Thread Number: 54533
Sir, we've been...jammed!
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 769297   7/9/2014 at 00:57 (3,551 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        

roto204's profile picture
Our beloved Montgomery Ward topload impeller dishwasher pooped the bed last week (the GSD1250 is now in its place, so that's okay). Tonight, our equally beloved Wards top-loader finished the cycle at 10:00 PM with a full load of clothes and hot water in it. Mysteriously, the timer had advanced to the end of the cycle, but it was apparent that the clothes had not.

A bad week for Electric Avenue, to be sure.

Doinking around didn't yield anything; the timer motor ran, but that was it. I thought that if the motor had died, surely if in the agitate portion of the cycle, it'd fill if you held the infinite water level control to "Reset" like it will do normally.

Nope.

Okayyyy. I called in a lifeline to help brainstorm this one. While on the phone, the machine grudgingly agitated-kinda, but would spin, so I took advantage of the opportunity to eject the water.

What could it be--bad capacitor? Motor? Timer contacts? Lid switch? Luck?

After unloading the clothes, I discovered--oop! Couldn't unload the clothes. One of the percale sheets had lodged itself under the agitator between the skirt and bearing, and jammed the transmission so solidly that the motor couldn't do much more with it.

A quick dismount of the agitator and extraction of the now lovely and crepe-paper-textured sheet resolved the issue, and all's well again with the world.

I can honestly say this is the first time I've ever had this happen to me. Kudos to WCI for their thermal motor cutoff; it works.

Has this ever happened to any of you? After seemingly endless minutes of wire-poking and vicarious consultation of doctrine, I felt like a yutz.





Post# 769298 , Reply# 1   7/9/2014 at 01:07 (3,551 days old) by funktionalart (Rison, AR)        
Yutzos unite....

funktionalart's profile picture
I have a similarly tragically embarrassing story myself. If I made those details public up here I'd be run outta this place on a rail. Maybe I'll tell ya 'bout it sometime "off-site" :p

Post# 769309 , Reply# 2   7/9/2014 at 02:10 (3,551 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona )        
awwww man!!!

hippiedoll's profile picture
that was a pretty suspenseful story, but i am soooo glad to read that everything was alright with your washer!!!

i haven't had a that happen to me & i hope it doesn't cuz i'll probably be freaking out until i see what the problem is. and i have to laugh (in relief) too!!!
hm hm hm....

hey roto204, thank you for sharing that story. now if anything similar should happen to me, i'll remember to check for any clothes lodged up under the agitator and around the agitator post.

;o)


Post# 769317 , Reply# 3   7/9/2014 at 03:43 (3,551 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Only thing comparable was my first washer "repair" when I was about 9. Baby sock escaped the drum of our slant Westy and lodged in the pump, dead stalling it.

What I DON'T remember is how I got the cover off and the sock out without 8 gallons of water piddling on the floor. Maybe it did. I'd mopped before, like the time I put laundry soap in the dishwasher.

Didn't 'know' laundry could glom a whole agitator. But I've been known to chant "ANYthing is possible" so there you are.


Post# 769324 , Reply# 4   7/9/2014 at 05:34 (3,551 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Nate-- Your WCI reference leads me to believe the washer has an indexing tub. If so, I recall sheets getting twisted into unbelievably horrid knots/ropes in my 2005 Frigidaire top-loader. Don't remember anything going under the skirt, though...

Wild! Just when you think you've seen everything, right?

How the cowboys do it:





Post# 769328 , Reply# 5   7/9/2014 at 05:46 (3,551 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

So what happened to the top load impeller dishwasher or is that a separate post? Sorry you had this kind of excitement.

Post# 769334 , Reply# 6   7/9/2014 at 06:35 (3,551 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Clothes Caught Under An Agitator

combo52's profile picture
As A service tech I we have seen this more times than I can remember, it is certainly MUCH more likely with a washer with an indexing tub.

DC is full of condos that have a Frigidaire built GE branded 27" top load stack washer-dryer that reads [ A Quality Product Of The General Electric Co. ] LOL. It is funny how GE puts this phrase on some of the junky appliances that they source.

Anyway we are often pulling stuck clothing out from agitators in these machines, and if the washer does not destroy the clothing the dryer will. After as few as 6-10 years of use the front dryer bearing glides are so worn that clothing starts to get stuck in the gap at the bottom of the dryer drum and this leaves nasty rusty brown streaks on clothing. The other big problem with these washers are cracked agitators and agitator drive blocks when folks overload a little too much, overall these aren't great washers but they often do last a good while if the usage is light and they get reasonable care.


Post# 769375 , Reply# 7   7/9/2014 at 11:34 (3,551 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
Thanks, everyone!

roto204's profile picture
I feel better now :-) I hadn't contemplated the indexing-tub angle--that would account for a lot of it, I'd bet. *shakes fist at sky* Dang you, Westinghouse!

"So what happened to the top load impeller dishwasher"

I need to flip it over and see. I started a cycle, and it filled, washed, drained, all normally--then went to fill for the second wash. The filling part went okay, but I noticed a distinct lack of impeller action. Sure enough, again, the timer motor was running, but no other love. (Maybe this is a Wards exclusive.)

In this case, I could get the machine to fill on other segments, as well as run the remote drain pump. So, I drained it, finished the dishes by hand (horrors! :-) ), and inspected everything; it looks fine, and I tried connecting a test cable to the impeller motor terminals, and no love, so I suspect the little Westinghouse nonserviceable motor underneath has developed an open winding or some such. I'm going to borrow a continuity tester to verify. The rest of the machine (exterior paint flaking notwithstanding) is in perfect shape, so it merits investigation.

"if the washer does not destroy the clothing the dryer will"

LOL That's great to know, John--and I love the part about GE-sourced machines. Maybe there are quotation marks around "Quality"? :-)

Happily, we have a '78 Kenmore gas dryer paired with this, that's getting its rebuild next week. It's far more forgiving (and durable) than what would be the twin to this. :-) Roger has some great stories about what happens to these when people run them to death, resulting in the bearing failing and dumping the drum into the heating element.

We'll be sure to go easy on it in the future. I'm also gearing up to start the rebuild of the '63 slant-front to give it a breather.


Post# 769378 , Reply# 8   7/9/2014 at 11:42 (3,551 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        
"Maybe this is a Ward's exclusive."

rp2813's profile picture

You could have stopped right there . . .


Post# 769382 , Reply# 9   7/9/2014 at 11:50 (3,551 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
LOL!

roto204's profile picture
I was waiting for this. ;-) For a brief moment, I almost felt a vibe sweep over me, as though to say, "Well, I guess we're going to Sears tomorrow, kids!"

Post# 769396 , Reply# 10   7/9/2014 at 12:48 (3,551 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Possibly my favorite thread of the week, if only because I know that Nate, like me, has a small but undeniable soft spot in his head---I mean heart---for WCI washers, despite mountains of evidence pointing out why one shouldn't.

Post# 769397 , Reply# 11   7/9/2014 at 12:51 (3,551 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
small but undeniable soft spot in his head

roto204's profile picture
Sing it, brother. ;-)

Post# 769400 , Reply# 12   7/9/2014 at 12:55 (3,551 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

Nate always roots for the underdog!!!! 


Post# 769419 , Reply# 13   7/9/2014 at 13:46 (3,551 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)        

countryford's profile picture

You go, Nate.


Post# 769425 , Reply# 14   7/9/2014 at 14:09 (3,551 days old) by retropia ()        

Thank goodness SOMEONE is shopping at Montgomery Ward's; hats off to Nate.


  View Full Size
Post# 769431 , Reply# 15   7/9/2014 at 14:55 (3,551 days old) by washdaddy (Baltimore)        

I unfortunately have to put up with one of those Frigidaire stack units since that is what is provided by the mgmt. co. that runs the apartment complex I live in. Surprisingly is doesn't do a bad job as far as cleaning goes but I certainly do miss true temp. washing. This machine dumbs them down.
The comedy ensues though every time I wash a load of sheets in the machine. No matter how you put them in the machine it is always a game of tug of war with it to get them back out because of the twisted up mass of ropes that are there when you open the lid when it finishes the cycle. I've never had anything snag under the agitator but thanks to the indexing tub it sure likes to twist sheets into a rope. I just wish there was someway that you could disable the indexing without affecting it any other way.


Post# 769448 , Reply# 16   7/9/2014 at 16:21 (3,551 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
Wards

roto204's profile picture
Here in Tucson, we had the main anchor at the El Con Mall, which opened in '61 and ultimately wore its early-seventies blue-bar logo to the end. I can't find any pictures of it, which either means that it wasn't spectacular enough to photograph, or that shoppers took their cameras, fresh from Wards, outside--only to find they didn't work.

Given my above experience, I have my suspicions.

It's now a Target, like so many Wards buildings became, including the Target I worked at in Kansas City, which still has the Wards storeroom underneath, even though the building at ground level was razed.

I like Wards merchandise because it's not Sears. I swam in Sears throughout my childhood, and familiarity breeds contempt, even if it's higher-quality contempt. :-)


Post# 769455 , Reply# 17   7/9/2014 at 16:42 (3,551 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

supersuds's profile picture
I thought Wards washers were made by Norge. At least I remember a Consumer Reports washer test from the Eighties that said they were Magic Chef built versions or the old Norge design...or is it a faulty memory?

Post# 769458 , Reply# 18   7/9/2014 at 16:46 (3,551 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture

"I swam in Sears throughout my childhood..."

 

Same here! I had a severe case of Frigidaire envy for 15 years.  While in junior high I swore I'd never have anything with a Kenmore, Silvertone, or Craftsman label in my home.  My parents bought everything at  Sears.

 

My contempt has evolved a bit; I have a Kenmore microwave and a Kenmore vacuum cleaner.  But that's it!


Post# 769519 , Reply# 19   7/9/2014 at 19:17 (3,551 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Wards Impeller dishwasher motor stall

turquoisedude's profile picture

This may be a long shot, but my 62 Monkey Wards impeller dishwasher suddenly stopped working after the first tests I did with it.  After I did my fist-shaking at the sky, I fooled around with the overload protector at the rear of the machine - the 'reset' button had gone out of alignment and tripped the motor off.  I shook out some loose bits out of the casing and the motor restarted again.   Ya never know... 


Post# 769522 , Reply# 20   7/9/2014 at 19:39 (3,551 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

This post has been removed by the member who posted it.



Post# 769533 , Reply# 21   7/9/2014 at 20:15 (3,551 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
Maybe there's a sheet stuck in the dishwasher too...

Ducking and running...

RCD

P.s. Saw this survivor trailer not too long ago...


  View Full Size
Post# 769534 , Reply# 22   7/9/2014 at 20:21 (3,551 days old) by rogera608s (Tucson,AZ)        

Nate,
There are some nice DD Kenmores on Craigslist. :-)
R


Post# 769595 , Reply# 23   7/9/2014 at 22:30 (3,551 days old) by PhilR (Quebec Canada)        

philr's profile picture

I recently had a look at a Kenmore (Whirlpool DD) washer that had apparently made a noise similar to an explosion, some smoke and didn't spin after that. When I tested it, I manually advanced the timer to spin and it did spin slowly. Then I saw some smoke coming out of the capacitor.  It was just a few years old and I noticed some of the windings on the motor had darkened but a replacement capacitor was cheap and I thought it might be OK if I'd just replace it.

So after I replaced the capacitor, I started the washer, let it agitate and when it started to spin, there was another loud bang and smoke from the new capacitor! Then I noticed the timer knob had not advanced from the position I left it in when it was filling for the wash. I didn't understand how the timer knob stayed stuck in "wash" and the washer had started to spin but I figured it had to be related to the problem!  The owner didn't want to spend more than 10 bucks on that washer so I didn't investigate further!


Post# 769792 , Reply# 24   7/10/2014 at 17:37 (3,550 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
You are not hallucinating

roto204's profile picture
"I thought Wards washers were made by Norge"

Wards sold Westinghouse and Norge concurrently for a long time; the Signature 15 was the Westinghouse design and the Signature 18/20 was the Norge. Here's a pic that shows both on the same sales floor, from the excellent Pleasant Family Shopping blog. You can see the Westies hanging off in the far background; I think the foreground is Norge-o-rama, and of course, the Her Royal Pain set are elevated on the platform. :-)

"I had a severe case of Frigidaire envy for 15 years."

Me too, Eugene! I've only had the Envy for 9 years, though, because my first pulsator Frigidaire encountered was on the homepage of this site. :-) I never knew such a thing existed.

"I fooled around with the overload protector at the rear of the machine"

You know, Paul, that's a danged good idea. I had checked to be sure it had not popped, but maybe it has something to do with it? Then again, I tried a test cord on the motor, and nothing. I'll come back to it with a fresh view and see.

"Maybe there's a sheet stuck in the dishwasher too..."

Would it be a whole lot different than the action on those Hitachi GE portables? ;-) Just think, with the dual-fill dispensers, you've got room for detergent and softener. It's almost a Dispensomat!

"There are some nice DD Kenmores on Craigslist. :-) "

LOL!!! So true, and that might be the footnote of it all someday...

"smoke coming out of the capacitor"

Phil, that is odd. Kind of the "fool me twice" phenomenon. I wonder what the deal with that was? Sounds like an electrical issue elsewhere. I first thought about the capacitor on this machine, but was intrigued that it was able to spin with no issue. Now we know why, I guess...


  View Full Size
Post# 769808 , Reply# 25   7/10/2014 at 19:36 (3,550 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

washerlover's profile picture
And we were a Montgomery Ward family: Coldspot refrigerator, Signature washer & dryer, Airline television set, PowrKraft (?) tools. Loved how Wards copied Sears "Sears Best" with "Wards Finest' on certain appliances. BTW, I have the exact same model washer that's featured in the front of the photo above.

Post# 770077 , Reply# 26   7/11/2014 at 20:12 (3,549 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

supersuds's profile picture
Ah, I didn't know that MW sold Westinghouse as well as Norge designs. That must have maximized their parts and service difficulties....

Post# 770093 , Reply# 27   7/11/2014 at 21:36 (3,549 days old) by classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia)        
Forgive my lack of knowledge, but...

classiccaprice's profile picture
What was Montgomery Wards refrigerator/stove line? Coldspot/Kenmore was/is Sears. Were they signatures too?

Post# 770107 , Reply# 28   7/11/2014 at 22:05 (3,549 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        
Ward's Refrigerators

rp2813's profile picture

You'd think I'd be an authority on all things Ward, but we only owned one of their refrigerators briefly and my mom bought it used from a co-worker (at the time they both worked at Ward's, of course).  It was a noisy '65 frost free, top freezer, single control Frigidaire re-badge that offered two scenarios:  Optimum fresh food temperature and soft ice cream, or firm ice cream and firm fresh food.  As with virtually any contraption Ward's sold, it was an epic FAIL.

 

I think the refrigerators may have been Signature, but the freezers were Tru-Cold.   It's possible both were badged Tru-Cold, either part of the time or until, mercifully, Ward's folded.


Post# 770207 , Reply# 29   7/12/2014 at 11:25 (3,548 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
That's what I like about you, Ralph. You're so gentle when you talk about Ward's appliances. I wish you wouldn't hold back... LOL.

I believe the ranges went under the signature name as well.

RCD


Post# 770218 , Reply# 30   7/12/2014 at 12:30 (3,548 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

rp2813's profile picture

So true.  I'm scarred for life, just like the ceramic tile in the laundry room.  I plead PTSD.


Post# 770453 , Reply# 31   7/13/2014 at 05:38 (3,547 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
PTSD?

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
As in Post Traumatic Signature Disorder?

RCD


Post# 770460 , Reply# 32   7/13/2014 at 05:52 (3,547 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
My first 'real' job was TV repairman for Montgomery Ward at their 7th Street store in Fort Worth, maybe 5 miles from where I sit now. We/they took products and customers seriously. Whatever the absolute value of what they sold in 1966, try to find that 'serious' commitment in retailing today.

Post# 770535 , Reply# 33   7/13/2014 at 11:22 (3,547 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
Tru-Cold

roto204's profile picture
I don't know who sourced refrigeration for them; I think we've seen some Frigidaire and possibly some Norge refrigeration? They seemed to have a more diverse source of white-good suppliers over the years, and yes, I would wager that made life much more difficult for Wards, compared to Sears, who was pretty much sourcing only Whirlpool and/or D&M. Imagine the mix once WCI shifted to the Franklin platform, making three possible designs for the Signature top-loaders.

There was a Tru-Cold top-freezer fridge here in Phoenix that was very handsome, and Ralph and I both thought it was nice, although Ralph had to excuse himself due to shaking and cold sweats after viewing the ad. :-)

I didn't know until that point that they badged Tru-Cold on fridge combos. Buying appliances at Montgomery Ward must have been confusing as hell.


Post# 770548 , Reply# 34   7/13/2014 at 12:18 (3,547 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
TruCold...

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
If I remember correctly, it was sourced by, among other things, Westinghouse/Frigidaire and Norge (Later Admiral then Maytag).

RCD


Post# 770553 , Reply# 35   7/13/2014 at 13:10 (3,547 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

Who made Wards Airline series of televisions? I always wondered about that.

My parents loved Sears. I don't think they ever shopped at Wards at all. Well, when I was in college my mother bought me some dress shirts from Wards. They were OK.
Even though my parents bought a lot of stuff from Sears. The kitchen was either Kenmore or Coldspot the laundry equipment always came from Polk Bros. Frigidaire or GE.


Post# 770563 , Reply# 36   7/13/2014 at 14:34 (3,547 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        
Airline and Tru-Cold

rp2813's profile picture

Ah yes Nate, I remember that Tru-Cold top freezer in Phoenix.  If it were nearer me and I didn't already have the Combination, I'd have overcome my PTSD (thanks Drew!) for that one.  The '61 Tru-Cold freezer in the basement has never been out of operation except to defrost -- and you know how infrequently I do that . . .  which is why I qualified my statement above with "virtually" regarding Ward's products.

 

Allen, I think Airline was a rebadge of a fairly reputable manufacturer, but I can't think of who it was.  A Ward's anomaly to be sure.


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 6         View Full Size
Post# 770598 , Reply# 37   7/13/2014 at 17:37 (3,547 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Wards Tru-Cold Refrigerators

combo52's profile picture
Were mostly Westinghouse in the late 50s-the mid 60s then they went to GM Frigidaire and Admiral, The GM Frigidaire were the only ones that were worth much.

Post# 770657 , Reply# 38   7/13/2014 at 20:55 (3,547 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

washerlover's profile picture
So the old memory doesn't serve me like it used to...yes, Tru-Cold was the refrigerator/freezer line. Ours had the freezer on the bottom with foot-pedal opener, middle meat drawer, and fridge on top. My Mom worked at Wards back in the early 50s; she says Magnavox was the manufacturer of the TVs then...

Post# 770666 , Reply# 39   7/13/2014 at 21:17 (3,547 days old) by rp2813 (Sannazay)        

rp2813's profile picture

I think maybe when Ward's switched from Westinghouse to Frigidaire, they also switched from Tru-Cold to Signature.


Post# 770723 , Reply# 40   7/14/2014 at 03:22 (3,546 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture
Wells Gardner made MW electronics in the 60s. Gradually Panasonic snuck in for the smaller color sets and I believe Morse for the radio/phono consoles. Neither particularly impressive. I don't know who they ended up with, I only worked there one year then left the continent.

Post# 770811 , Reply# 41   7/14/2014 at 12:39 (3,546 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        
Well friend Ralph,

twintubdexter's profile picture
45 or so years ago, for $15 you could have turned out to be a kinder and gentler person with regards to Montgomery Ward's fine line of appliances :-)

ring..."hello, I'd like to talk to Wendy about registering my child"


  View Full Size
Post# 770933 , Reply# 42   7/14/2014 at 20:06 (3,546 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

washerlover's profile picture
And that ad makes me remember in some of the larger Montgomery Ward stores they had a restaurant/cafeteria called "Winky Wards." (hope my memory is working properly on that one)

Post# 770977 , Reply# 43   7/15/2014 at 00:21 (3,546 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
I missed the 8 Mile Rd. Montgomery Ward that was near me (and where the Hagopian rug place got its bottom mount Tru Cold fridge/freezer, iin Copper w/o a "color panel" on the freezer door)...

It long-closed before I could ever drive to it, and maybe the empty building sat around from shortly after the time we had moved here, if I don't remember my family ever shopping at it...


-- Dave


Post# 771192 , Reply# 44   7/15/2014 at 21:12 (3,545 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
wards / westys

piMW

  

 

 

      Checkrate/Like 
 
 
   

and this

  

c


Post# 771196 , Reply# 45   7/15/2014 at 21:33 (3,545 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
more Ward's

pic
 



 


Post# 771366 , Reply# 46   7/16/2014 at 20:20 (3,544 days old) by washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

washerlover's profile picture
That top-loading set in the first photo is what started it all for me. My grandmother had the models just below those -- a one-speed washer but a great machine. Those amazing Norge sounds were so much fun. Still searching for that machine out there somewhere...


Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy