Thread Number: 57504  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
61 Kenmore washer
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Post# 798836   12/13/2014 at 03:03 (3,393 days old) by ladyk (Tacoma)        

Just tore into this baby tonight and found the centerpost completely rotted thru. Has anyone tried cutting the post off and welding a new post in place? The post is very solid at the bottom. Just a thought.




Post# 798860 , Reply# 1   12/13/2014 at 10:11 (3,393 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        
Yes, it's been done two different ways...

kenmoreguy64's profile picture
Check with member Combo52 for his recommendations in welding in a stainless sleeve that makes use of the original centerpost.

Also, check with member Arris, who had a completely new centerpost installed on the baseplate of his 1975-ish Whirlpool.

Good luck, and let us know if we can help you with anything else on this machine.

Got any pictures?

Gordon


Post# 798867 , Reply# 2   12/13/2014 at 12:22 (3,393 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
BasePlate

arris's profile picture
Ladyk

I had a new stainless steel center post installed in the baseplate of my 75 WP LDA-9800. I still have 8 ft of the stainless I used for the centerpost. 12/15 I'm going out for shoulder sugery and will have no use of my RT shoulder for 12 weeks, it may take me a while to respond to any questions you might have. I think for the 10ft of stainless and the old one removed and new one installed it was around 125 dollars the new one is a bit thicker ID but the same OD as the old one, that being said I have to have the inside on the new one milled down for the bearings to fit. The guy did a fantastic Job !!!!! I took it to a metal fabrication shop close to me, they are great !!!! here is a picture of mine


Post# 798970 , Reply# 3   12/14/2014 at 01:54 (3,392 days old) by ladyk (Tacoma)        
requested pics

As you can see there's not much center post left. Lol. I just finished the dryer. Great machine with the lint storage system.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 4         View Full Size
Post# 798993 , Reply# 4   12/14/2014 at 07:59 (3,392 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN)        

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



Post# 799044 , Reply# 5   12/14/2014 at 12:41 (3,392 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture

I love that washer.  My high school bet friend's mom had that washer until 1973. 


Post# 799056 , Reply# 6   12/14/2014 at 15:33 (3,392 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
This looks like a model carried over from 1959, when the consoles were shaped like your '61. Used to have a '59 Sears catalog and recall seeing a similar machine. Very cool! Thanks for the photos and may the repair gods be with you.

Post# 799076 , Reply# 7   12/14/2014 at 17:32 (3,392 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
Ouch !!

arris's profile picture
Yup Looks pretty bad............ Mine was no where near that bad but could see where it was rusting on the inside so I figured I would bite the bullet and see what I could do as far as getting a new one installed, I looked for months on info regarding replacement but could find nothing. I figured what the hell, nothing ventured nothing gained, Mine now looks new if you want a new one installed I could take it to the shop I had mine done at, or you can look for a metal fabrication shop near you, take the inner bearings with you so they can size the inside for them to fit. Take the old center post so they can order some stainless the same OD, I could only get a 10ft piece which was a bit expensive, but if I decide to replace another one I have the stainless. As I mentioned in my previous post the only stainless the shop could get was thicker, which led to a smaller ID, resulting in them milling the inside down for the bearings to fit.. keep me posted on how you make out... Jim

Post# 799077 , Reply# 8   12/14/2014 at 17:35 (3,392 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
Center post

arris's profile picture
You may also want to look at the old one to see if it was welded, I seem to remember John saying that they were welded in up to a certain year and after that they were pressed in, which is what mine was. Good luck... Jim

Post# 799116 , Reply# 9   12/14/2014 at 21:36 (3,392 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA)        

I had a childhood friend of mine have this washer! Been wanting to see that multi-colored cycle option display! Could you possibly make a more focused close-up photo of the console and dial?

Post# 799128 , Reply# 10   12/14/2014 at 22:16 (3,392 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Rusted Center Post Tube In A BD KM

combo52's profile picture
The easiest way to rebuild this washer is to get a much better center-post and base-plate assembly from a newer washer. Your center-post was welded in the base-plate so it can not be pressed out to replace like Jim did. If it is not broken you can weld a SS tube over the outside like we have done several times, by welding it top and bottom it will work on even badly rusted center-posts.

Post# 799290 , Reply# 11   12/15/2014 at 19:19 (3,391 days old) by ladyk (Tacoma)        

Just curious. Why cant a welded unit be replaced?

Post# 799292 , Reply# 12   12/15/2014 at 19:22 (3,391 days old) by ladyk (Tacoma)        

Just curious. Why cant a welded unit be replaced?

Post# 799297 , Reply# 13   12/15/2014 at 19:48 (3,391 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        

combo52's profile picture
It can be it is just a lot more skill and work.


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