing what it looks like below the tub, I tried putting a lot of water in the outer drum before I turned it on thinking that it would be good for the pump seals and perhaps loosen the basket/drum. After adding obviously too much water I was getting water leaking below. Once emptied and dried out it never leaked again. I also never put that much water in the outer tub again :-) When I got the machine there were bits of what looks like a black rubber gasket of sorts. I was, again, concerned about the possibility of lubricant/oil leaking. Forgive my ignorance. This type of work I am not very good at.

Rich


Post# 503687 , Reply# 16   3/12/2011 at 23:12 (4,765 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

You were very wise to rehydrate the old seals with hot water.

Post# 503821 , Reply# 17   3/13/2011 at 11:25 (4,764 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass)        
You were very wise to rehydrate the old seals with hot water

I give all credit to Robert. He gave this advice.


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