Thread Number: 77506  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1978 Kenmore Tragedy...
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Post# 1014901   11/18/2018 at 11:57 (1,957 days old) by harleybadger (Pittsburgh, PA)        

Folks, Spatsbear and I had an unfortunate event...

We had a load of towels in the '78 Kenmore 70-Series, and during spin, the mounting surface at the bottom of the basket gave in to (what we thought was minor) rust. Suddenly, bang-bang-bang as the basket became detached and started slamming against the outer tub.

Oh crap.

Anyone know where we can find a replacement basket for a 110.72870110? Of course Sears parts direct shows it as no longer available. Nowhere else in the realm of Google has any hope.

It took us long enough to get this washer, then weeks of TLC to get it perfect, and now it's sad and broken.





Post# 1014902 , Reply# 1   11/18/2018 at 12:23 (1,957 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

Argh! I had that happen to a 77 Inglis I once owned...

Hope you can find a replacement tub!


Post# 1014903 , Reply# 2   11/18/2018 at 12:30 (1,957 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        
Oh no!

justjunque's profile picture
So sorry to hear that!
I hope you can get it back up and running.
Maybe a silly question, but have you checked with Eugene?

Barry


Post# 1014905 , Reply# 3   11/18/2018 at 13:30 (1,957 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        
On a side note:

justjunque's profile picture
It's things like this that make me question whether or not I should even consider buying a vintage machine.
Especially since I don't know how to work on them myself.

Barry


Post# 1014914 , Reply# 4   11/18/2018 at 15:15 (1,957 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        
Hey Harley

I’m bummed out to hear about it. There was some rust in the center of the tub but it felt super solid. Anyway, I do have a spin basket, but I’m not sure if will fit your Machine. I believe it’s a standard capacity tub. Send me the rough measurements and I’ll see if they will work.

Post# 1014923 , Reply# 5   11/18/2018 at 16:31 (1,956 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
I dont know if its the same

But I have a 1986 Kenmore 70, Needs a timer but very nice, if you want it for a parts machine all you have to do is come get it,

Post# 1014963 , Reply# 6   11/18/2018 at 21:12 (1,956 days old) by whirlykenmore78 (Prior Lake MN (GMT-0500 CDT.))        
That stinks:

whirlykenmore78's profile picture
The machine was working so well. I have been following it since Eugene first started working on it. Have you reached out to John LeFever Combo52? He seems to have parts for everything. Gordon Kenmoreguy64 may have one as well.
The 1986 Kenmore you have been so generously offered will not fix the problem. While many parts can be interchanged the Large Capacity WP/KM platform was revised in 1980 and this machine would have the 21 gallon tub and you need a 26 gallon.
Good luck in finding the part. Best bet would be a white 2 layer porcelain tub from a 1979 or older Lady Kenmore these were the best 26 gallon tubs.
WK78


Post# 1014978 , Reply# 7   11/19/2018 at 01:51 (1,956 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
Thanks

I was not sure!!!

Post# 1014999 , Reply# 8   11/19/2018 at 07:27 (1,956 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Replacement Tub For A BD 1978 KM

combo52's profile picture

These are around, I may have one or I am sure Gordon Kenmore 64 would have one.

 

When you get around to replacing the broken tub check the transmission to be sure that all three transmission braces are in place and tight, if they are missing or loose it will cause the basket to break, and several other serious problems as well.

 

John L.


Post# 1015006 , Reply# 9   11/19/2018 at 09:26 (1,956 days old) by kafooty06 (washington )        
sorry to hear

kafooty06's profile picture
I have a 1978 Kenmore washer identical to yours and makes me wonder if I shouldn't use mine very much, Its been a good washer so far I want to inspect both tubs but I cannot take off my agitator its stuck on . Your best bet is to get a donor washer if I come across one I will let you know best of luck keep me updated I'm curious to see how you fix it so I know for mine if it breaks .

Post# 1015044 , Reply# 10   11/19/2018 at 15:01 (1,956 days old) by harleybadger (Pittsburgh, PA)        

OMG y'all are all great! Thank you so much for the offers! Eugene: No worries, we have put a hundred-thousand miles on it since! Spats is gonna measure it tonight.

Again, thank you all, it's so nice to be in a modern online community with nice people.


Post# 1015243 , Reply# 11   11/20/2018 at 23:48 (1,954 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)        

Harley, just saw your video. Hate it that this happened!  It is interesting because I have just about the exact same washer. It was a gift from a family friend, to my sister. She passed away and I stored it from her home. Years passed, and I ended up moving out of mom and dad's house and buying a place of my own. Just before I bought a new washer, I remembered this one and brought it to my workshop. The tub its self had rust holes in it, as well as rust around the drain fitting. I could not remove the agitator, and ended up fabricating some spectacularly Rube-Goldberg-esque pullers to get it off...... in pieces and chunks. :(

I was able to get the basket out and repair the floor of the tub. I sanded it down with some diamond point grinding wheels, to rough up the porcelain. Then, I layered it with Permatex Right Stuff liquid rubber gasket maker. Also used this to seal the rubber drain fitting.

 

On one of my road trips, I found a derelict washer and salvaged an agitator from it to get mine going.


I have been running it for 4 years now without any issues at all!

 

I don't remember seeing any rust in the bottom of the basket around the center hub area. Hopefully that isn't going to bite me down the road!

 

kafooty06 as said above, I had the same problem and ended up destroying the agitator. I had a puller which gripped the fins at the bottom and pressed down on the shaft via a threaded rod. It put so much pressure on it that the fins sheared off. After the agitator broke up, I had to cut the stub in half lengthwise with a grinder to get that off the transmission shaft! It was awful!


Post# 1015281 , Reply# 12   11/21/2018 at 09:38 (1,954 days old) by kafooty06 (washington )        

kafooty06's profile picture
I was watching a video from LORIANFURNATURE and the guy was restoring a 1978 kenmore washer like the one we all have in this thread.The guy used some type of pressure bags to pop off the agitator I just might buy some

Post# 1015302 , Reply# 13   11/21/2018 at 15:37 (1,954 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        

Harley’s Washer is the washer I restored in the video. He won it in a raffle I had.

Post# 1015309 , Reply# 14   11/21/2018 at 16:02 (1,954 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture

Probably an AgiTamer.


Post# 1015315 , Reply# 15   11/21/2018 at 16:11 (1,954 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)        

I would love to hear more about the pressure bag / AgiTamer device.


Post# 1015342 , Reply# 16   11/21/2018 at 19:04 (1,953 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)        

goatfarmer's profile picture


CLICK HERE TO GO TO goatfarmer's LINK


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Post# 1015344 , Reply# 17   11/21/2018 at 19:11 (1,953 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)        

Wow thank you. I didn't know about this forum when I did that repair. That would have been a lifesaver!


Post# 1015353 , Reply# 18   11/21/2018 at 20:15 (1,953 days old) by Lorainfurniture (Cleveland )        
Win bag

I highly recommend. Buy 3 and you will never have a stuck agitator again

amzn.to/2Kqgpuh...


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Lorainfurniture's LINK


Post# 1015405 , Reply# 19   11/22/2018 at 08:46 (1,953 days old) by wiskybill (Canton, Ohio)        
Winbag

My local Menards store has these as well, in the building products dept.

Post# 1016166 , Reply# 20   11/28/2018 at 22:39 (1,946 days old) by kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)        
I probably do have a basket that will work

kenmoreguy64's profile picture
I know I have two or three of the 26-gallon baskets, not sure if they are 1977-earlier standard centerpost versions, or the revised 1978-1981 short post version. I am pretty sure it’s some of both.

These were made in three porcelain colors, all white for the high end, ivory speckled for most of the MOL models, and the blue/gray speckled tubs for the rest. I should have at least one of the blue gray and maybe an ivory.

Harley - if you would like me to check my storage, I would be glad to this weekend, just let me know here or send me an email.

Gordon



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