Thread Number: 5494
YEEHAW!! The '77 Dispensall rides again!!
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Post# 116386   3/20/2006 at 00:03 (6,611 days old) by westytoploader ()        

My 1977 GE (the "Texas Tankless Dispensall") was sitting for the longest time with the inner tub pulled. The reason? Right before the Texas Wash-In last December, I was about to put it in the Studio when I noticed it was spinning a little too off-balance, and, running it with the top off, it appeared that the inner tub was off-center and not mounted correctly. Not only that, but further examination revealed some HEAVY rust around the top gasket and underneath the transmission boot. Also, the transmission case was BADLY corroded from years of use, and I was afraid that simply replacing the boot wasn't going to be enough and that it would leak. Not to mention a new transmission would cost over $200, and was becoming NLA. Parts machines with possible "donor" trannies seemed few and far between, so, in the shed it sat for the next 3 months...

Until one night I got a call from Jerry H. in Massillon (sp?) Ohio, who I remembered from the 2005 Convention in Omaha. He said he had 3 rebuilt large capacity GE transmissions sitting in his appliance parts distributor, and explained that they were NLA and I could have one for the shipping. I was shocked, and couldn't have said "YES!!!" fast enough!!! So after ordering a few more crucial parts from RepairClinic, I was all set. The transmission arrived the week before last, and the parts arrived Friday, so I immediately got to work. Friday night I sanded and painted the outer tub with POR-15, and yesterday I installed the new transmission, boot, etc. Will go through more detail on another thread. By today (Sunday) I was ready to wash, removed the 1998 DD Kenmore, and installed the Dispensall in its place!!

Even though I still have the straight-vane of course, I prefer the 18 lb. Ramp Activator (courtesy of John P./Coldspot66). The action still amazes me...can't believe I went without it for 3 months!! It handled the big Bob-load with exceptional ease.

Jerry, I can't thank you enough for your generosity in helping me bring this awesome machine back to life again. And thanks for the AMP boot too...you'll be hearing that Ramp Activation shortly!!

Enough "bloviating" for now...here's a shot of the machine installed in the Studio and a link to the rest of the pictures! Enjoy!

--Austin


CLICK HERE TO GO TO westytoploader's LINK





Post# 116389 , Reply# 1   3/20/2006 at 00:08 (6,611 days old) by hooverwheelaway ()        
Gorgeous!

Hey Austin-

Congrats! Machine looks fabulous!

~Fred


Post# 116391 , Reply# 2   3/20/2006 at 00:12 (6,611 days old) by scott55405 ()        

Very nice Austin! Does yours have the actual dispenser unit? Greg had one one time, but the dispenser was missing.

Post# 116397 , Reply# 3   3/20/2006 at 00:38 (6,611 days old) by westytoploader ()        

Hi Scott, mine doesn't have the dispenser unit, hence the "Texas Tankless" name. ;-)

Post# 116428 , Reply# 4   3/20/2006 at 06:41 (6,611 days old) by mayken4now (Panama City, Florida)        

mayken4now's profile picture
That is really nice Austin. Next wash-in, would love to see it run.

Steve


Post# 116433 , Reply# 5   3/20/2006 at 06:51 (6,611 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
*SWOON*
*FAINT*
-applause upon recovery.

OMG. FABULOUS (in most rugged voice possible)
When is the next flight to Texas?

YAY AUSTIN


Post# 116434 , Reply# 6   3/20/2006 at 06:53 (6,611 days old) by westyslantfront ()        

congratulations Austin....looks like a fun machine...

Post# 116437 , Reply# 7   3/20/2006 at 07:14 (6,611 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        
WASH-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The GE lives! And a fabulous AMP too! When's the wash-in?

Post# 116441 , Reply# 8   3/20/2006 at 08:12 (6,611 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Wow

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Well done Austin

You make it sound so easy & simple...LOL

Does the replacement tranny have metal gears etc, was it the re-built models that had the plastic outer casing, or did all new later trannys have it??

Mike


Post# 116481 , Reply# 9   3/20/2006 at 09:15 (6,611 days old) by unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Hi Austin, that's just great about the GE, congrats. Working on two machines at once are ya? I've been there.

What this, no videos? :)


Post# 116488 , Reply# 10   3/20/2006 at 09:26 (6,611 days old) by jasonl (Cookeville, TN)        
Videos

Well, as soon as the next wash-in we'll have lots of videos

Post# 116490 , Reply# 11   3/20/2006 at 09:35 (6,611 days old) by tlee618 ()        

Austin, Congratulations on another great job!! That machine sure seems to have a lot of water action!! I know that you will have fun with it. Terry

Post# 116496 , Reply# 12   3/20/2006 at 10:11 (6,611 days old) by rickr (.)        

rickr's profile picture
Great job Austin! Those GE's are a bit rough on clothes imho,but they sure get stuff clean! I use mine for regular towels and "car towels" too. Everything comes out clean everytime.

Post# 116499 , Reply# 13   3/20/2006 at 10:50 (6,611 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
Hey Austin - great job on the resto! This looks like a fun machine to have around - makes me wish I had my GE going. You've given me hope, LOL.

Ben


Post# 116509 , Reply# 14   3/20/2006 at 11:55 (6,611 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Congratulations Austin. I love all the switches and dials on that machine.

Post# 116513 , Reply# 15   3/20/2006 at 12:42 (6,611 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
Awesome!

roto204's profile picture
Happiness is fresh boots and being rid of corroded parts. Congratulations!! :-)

--Nate


Post# 116516 , Reply# 16   3/20/2006 at 13:05 (6,611 days old) by agiflow ()        

Excellent job Austin!! That filter-flo stream looks particularly powerful. Have loads of fun with it.

Post# 116543 , Reply# 17   3/20/2006 at 15:26 (6,611 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
A round of applause for you, Austin! I'm so impressed with the work you've done on your machines. I couldn't repair a washer given a map and a genius robot. Congratulations!

Post# 116550 , Reply# 18   3/20/2006 at 16:04 (6,611 days old) by retromom ()        
Map and Robot you say?

Frigilux:

It's because Westy takes after his mother. ;-)

Yeah, right...
Venus :-)


Post# 116555 , Reply# 19   3/20/2006 at 16:10 (6,611 days old) by pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
WOO HOO!!!!! The GE looks great Austin! Congrats on finally finding a new transmission, I know you have been dying to find one for a while!

Post# 116580 , Reply# 20   3/20/2006 at 17:57 (6,610 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
It looks awesome! You did a great job and the machine looks (and sounded!) great.

Congrats on a restoration to be proud of!


Post# 116591 , Reply# 21   3/20/2006 at 18:30 (6,610 days old) by frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Well, Venus, the boy must get his tool-box prowess from someone! My Dad could fix/build/reconstruct anything, but those genes definitely didn't download to the next generation, ha-ha...

Post# 116595 , Reply# 22   3/20/2006 at 18:48 (6,610 days old) by jerry (Santa Maria, CA)        

How nice to see you have it all back together . In all the years I have done this I have never run across one with the dispensal system .Who knows someday I might find one. It looks just great!

Post# 116609 , Reply# 23   3/20/2006 at 20:41 (6,610 days old) by southernmdgeguy ()        

Great to see that up and running strong, and you make it look and sound easy! I too so impressed by the work you do. Another nice top of the line GE back in service, I have to keep looking!

Scott


Post# 116613 , Reply# 24   3/20/2006 at 20:52 (6,610 days old) by brent-aucoin ()        

You go Austin!
This is great!
You are really getting ahead in the game of repair! I think that this is just great!
Thanks for all of your pictures.
I think the sound of a GE washer never leaves your brain. I do have so many memories of them through my life. I love the sounds of the Activator, and the brake at the end of the spin!
Thanks for the photos!
Brent


Post# 116615 , Reply# 25   3/20/2006 at 21:07 (6,610 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Austin, I am glad you were finally able to complete the work on this. This is one of the epitomes of total flexible fabric care washers. And it's so good you have a General keeping an eye on those two Queens with those crowns on either side of the General. I can't wait. Umm, don't ya wish there was a see-thru filter-flo pan?

Post# 116625 , Reply# 26   3/20/2006 at 21:39 (6,610 days old) by peteski50 (New York)        
Dispensall

peteski50's profile picture
Austin
This is realy a great washer
Best Of Luck!
Peter



Post# 116795 , Reply# 27   3/21/2006 at 16:21 (6,610 days old) by wmlask (Spring Grove, IL)        
Dispensall Parts

Austin:

I may have the part you need to complete this machine.
Bill

wmlask@yahoo.com


Post# 116812 , Reply# 28   3/21/2006 at 18:09 (6,609 days old) by geextrarinse (Hudson Valley, New York )        
JEALOUS...

geextrarinse's profile picture
Does not even cover it!

I'm so glad to see those pics Austin! I'm wondering if you'd be interrested in photographing the machine with the top up so we can see the Dispensall Diverter. I've always been interreted in how it did that with the recirculation nozzle. I know there are the air tubes and all connected to the timer - but I've never seen it in person as you know I'm dieing to! I'm hoping to find my own of course but I'm also willing to just convert the GE I have since It's the same model without the dispensall. I'd just need a diverter and the lid - but honestly i'd just like the wide ramp - that would mmake me happy to watch even if it didn't have the diverter. I hope that someone does have a tank for you so we can all know just how it works. I'm also curious to know how the water is diverted and during which parts of the cycle. It seems that the water flowing to the right is for regular wash and the detergent recepticle and to the left for the fabric softner but when does if just flow out the center of the ramp? I need to live vicariously through you until the gods should grace me with my own.

Thanks again for sharing! - I will get you a larger filter flo pan if you don't already have one - it will be better for the angles that the water comes out with that diverter. I know they used to come with the 13" Super filter flo pans and I think you have an 11" one on there. I like the big ones - they filter the water faster and don't built up with suds. Oh and you'll need a mini basket of course!

Looking forward to the next round of pics!

Matt


Post# 116813 , Reply# 29   3/21/2006 at 18:12 (6,609 days old) by knitwits1975 ()        

I too have fond memories of GE filter-flos. I wish now that my grandmother had kept her old machine, the one Matt's mini-basket came out of.

Post# 116814 , Reply# 30   3/21/2006 at 18:13 (6,609 days old) by knitwits1975 ()        

She's a beauty Austin, keep up the good work!

Post# 116817 , Reply# 31   3/21/2006 at 18:23 (6,609 days old) by geextrarinse (Hudson Valley, New York )        
Just saw the other thread

geextrarinse's profile picture
So I got to see the top up pics - very interresting! I still want my own to play with though! and who knows maybe someday I'll get to Texas and see your machines in person.

Thanks Austin!
So nice to see a kindred soul!
Matt


Post# 116824 , Reply# 32   3/21/2006 at 20:33 (6,609 days old) by fixerman ()        

Matt,

I have a Dispensall. It is missing the tank, if that is thing that collects the detergents and such under the small lid, as most of them are. Everything else should be there. The control panel is damaged but could be straightened to be usable. I would sell you all the dispensall parts to convert yours or if you can figure out how to get it from Minnesota, you can have the whole thing. It is gold and does have some chips in the top porcelain but the top could be easily replaced with a donor machine. The ramp is there, but a tang broke off when I opened up the top. It fell between the tubs so it is there, just needs to be glued or fastened back on somehow. it appears the grommet that goes through the outer tub is different than a regular machines so this would have to be adapted also.

I'll take some pics if you are interested


Let me know what you think.


Post# 116830 , Reply# 33   3/21/2006 at 20:55 (6,609 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

Thanks for sharing the photos! Now I can put a picture to the sound effects I heard the other night.I'm so glad you were able to get her up and running without too much trouble.


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