Thread Number: 76764  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
76’ Dispensall restoration
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Post# 1006259   9/6/2018 at 13:15 (2,030 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        

jons1077's profile picture
It’s been a while.

I’ve had this ‘76 GE Dispensall for several years now and it was a rather unfortunate one. No tank, outer tub was a rusted disaster and the transmission lost all of its ability to contain oil.

FINALLY, after a long search, I happened across a new large capacity transmission on eBay remanufactured in 1996. Completely new.

Everything patched up, new belt, new tranny and we’re finally back in business. I’d guess this machine has been out of service for at least a decade.

Last to-do item for this machine will be servicing the diverter mechanism for the Dispensall feature which is something I know nothing about. Any advice is very much appreciated!


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Post# 1006264 , Reply# 1   9/6/2018 at 14:45 (2,030 days old) by TrainGuy (Key West, FL)        
Congrats!

trainguy's profile picture

What a beautiful machine. Glad you got it up and running!


Post# 1006272 , Reply# 2   9/6/2018 at 17:19 (2,030 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Thanks Trainguy!

jons1077's profile picture
I’m about to wrap up working on the 1970 GE set as well. I have a matching Americana dryer but in white. Should make for a nice lineup.

Post# 1006273 , Reply# 3   9/6/2018 at 17:22 (2,030 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        
That is a beautiful machine!

justjunque's profile picture
Having only recently discovered that people collect washers and dryers, I've never seen nor even knew such a machine existed.
I like it a lot!
Glad you were able to find the parts!
Good luck with the rest of it!

Barry


Post# 1006282 , Reply# 4   9/6/2018 at 18:33 (2,030 days old) by bigalsf (Salt Lake City)        
Looks great!

I remember your original post when you first got this machine; you've done a great job cleaning it up! It's such a great feeling when you find that elusive part that's been holding up your project!

I've always loved this model; a great idea in concept, but as you've seen it was executed without thought to long term durability. I especially like that design Filter Flo pan; the flat one is a bit boring from a design aesthetic! :)

I have the service information for the Dispensall System. I'd be happy to scan and send you the pages if you'd like (it's about 4 or 5).

Congrats again!


Post# 1006289 , Reply# 5   9/6/2018 at 18:48 (2,030 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Bigalsf

jons1077's profile picture
Thank you so much! I’d love a copy of the pages you have on the Dispensall! I think my email address is on my profile here but I can send it as well. Would be fun to have this machine fully functional!

Jon (jonshinn@comcast.net)


Post# 1006293 , Reply# 6   9/6/2018 at 19:02 (2,030 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
I was always fascinated by the Dispensall but have never seen one operate first-hand.


Post# 1006302 , Reply# 7   9/6/2018 at 19:56 (2,030 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture
This is such a pretty machine, one of the handful that was actually attractive in gold.

I had one and was able to get the diverter working properly with just a good cleaning, but I never had the dispenser tray that mounted under the lid - the fun part!

Congrats, Jon!


Post# 1006306 , Reply# 8   9/6/2018 at 20:12 (2,030 days old) by Ultramatic (New York City)        

ultramatic's profile picture

 

 

Fantastic work Jon! One of my favorite G.E.'s! Hope you post a video of this beauty sometime.


Post# 1006319 , Reply# 9   9/6/2018 at 21:32 (2,030 days old) by potatochips ( )        

Nice work, Jon! This was one of the first machines that captivated me when I first discovered this website in 2005. I expect a full video on this machine. I love the dispense-all, great save!


Post# 1006320 , Reply# 10   9/6/2018 at 21:36 (2,030 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Thanks all!

jons1077's profile picture
Went ahead and got the dryer cleaned up and tested. Seems to work ok. Needed a new light bulb. This dryer is so wide!

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Post# 1006350 , Reply# 11   9/7/2018 at 07:29 (2,030 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
They Look Great Jon

combo52's profile picture

I loved these large 8 CF GE dryers, they could really handle large loads and dry without tangling, some of the earlier gas ones also had a 30,000 BTU burner which made for shorter drying times on large loads of clothing only spun at around 600 RPMs.

 

These GE W&Ds are perfect in the avocado and harvest gold colors.

 

John L.


Post# 1006361 , Reply# 12   9/7/2018 at 09:55 (2,029 days old) by bigalsf (Salt Lake City)        

Hi Jon, just sent you the service notes (guess we know what project you'll be working on this weekend!) :)

Have fun!


Post# 1006532 , Reply# 13   9/8/2018 at 20:03 (2,028 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Update

jons1077's profile picture
Dryer has some potential issues I will look into this week. Not heating up very much so may need new coils. I’ll test with a voltmeter and do a visual inspect. Clothes are damp as well so need to check moisture sensor and timer to ensure wires are intact. Without moisture sensing the timer will just run without any stops. I’m assuming heating elements are pretty much all the same for GE dryers?

Post# 1006555 , Reply# 14   9/9/2018 at 08:05 (2,027 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
GE Super Size Vintage Electric Dryer

combo52's profile picture

Hi Jon, Yes this dryer uses the same heating element kits the regular size dryers used.

 

It uses 2 heaters Pt# WE11X60, from what you are saying you probably have at least one element out and often both have failed and part of the broken element is shorting to the housing and you are still getting a little heat.

 

Its not too bad a job to replace the elements, but you do have to take the dryer rather completely apart [ front has to come off and drum must be removed ] This repair gives you a great chance to clean everything and check for other worn parts.

 

John L.


Post# 1006596 , Reply# 15   9/9/2018 at 18:30 (2,027 days old) by vacman1961 (North Babylon, New York)        

WOW we had that same washer growing up as a kid, it replaced a 1962 Maytag Highlander, our laundry room was unheated and on cold days the Maytag wold hardly agitate, so my Dad did his research and came up with the Americana Dispensall washer in Avocado. We had an avocado Whirlpool electric dryer that was purchased a few years before the GE washer. Those machines were still in use until 1991 when we renovated the house after my parents passed away and I inherited the house.


Post# 1006602 , Reply# 16   9/9/2018 at 19:52 (2,027 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Thank you John

jons1077's profile picture
Ordered replacement elements this morning. The dryer element does get red but I believe one of the strings is out so only low heat operates. Will get that replaced and a good cleaning should make it a great dryer.

Thanks to Al, I have instructions for the Dispensall mechanism and I’ll start working on it in the coming days. Any suggestions on the best methods for cleaning?


Post# 1006721 , Reply# 17   9/10/2018 at 22:47 (2,026 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
On a different note...

jons1077's profile picture
I was able to get my 1970 GE Versatronic dryer opened up, cleaned and checked. Everything checked out and this beauty looks brand new. I love the backlight timer!

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Post# 1006766 , Reply# 18   9/11/2018 at 08:10 (2,025 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)        

swestoyz's profile picture
Way to get all the GE's up and running again! IIRC, it took several soakings in vinegar/lime away to get the dispenser tray/pan, when I had a Dispensal set once upon a time. The diverter will likely need the same if it isn't moving the flow of water.

Love the backlit dial on the '70 dryer. Wish GE had done this more often.

Ben


Post# 1006939 , Reply# 19   9/12/2018 at 15:18 (2,024 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Dispensallectomy

jons1077's profile picture
Got the Dispensall components out today for some deep cleaning and diagnosis. Other than the hoses being greasy, everything looked pretty clean and no buildup noted. I did notice when I got inside the panel that one of the hoses appeared to have been disconnected. I would assume that could disable the feature. We shall see! I’m going to piece this back together and do some testing. Updates to follow!

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Post# 1006946 , Reply# 20   9/12/2018 at 16:00 (2,024 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Hmm...

jons1077's profile picture
Dispensall components are resinstalled but this machine has a mysterious past. Apparently the timer is missing the components that affect airflow to the diverter. The hoses simply attach to nothing. Why this is missing is beyond me and Lord knows these aren’t laying around. So basically I have a filter-flo. Kind of a bummer.

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Post# 1006947 , Reply# 21   9/12/2018 at 16:23 (2,024 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        

justjunque's profile picture
Oh, that sucks.
Or...doesn't, I suppose.
Great looking machine anyway, but I wish you could have gotten it all working.

Barry


Post# 1006950 , Reply# 22   9/12/2018 at 16:40 (2,024 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture
OH! That's a shame. Perhaps the timer got replaced at some point with one that didn't go with a Dispensall washer. I'm following this one closely 'cause I always wanted a Dispensall but have not found one so far...


Post# 1006989 , Reply# 23   9/12/2018 at 21:31 (2,024 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA)        
Good news is

jons1077's profile picture
The diverter does work when I manually plug the tubes. Maybe a timer will show up one of these days and then it’ll be 100%. It’s a really fun machine either way!


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