Thread Number: 80055  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Hoover keymatic 3224 / 3226 door seal question
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Post# 1039822   7/29/2019 at 09:03 (1,703 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi there, new here so please forgive me if I’ve posted this in the wrong place.

I have recently acquired a Hoover Keymatic 3224 but the door seal is absolutely rotten.
I realise this is totally unlikely but was wondering if anyone might have a hunch as to where I may get one or if anyone has one knocking around, I’m happy to pay top dollar for it.

I believe it’s the same between the 2 models bar the colour being different?

Would appreciate any advice!

Many thanks
Cam





Post# 1039865 , Reply# 1   7/29/2019 at 13:26 (1,703 days old) by Chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic 3224

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Afternoon Cameron, welcome to the club you are in the right place and congratulations on finding a Hoover 3224 Keymatic, if you haven't picked it up yet it's best to transport upright or even better with transit brackets in. The tub support wire is very thin and snaps easily if tilted back, dropping the drum so breaking hoses n smashing any bakelite parts it hits...now how do I know that lol...
Let us know how you get on and it's serial number , it's a fab over complicated piece of history, Hoover UK first automatic washing machine !!

The gaskets are like hen's teeth but you never know !! The rubber, particularly the thin inner bit perishes to mush, we are talking with s possible manufacturer as to a production run, but initial costings are mega bucks even with as many owners out there buying s couple each...will keep you posted.


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Post# 1039867 , Reply# 2   7/29/2019 at 13:45 (1,703 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic 3224

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Just renovated a couple more this year with the help of the gang, currently investigating a timer issue with mine but a solution in hand !!

Welcome to The Keymatic Club, link to 70th Hoover Celebrations !!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK


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Post# 1039875 , Reply# 3   7/29/2019 at 15:24 (1,703 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi there,

Thanks so much for your message!

Some beautiful machines you have there!

I’m collecting the 3224 in a few weeks and probably would’ve laid it on its side had you not informed me it will probably damage it, so I really appreciate that!

I’m don’t suppose you have a pic to hand of the tub support wire so I know what I’m looking out for? This will be my first experience with a pre 1980’s hoover so it’s all new to me!

I can’t wait to finally have it with me and see just how much hoover has gone down hill compared to their original machine.. don’t judge me but I have the dreaded AXI as my main machine and constantly regret it!

As for the door boot, if they do ever get manufactured I’d happily pay double figures to get the beast back to water tight.

Thanks again.
Cam


Post# 1040104 , Reply# 4   7/31/2019 at 06:53 (1,701 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Also if anybody wants to sell any key plates that suit this model I’d happily buy them!

Thanks again!
🙂


Post# 1040166 , Reply# 5   7/31/2019 at 14:06 (1,701 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic 3224

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Evening Cam

Hoping it works out fine for you, you will have a great resource here, its a question of how much you can do, we have a number of machines requiring fixes its the time a hopefully retro fixes or we all turn up on The Repair Project show lol...

Heres a few diagrams for bedtime reading !!


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Post# 1040167 , Reply# 6   7/31/2019 at 14:13 (1,701 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
The support wire is a thin wire (like bike brake wire) which attaches on the side of the outer tub goes forward around 2 pulley wheels each side of the front chasis. it makes the tub pull forward on the tilt while its supported by the springs from the top !!

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Post# 1040168 , Reply# 7   7/31/2019 at 14:25 (1,701 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Heres the Keyplate Programme flow chart...

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Post# 1040169 , Reply# 8   7/31/2019 at 14:26 (1,701 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Is there not a keyplate with it ??

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Post# 1041024 , Reply# 9   8/8/2019 at 08:20 (1,693 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi Mike

Thanks for all those diagrams, interesting to see just how over engineered these make monsters really are! Will certainly help on my quest to get her back up and
Running again!

As for the key plate it does have that red one you show in the photo, just seemed like more existed, going off what I’ve seen on the internet, I guess that’s for later models? I’m rather inexperienced as you
Probably can tell.

On the subject of the door seals I don’t suppose you happen to know the dimensions? Going to look into having something made I think.

Thanks for all your help and advice, I really appreciate it!

Kind regards
Cameron


Post# 1041031 , Reply# 10   8/8/2019 at 09:54 (1,693 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        
key plates

Here in Australia at least there were 3 plates over time -
black plate for connection to cold fill only
red plate for connection to hot and cold taps

Later ones were all black with a white centre, the colour of the text (black or red) indicated if it was cold fill or hot/cold fill.
I believe at the end of Aussie production there was also a green text plate which was for all cold washes - cold fills and no heating. (though I have never seen one myself.)

I'd love to hear if there were any others.


Post# 1041052 , Reply# 11   8/8/2019 at 13:54 (1,693 days old) by Brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Hi Chris,

I do have a cold fill cold wash keyplate with the green sticker. I’ll have to find it and take a photo.

I have a brand new boot as well and the original whilst aged is still all intact, I offered the used boot for free ages ago in return for help trying to rebuild the sump hose and got no takers.

Regards

Nathan



Post# 1041071 , Reply# 12   8/8/2019 at 15:31 (1,693 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi Nathan

If you ever want to sell it keep me in mind :p

Kind regards
Cameron


Post# 1041084 , Reply# 13   8/8/2019 at 16:57 (1,693 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Keymatic Boots...

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Evening Nathan, was very surprised to hear you write that as there are a few collectors here desperate for boots, Mathew (keymatic3203) has a few machines and no boots and desperate to find one, albeit Turquoise ones that are dripping on the floor like mine...

Just searched on your post and can see it was 2016 and yes, absolutely no replies, this must have fallen off pretty quick for no one to have seen or replied, apologies for that !!

We are finding ways of cobbling together alt sump pipes, nearest we have is a Merloni servis sump hose that has a thin pipe formed in it for the pressure pot, which is the most difficult part I think...


CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK on eBay


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Post# 1041085 , Reply# 14   8/8/2019 at 17:04 (1,693 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

Thankyou for that link Mike, I'll have a look and see if they'll ship internationally. I assume you mount the sump mount to the tub and then let it hang and use the flexible connection to eventually get to the pump, or have you been fitting it the other way around?

The big challenge I've had is that I keep getting air trapped in the tube to the pressure pot and get overfills. The last time I fired it up, it filled right up to the edge of the door.

Cameron, I'll keep your request in mind, I'll need to confirm I can get it off intact before I make any promises.


Post# 1041089 , Reply# 15   8/8/2019 at 17:31 (1,693 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Thanks Nathan, there’s so many kind and helpful people on here. I really didn’t expect much response.

I’m fascinated with the diagrams Mike has sent me, I can’t help but keep looking at them and just how over top Hoover went with the original Keymatics, bet they was a nightmare for the engineers!

Thank you everyone for advising me on different things!

Regatds
Cam 🙂


Post# 1041120 , Reply# 16   8/8/2019 at 20:30 (1,693 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        
making up a sump hose

Hi Nathan

I'd be happy to have a go at making up a sump hose if you would like. I wasn't aware you even had a keymatic, though I shouldn't be surprised...

I reckon the key to it is that it doesn't all have to be flexible rubber. You need a flexi hose from the tub to the cross part, but the rest could be made of rigid PVC pipe which is cheap, available and easy to work with. I have had a design of sorts in the back of my mind for years but never got around to trying it. I'd have to give more thought on how to link in the rubber tube to the pressure switches.

for the flexi section, the UK Hotpoints made in the 1980s and 1990s have a good hose. They are basically a T shaped hose, they have a plastic catch pot at the bottom which you would discard for the Keymatic. You would use it "wrong way round" ie: connect the Hotpoint hose outlet to the tub (where it becomes the inlet), the flexi part leads to the Tee, connect one side to a short bit of PVC to a blank, the other side you have a short length of PVC to a tee, one part goes up to the open tube (where the water inlets feed in) the other goes to the pump via another flexi hose - maybe a Hoover Zodiac hose? The tube to the pressure pot would have to be extended and connect to the the blank end of PVC with some sort of adapter...
I will maybe have a go at lining the parts up together against my (broken remains) Keymatic hose and take a photo so you get a better idea.

The UK Hotpoint was available here badged as a GE so parts are available here. (but probably overpriced.)I think I have 2 of the hose I am raving on about, I only want one so if I can find a second one it is yours. It will be in good used condition.

Are you sure it is over filling? They do fill very high compared to modern front loaders. Almost to the door. There are two pressure switches but they always fill to the high setting. The low pressure switch controls the heater coming on, and is used to prevent it trying to spin before having fully pumped out - the low pressure switch only resets when the tub is pretty much empty, and it won't spin till that pressure switch has reset.
I made a Frankenstein Keymatic years ago, all the electrics were replaced and it used 12 volt components to make a 12 volt Keymatic that worked on our basic solar power system at the time. I didn't like the high fill as the load floats too much and the wash action was too gentle, I changed it to use the low pressure switch for the water level and adjusted it to have a much more "normal" water level, it worked much better.
A standard 240v Keymatic needs a very high water level for the pulsator action. (Water level has to be high to reach the pulsator.) Otherwise the wet clothes just slide past the spinning pulsator and it has little or no effect.

I disposed of my Keymatics before I found this website and the AW community, to my eternal shame... I kept some components and have since scrounged another Keymatic, unfortunately missing its motor. I have a good door boot and a good rubber "trombone" hose (the complicated one). I have little hope these days of sourcing an original motor so I may in future try to make up another low voltage Keymatic, this time maybe try to utilize the original keyplate as a control??? Maybe 24 volt this time as we have 24 volt battery bank these days.

the drum bearings on mine are stiff and they are thinner than normal bearings, probably unobtainable. I tried years ago and bearing shops had no matches.



Post# 1041829 , Reply# 17   8/15/2019 at 16:00 (1,686 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi all

Wondered if anyone might have for sale or know if a source for the motor to drum belt?

Would really appreciate any help.

Thanks
Cam


Post# 1041830 , Reply# 18   8/15/2019 at 16:05 (1,686 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Hoover Keymatic Belts

chestermikeuk's profile picture
Hi Cam

Have you got it yet ?? There are two belts from the motor gearbox to the drum spindle , do you know which belt you need ??


Post# 1041921 , Reply# 19   8/16/2019 at 17:11 (1,685 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi there Mike,

Thanks for your message!

I’m picking her up on the 24th, I can’t wait!

I imagined both belts actually need changing after all these years as they’ll likely be stretched and perishing?

I’ve managed to source a belt for the pulsator but am on the look out for the poly V belt.

Best wishes
Cam


Post# 1041936 , Reply# 20   8/16/2019 at 21:31 (1,685 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Hi Cam

It isn't a poly V belt. They are the flat, grooved ones used on modern front loaders.

It is a round section belt. You can get new ones made up to order at pulley and belt suppliers, they have the stuff on a roll, they measure your belt, cut the new stuff to length and join it for you. One brand (at least here in Australia) is Redthane.

The originals are different, they are more of a continuous loop of rope, impregnated with rubber. They are very durable, it is quite likely yours is OK and ready for use. I have a couple of spares, I could post you one if you have trouble getting one locally. Mine are all the original old round section rubberized rope type.

If anyone is looking at getting a door seal remanufactured and want a reasonable one to use as a mould, I have one I could donate for the job. I don't want a new one myself but there seems to be a few folks in the UK chasing them. I have 3 boots, a good original blue one on the only machine I still own (tired looking but no leaks); a good black one I bought new years ago (I was told it was the last one in captivity...) and a used black one which us in basically good shape but has split at the edges, where the front half and back half meet. The splits are small and there is no rubber missing, it has just come apart. I would be happy to give the split one to be used as a mould for getting new ones created, if that is any use to anyone. You could try to repair it but I wouldn't trust that old rubber...

I am keeping the good ones.

Chris.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO gizmo's LINK


Post# 1041988 , Reply# 21   8/17/2019 at 07:15 (1,684 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi Chris

Thanks for your message.

I’ve just realised its a different style to a V belt, thanks for correcting me. I’m quite a novice as you can probably tell!

I too have been looking into having the door boots remanufactured, the quotes I’ve received are ridiculously expensive. I’ll keep on the lookout!

The boot on my machine is completely ripped to pieces and will be completely irreparable, being the original blue one I believe that made it even more prone to failure?

I am wondering if it’s going to be pretty unlikely I’ll ever get one and will ever get to run it with water in it.

Best wishes
Cam



Post# 1042107 , Reply# 22   8/18/2019 at 13:46 (1,683 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi Chris,

If you would be willing to send over the boot you mention to the UK I’ll send it off to a rubber manufacturer I’m now in talks with, they have gave me a rough estimate but to give a more accurate price they’ll need a sample and the one on the one I’m getting will be worthless. I’m sure the other guys on here would appreciate it if you would be willing to do that and they’d love to see a number of them made again.

I’ve in fact in talks with a few manufactures and the prices are astronomical but I’d say in the long run it would be worth it.

Seems such a shame to me that these old girls are having to sit out of use due to them not being water right!

Thanks for your help
Cameron



Post# 1042112 , Reply# 23   8/18/2019 at 14:23 (1,683 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Also Chris, I meant to mention that if you would like payment for it I’d be happy to do that.

I’ve received a lot of help and support of the wonderful people on this site, the least I could do is try and help in their quest to get their machines water tight!

Best wishes
Cam


Post# 1042199 , Reply# 24   8/19/2019 at 09:20 (1,682 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Hi Cam
No payment for the part, I'd appreciate if you could reimburse postage.

I will get a quote on postage in the next day or 2.

I'd be delighted to give a boot that became a template for a batch of new boots...

Chris.


Post# 1042226 , Reply# 25   8/19/2019 at 13:18 (1,682 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hey Chris,

Thanks so much for your help, myself and many others on here will really appreciate your help in our quest to get a batch of new boots made!

Of course I’ll happily reimburse postage costs to you, least I can do.

Thanks again.

Best wishes
Cam


Post# 1042307 , Reply# 26   8/20/2019 at 09:46 (1,681 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        
Postage cost

Hi Cam

Postage will be AUD$35.00...eek.

I think that is about UKP20.

If you want to go ahead, contact me by email. It's in my profile.

Chris.


Post# 1042630 , Reply# 27   8/24/2019 at 10:41 (1,677 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

And here she is, she’s beautiful but needs a lot of help

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Post# 1042632 , Reply# 28   8/24/2019 at 11:08 (1,677 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Sadly her timeline strip is gone, and god knows what else :/

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Post# 1042652 , Reply# 29   8/24/2019 at 17:11 (1,677 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hey all

Don’t suppose somebody might be able to tell me if the contact on the switch inside the motor should be one full piece or if indeed they should be separate and the lever shouldn’t push them both up at the same time.

I have circled the one in mine as I’m unsure if it should be one complete contact to see or if it’s broken, it seems excessively wobbly. I hope the pics help explain my question a bit better as I probably make no sense.

Thanks
Cam


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Post# 1042653 , Reply# 30   8/24/2019 at 17:20 (1,677 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Basically I’m trying to ascertain whether there this should be one whole piece that raises when the lever is pushed making both contacts touch or if it’s correct that when the lever is pushed only one contact is pushed?

On this motor the lever slips about and will push either contact independently or both together and doesn’t seem very decisive so I’m at a lost end as to how it works or should look.

Many thanks for your help.
Cam


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Post# 1042689 , Reply# 31   8/25/2019 at 05:28 (1,676 days old) by Ricky5050 (Durham Britain)        
Well done !

ricky5050's profile picture
I’ve asked around if we can find the workshop manual I’ll let you know !

Richard


Post# 1042691 , Reply# 32   8/25/2019 at 05:37 (1,676 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hey Richard

It was you mentioning the issues you had with yours that got me thinking I best have a look, so thanks for that!

Thank you also for trying to source a workshop manual for it.

Also do you possibly know if it’s correct that the square box with the gears in should be full of oil? I only ask as mine has been leaking oil out. I would have assumed thick grease would’ve been perhaps a better option?

Sure as hell set myself up a massive project! 😆

Best wishes
Cam


Post# 1042700 , Reply# 33   8/25/2019 at 08:27 (1,676 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

My spare boot has been sent to Coventry.....

Post# 1043056 , Reply# 34   8/29/2019 at 14:42 (1,672 days old) by hoover3224 (Coventry )        

Hi all

Totally forgot about this with focussing on the the motor and my holibobs (can’t wait to get back and fiddle with the keymatic again, all I can think about!)

I know it’s a massive ask and extremely unlikely but I meant to ask if anyone possibly has a key plate reader itself? Mine is has a corner smashed off and a few of the levers missing, so it’ll just skip parts of the cycle off and probably play up.

Sadly I think it’s game over for a while with the project!

I’ll include a few pics to show the damage.

Thanks again.

Can’t wait to finally be back home and able to fiddle!


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