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Thread Number: 80986
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1974 Lady Kenmore Set |
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Post# 1049839 11/3/2019 at 21:57 (1,635 days old) by jons1077  (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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So I inadvertently purchased myself a new project while innocently thumbing through local homes for sale on Redfin. I like looking at the older homes around here. A photo in one of the listings caught my eye immediately as it contained this beautiful white 1974 Lady Kenmore set. The home was built the same year and turned out to be owned by a single family up to this point. I decided to take a chance and contact the listing agent and make an offer to purchase these machines full-well knowing they’d be in the crusher otherwise. Needless to say, the agent was a bit baffled but entertained my offer and spoke with the sellers who ultimately agreed to sell the machines to me.
I managed to pick them up today and start doing some testing. Cosmetically, they’re in beautiful condition and absolutely rust-free. There was no evidence of staining or leaking on the floor beneath the washer. The agitator looked a little worn but nothing big. Finally get them home and hooked up. Dryer heats up no problem. Yay! Washer, however...she’s got issues. I remember the lady at the house telling me about working with horses and I believe this machine unfortunately did as well. The transmission is shot! Sounds like and feels like the gears are stripped down to nubs. So a new transmission will have to be in the works I’m afraid. The good news is everything else works perfectly! Dispensers do their thing. Timer stops at all the right spots and the pump and motor him along nicely. I don’t look forward to learning how to replace a transmission in this thing but it’ll be worth it. This is a beautiful set and I love them already. Enjoy the photos and I look forward to the comments! | ||
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Post# 1049841 , Reply# 1 11/3/2019 at 22:05 (1,635 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Doh! | ||
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Post# 1049845 , Reply# 2 11/3/2019 at 22:26 (1,635 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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1974-5 LKM W&D Yay Jon, these are great performers, good save.
Sounds like we need to do another WP-KM BD washer restoration long weekend. You can visit and learn to rebuild the washer, I have 3 or 4 late WP-KM BD washers that need to be restored and or put back together in the shop now.
The dryers are a piece of cake to restore.
John L. | ||
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Post# 1049846 , Reply# 3 11/3/2019 at 22:26 (1,635 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!) |
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Post# 1049855 , Reply# 4 11/3/2019 at 23:36 (1,635 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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| Post# 1049856 , Reply# 5 11/3/2019 at 23:54 (1,635 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1049863 , Reply# 6 11/4/2019 at 04:59 (1,635 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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Post# 1049868 , Reply# 7 11/4/2019 at 05:49 (1,635 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA) |
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Post# 1049876 , Reply# 8 11/4/2019 at 06:51 (1,635 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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This post has been removed by the member who posted it. | ||
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Post# 1049886 , Reply# 9 11/4/2019 at 08:10 (1,635 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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I'll add my congratulations, Jon; it's a beautiful set. I love the timed dispensers, especially for bleach, when you want to let the enzymes in the detergent do their job before liquid chlorine bleach is injected into the wash water.
Here's wishing you a restoration that's as frustration-free as possible. | ||
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Post# 1049891 , Reply# 10 11/4/2019 at 08:38 (1,635 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA) |
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| Post# 1049900 , Reply# 11 11/4/2019 at 11:18 (1,635 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
 Having rebuilt many of those Kenmore/Whirlpool transmissions I'd say it's hard to imagine those heavy metal gears being stripped, but that was a long time ago and I suppose it is possible. Maybe she tried to wash a saddle or two? Rebuilding those machines is not difficult. Now, if something like the complex timer was shot, that may present a problem. They are so attractive, as long as they light up, I'd keep them and just go to the corner laundromat. | ||
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Post# 1049913 , Reply# 12 11/4/2019 at 13:14 (1,634 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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What’s important | ||
| Post# 1050219 , Reply# 13 11/7/2019 at 19:39 (1,631 days old) by hippiedoll ( arizona ) | ||
CONGRATULATIONS!! | ||
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Post# 1050222 , Reply# 14 11/7/2019 at 20:01 (1,631 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions) |
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Post# 1050223 , Reply# 15 11/7/2019 at 20:02 (1,631 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Garage Door Ladies | ||
| Post# 1050260 , Reply# 16 11/8/2019 at 05:05 (1,631 days old) by potatochips ( ) | ||
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Congrats on the garage door set! Beautiful machines. | ||
| Post# 1050267 , Reply# 17 11/8/2019 at 07:00 (1,631 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.) | ||
Congrats! Wp-Kenmore are a PITA to work with tranny and seals wise, but once you'll be done it'll be a great satisfaction beside the satisfaction these machines offers in terms of performance.
You may also want to get your hands on other kinds of KM agitators, great ones are the vari flex you can prolong or shorten the fins. | ||
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Post# 1050279 , Reply# 18 11/8/2019 at 10:20 (1,631 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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KenmoreGuy89
I’ve yet to find any machine that wasn’t a pita when it comes to mechanical overhauls. Maytag maybe? But I’ve not yet had to crack one of those open. I do have my standard tub ‘70 800 model and various agitators and the Vari-Flex is definitely a good performer.
On the subject of repair, what is the best repair manual for these belt-drive Kenmores? I checked the online options on here but unsure which one would be the closest match to the ‘74 Lady. | ||
| Post# 1050298 , Reply# 20 11/8/2019 at 13:15 (1,630 days old) by kenmoreguy89 (Valenza Piemonte, Italy- Soon to be US immigrant.) | ||
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Pita machines
I actually think that the old style Whirlpool and km's are among the most difficult machines to fix.
All the solenoid and wigwag thing itself is difficult, lots of Things to disengage and re-engage, replacing a tub seal also is going to have you lift away the tranny and it's components. Not all old machines are difficult for example filter flos were pretty easy, of course the system was different so suspended wash tub instead of the whole outer tub, but to change the tub seal which actually was a boot was something you could do just lifting up the wash tub and secure two clamps, transmissions also Could Be lifted up from the tub disengaging bolts from the space where boot went, also the tub bolts are a easy thing, you just unscrew them and you're done no spanner nut or special tools needed. | ||
| Post# 1050326 , Reply# 21 11/8/2019 at 16:32 (1,630 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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These manuals don’t cover the controls section of the lady kenmore, but they are detailed in the rebuilding of the drive system. I have this manual from 1977 and I’m pretty sure it was the last one Sears issued that described rebuilding the drive system including basket drive, center post bearings, and gearcase. The newer ones just say replace the gearcase or contact Sears. This one says it’s copyrighted 1973. The kenmore/whirlpool belt drive is my favorite and those lady Kenmores are very cool machines. They definitely are a lot of work to rebuild, but if you do it right from the start these machines will last another 45 years.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO Repairguy's LINK on eBay | ||
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Post# 1050336 , Reply# 23 11/8/2019 at 17:31 (1,630 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Complete Mechanical Rebuilds On Vintage Domestic AWs Automatic US built washers from late 50s through around 1980.
I will Do A BD WP-KM over any others, next best are GE FFs, then MT helical drive machines, Absolute worst Norge TL machines all years.
FD, Franklin, Philco were all over the place in terms of major repairs, the easiest FDs were the 1-18s.
John L. | ||
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Post# 1050374 , Reply# 24 11/9/2019 at 00:43 (1,630 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Thank you! | ||
| Post# 1050412 , Reply# 25 11/9/2019 at 12:56 (1,629 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
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I always thought the older Whirlpool/Kenmore washers were pretty easy to work on and kinda fun. You needed a bench with a hefty vice since the bottom of the transmission housing was made to be locked in to support the unit. Whirlpool had a special tool for removing and installing spin tube bearings. Sometimes removing the agitator block was difficult but once you heated it up with the acetylene torch (I was a junior pyromaniac) it usually gave way. My machines purred like a kitten when I finished them for resale, but then I had a free run in the parts department and would replace items that were mechanically fine. I didn't like dirty parts. I was a teenager. What did I know about profit? | ||
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Post# 1050450 , Reply# 26 11/9/2019 at 19:05 (1,629 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Bearing tool | ||
| Post# 1050459 , Reply# 27 11/9/2019 at 20:32 (1,629 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs) | ||
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I'd be willing to bet many many of those bearings were replaced without a special tool. You can use a piece of pipe to remove both top and bottom bearings as long as you try and do it evenly. As far as new bearings, you could use a block of wood to install them as long as you put the bearing in evenly. You can also get by OK by just replacing the top bearing. Remember the spin tube bearings have nothing to do with the transmission. If the machine knocks when spinning or the tub feels loose when you use your fingers to lift up on it then the bearings may be worn.
This post was last edited 11/09/2019 at 22:13 | ||
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Post# 1050465 , Reply# 28 11/9/2019 at 21:05 (1,629 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Restoring A 1974 LKM | ||
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Post# 1051173 , Reply# 29 11/15/2019 at 20:23 (1,623 days old) by jons1077 (Vancouver, Washington, USA) |
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Whirlpool/Kenmore private lessons
Just have to brag on behalf of a couple of sweet friends a little bit. John (Combo52) and Jason (Surgilator_68) really showed me the ropes the past few days. These two men run one of the most successful appliance businesses in the DC Metro area. What they can diagnose and accomplish on the countless house calls they do is nothing short of amazing. Seeing the two of them team up on a complete belt-drive rebuild is really something to see. Being a mentor and teacher in critical care, I have a great appreciation for the qualities of a good teacher and mentor and these guys have got them all. I definitely feel far more confident and ready to rebuild these machines thanks to the time they spent going through all of the details with me. So fortunate to have members who are so genuine.
I will first tackle the quick restoration of the dryer while washer parts trickle in from the various places I’ve purchased. Will save the best for last. :-) Sorry for being sappy but John and Jason, love you both. You just don’t know how much I needed this on a personal level. This is like wind in my sales. This post was last edited 11/15/2019 at 21:59 | ||
| Post# 1051185 , Reply# 30 11/15/2019 at 21:41 (1,623 days old) by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 1051291 , Reply# 31 11/16/2019 at 20:26 (1,622 days old) by volsboy1 (East Tenn Smoky mountains ) | ||
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Post# 1051547 , Reply# 32 11/18/2019 at 17:46 (1,620 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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