Thread Number: 4724
1957 Frigidaire Control Tower Dryer Repairs
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Post# 105314   1/23/2006 at 21:48 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

I had posted last week about the 1957 Control Tower Frigidaire Filtrator Dryer that I found in my last estate sale. I tried it while it was still at the house but it did not work. Moved it home and into my workshop on Sunday morning and the first thing I tackled was the timer light. Its always an easier repair if you fix the lights first! Or at least it seems a little more glamorous........




Post# 105315 , Reply# 1   1/23/2006 at 21:51 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

The rest of the dryer was "DOA". No motor, no timer action at all. Upon removing the back, all the belts were in place but one of wires had rubbed against the pulley and had worn thru. No burn marks were visible and this was the wire that fed the drum light and ozone bulb. I spliced it back together and still nothing working..............

Post# 105316 , Reply# 2   1/23/2006 at 21:55 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Filtrator dryers have a safety switch that shuts off power if the drum belt brakes. I jumped those wires and it sprang to life! BUT, the drum was jammed and not turning. Seems there was a big glob of cotton jamming the drum. It had made the belt wear and loose enough tension to make the safety switch trip. Not sure where this cotton all came from, it looks like the lining to a quilt or some type of blanket........

Post# 105317 , Reply# 3   1/23/2006 at 21:56 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Globs of cotton, some all rolled up! At first I thought it was insulation from the dryer, but its pure cotton. Mouse nest perhaps? But no mouse dropping in it (thank goodness!!)) so I guess it was from a blanket/quilt?

Post# 105318 , Reply# 4   1/23/2006 at 21:58 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Dryer back together, and running with a load of sheets in it. Love that fluffyness that a Filtrator Dryer gives laundry!

Post# 105320 , Reply# 5   1/23/2006 at 21:59 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

All cleaned up and back together, ready for its first real load of laundry........

Post# 105321 , Reply# 6   1/23/2006 at 22:03 (6,638 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

The Sheer Look, what a great design! Running as quiet as can be, Im so pleased to get this, and that it was such an easy fix. The owner told me his mother bought it and it quit working shorty after she got it, and she would never get it fixed because it was so slow to dry. She always had a wringer washer that she used in conjunction with this. I can only imagine how slow it worked with a wringer as its companion.........

Post# 105322 , Reply# 7   1/23/2006 at 22:05 (6,638 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)        

cadman's profile picture
GORGEOUS!!

Post# 105325 , Reply# 8   1/23/2006 at 22:14 (6,638 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
Jimmy -

That is fantastic! I loved the step by step diagnostic on getting it back to life. I agree - let those lights shine!

Enjoy ~

Ben


Post# 105351 , Reply# 9   1/23/2006 at 23:42 (6,638 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Really nice dryer-love the "Jackshaft" pulley drive in it-hadn't seen that in years!!!Only other time I had seen the dual pulley "jackshaft" drives was for Wurlitzer band organs.

Post# 105372 , Reply# 10   1/24/2006 at 06:18 (6,637 days old) by christfr (st louis mo)        
fantastic

christfr's profile picture
know youll love it!! went through the same stuff with this 54 i have and now she is happy and quiet as a mouse..yeah..fantastic job!!!

Post# 105377 , Reply# 11   1/24/2006 at 07:27 (6,637 days old) by bethann (Indianapolis)        

Good job Jimmy! It's in such wonderful shape. I'm happy for you!

Post# 105378 , Reply# 12   1/24/2006 at 07:54 (6,637 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
Delineated - Detailed - Perfected

Congrats on that dryer Jimmy, it sure is gorgeous!
How nice too that its had very little use all these years too!


Post# 105381 , Reply# 13   1/24/2006 at 08:35 (6,637 days old) by customline (pennsylvania)        
WOW!

Great job. This is what I tune in to see everyday. Does my heart glad.

Post# 105386 , Reply# 14   1/24/2006 at 09:03 (6,637 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Thanks customline, and I agree. After all the drama on the Super section, thought I would post some pics of the dryer and repairs, which is one of the reasons that Applianceville exists.................

Post# 105387 , Reply# 15   1/24/2006 at 09:39 (6,637 days old) by veg-o-matic (Baltimore, Hon!)        

veg-o-matic's profile picture
Fab job, Jimmy! One of these days I'll get to see a Filtrator in person.

Uhm, you did do something about that bare splice, didn't you? Don't want any members to get fried...

veg


Post# 105394 , Reply# 16   1/24/2006 at 10:05 (6,637 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
That is one FINE looking dryer Jimmy! Thank you for the detailed photos. It is always great to see the great photos with the descriptions! Glad you were able to find this classic,and hope you find the matching washer someday also!

Post# 105416 , Reply# 17   1/24/2006 at 16:03 (6,637 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )        

Jimmy awesome find and such an easy repair Just a beautiful machine Hope you find a washer

Post# 105435 , Reply# 18   1/24/2006 at 17:34 (6,637 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
Keep those Filtrators Clean!!

gansky1's profile picture
The Filtrator lint problem... This is what a 1960 Filtrator looked like when I took it apart 2 years ago. The string lying in the bottom was wrapped around the drum shaft. Scary fire hazard, but all that lint absorbs moisture from the drying clothes and would have slowed the machine down horribly. You can see bits of scorched lint around the cabinet and lying in the bottom as well - this came from the top of the heating element housing.

This lint looks mostly white too, probably used the machine for drying all those turkish towels!


Post# 105440 , Reply# 19   1/24/2006 at 18:22 (6,637 days old) by rickr (.)        
Lint Lint and more Lint!

rickr's profile picture
Think I remember when you restored this dryer Greg. It was just full-of-it!! LOL! That was the most lint I ever saw before. It is amazing more dryers don't catch on fire,when you see inside many of them.

This is a photo of the 56 Whirlpool dryer before restoration last summer. And I thought THAT was a fire waiting to happen!


Post# 105448 , Reply# 20   1/24/2006 at 19:22 (6,637 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Hey Rick, thanks for the posting. Yes, I love the Frigidaire dryer and I know there is a mate out there somewhere for it, just a matter of finding it. I remember when you did that Whirlpool dryer, boy they sure do collect lint fast! Its kind of scary to open one of those up and see that linty mess in there. Just think how many people never inspect their dryers.........just plain scary!

Post# 105452 , Reply# 21   1/24/2006 at 19:50 (6,637 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

PS Rick, have you used the Radar range coffee maker yet?

Post# 105469 , Reply# 22   1/24/2006 at 20:41 (6,637 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Thanks for all the pics, Jimmy. I can't believe how much lint builds up inside a dryer. No wonder there are fires. Makes me want to open mine up and make an inspection. The '57 is a gorgeous machine, no doubt. Another classic saved!

Post# 105470 , Reply# 23   1/24/2006 at 20:47 (6,637 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Yes Lint is a big problem with dryers and seems to be getting worse. Fabric softener and fabric softener sheets are the biggest culprits as far as lint build up is concerned. They create an oily waxy film residue with each successive load that lint sticks to, layer upon layer. Newer dryers with more plastic parts only compound the problem. Have other club members ever noticed this problem with fabric softener too? Be nice to hear others opinions on it.......I know I use it, but very sparingly............

Post# 105472 , Reply# 24   1/24/2006 at 20:52 (6,637 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
I use Downy in every wash load, but only about 1/4 to 1/3 the recommended dose. I have very soft water and it helps break down the remaining suds in the final rinse (FL'er).

I haven't noticed any build-up on the dryer's lint screen (there was a thread about that on the forum quite awhile ago). But who knows what could be building up elsewhere inside the dryer.



Post# 105488 , Reply# 25   1/24/2006 at 21:42 (6,637 days old) by angus (Fairfield, CT.)        

Jimmy - I don't personally use any fabric softeners, but some years ago, we gave our old GE dryer to a neighbor's son and wife who were just setting up house. At the time it was only about 7 years old, but we had just replaced our washer and now that the laundry was on the main level wanted the washer and dryer to match.

Anyway, never thought much about it until 2 summers ago. We were visiting them one Saturday. They had just recently purchased a new washer and were complaining about how long it took to dry clothes and how hot the top of the dryer was getting during the cycle.

Being me, I hightailed it to the basement and saw in about 2 seconds what the problem was. The outside vent for the dryer was behind the washer and the installers managed to smash the flexible foil tubing (BAD! BAD!! Choice) against the wall, so there was no air flow.

To compound the problem, our friend mentioned how much he loved soft clothes so he believed in overdosing on liquid softener and using 2 dryer sheets in each load.

So I went to town and cleaned the entire unit. There was an incredible greasy waxy coating on the lint screen that literally plugged almost all the holes. Had to scrub with a wire brush. Eventually got the whole thing cleaned up and running smoothly again, but never forgot the mess that softener overuse caused. So now I go and clean out the dryer every year and that now 20 year old GE dryer is still kicking....


Post# 105494 , Reply# 26   1/24/2006 at 22:02 (6,637 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
Hi Jimmy,
Have not used the Radarange coffee maker just yet. It's so MIB that I want to be sure an appliance nut is here with me when it is used for the first time. Then we will take photos to share. (:


Post# 105580 , Reply# 27   1/25/2006 at 12:25 (6,636 days old) by stainfighter (Columbia, SC)        
cleaning/washing the dryer screen...

stainfighter's profile picture
I think it was either Sudsmaster and Toggle that suggested (in Super section)I do that w/ our modern Frig. I was thinking of re-routing our vent (and still am) but was AMAZED how fast this little 5.8cu Westinghouse design dryer is now drying! Always do clean the screen out but never thought to actually wash and air dry it. Used Dawn and it is like night and day from last washday! Everything needs a good cleaning now and then, huh?

Post# 105753 , Reply# 28   1/25/2006 at 21:03 (6,636 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
I knew I had one more question: Jimmy, I've read in several posts that people love the fluffiness of loads dried in a Filtrator. What is that all about?

Post# 105773 , Reply# 29   1/25/2006 at 21:45 (6,636 days old) by filterflo (Chicago Area)        

Im really not sure why they are so fluffy! I guess because of the lower airflow and somewhat higher dryer temps than in other dryers. All in all, its one of the magical mysteries of a Filtrator! Actually, I think its beacuse the clothes get a kind of "steam bath" not found in other dryers and that makes the fibers fluff out more. Again, maybe others can help enlighten us as to this phenomenon.......

Post# 105811 , Reply# 30   1/26/2006 at 00:01 (6,636 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        
A steam bath...

gansky1's profile picture
precisely! The Filtrator dryer is, but for less than a dozen 1/4" holes in the cabinet, a closed system so with the higher operating temps, the water is quite literally "boiled" out of the fabrics being dried. The Filtrator does a great job getting the water to evaporate into steam, but it is rather slow to remove the moisture from the dryer. The air-cooled aluminum tube system at the bottom of the drum creates a natural convection for the heated, moist air. As the moist air is drawn down to the cool tubes, the moisture condenses in the tubes and drips into the water tray directly below the tube-unit. It's important to maintain the Filtrator dryer as a heavy coating of lint inside the cabinet holds moisture and slows the already-a-little-slow convection process. After about 15 minutes on high-temp, don't stand over the opening door or you could get a painful red face from the steam that pours out. This is my all-time favorite towel drying method, that steamy drying seems to revitalize towels and most cottons into their most puffy-softness. Very little or no fabric softener is even required with this moist drying climate, I don't think I've ever noticed any static electricity.

Post# 106019 , Reply# 31   1/26/2006 at 21:03 (6,635 days old) by super32 (Blackstone Massachusetts)        
Sofener nut

super32's profile picture
I love the smell of towels and sheets with lots of downy. However i've learned what too much can do. I usally use about 1/2 cap for most loads. I use a little more for sheets and towels. I cut back on towels because as sudsmaster pointed out once upon a time, too much sofener and build up can not only begin to stink but it can cause towels to not absorb as well as they should. I also have tried putting it in at different points in the rinse cycle. I have found using the bleach dispenser (since I rarly use bleach anyway) will dispense in the first rinse. Items dont seem to be as soft and fragrent but I dont have any residue either. Seems to be a happy medium. I never use sofener on loads of cleaning rags or towels.


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