Thread Number: 86289  /  Tag: Vintage Dryers
Brought these stragglers home
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 1108548   2/18/2021 at 12:50 (1,134 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        

They just arrived -- will keep everyone posted. The washer kinda wants to run and I haven't tried the dryer yet.

  View Full Size



Post# 1108551 , Reply# 1   2/18/2021 at 13:17 (1,134 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)        

eurekastar's profile picture

How fun!  I look forward to seeing more!

 


Post# 1108568 , Reply# 2   2/18/2021 at 14:46 (1,134 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

Oh very cool!  If that dryer happens to still have its wiring diagram, can I trouble you for a picture?  I've got a 51 that looks like it got pulled from the bottom of a lake, in need of a full restoration needless to say, but is missing the wiring diagram.


Post# 1108586 , Reply# 3   2/18/2021 at 16:36 (1,134 days old) by appnut (TX)        

appnut's profile picture
Oh boy Brian!! I cannot wait. You do amazing work!!!!

Post# 1108590 , Reply# 4   2/18/2021 at 17:33 (1,134 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Kenmore Bolt-Down Automatic

combo52's profile picture

Wow, I never saw one with a blue outer tub, otherwise it looks just like my 1947 KM BD, there were many different versions of these BD automatics even though they were only built for 5-6 years.

 

I have not gotten around to restoring this machine yet, I have all the needed parts for these cool early KMs.

 

John L.


Post# 1108591 , Reply# 5   2/18/2021 at 17:40 (1,134 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
All the dryer will need is a good cleaning, and oiling of all the bearings and such. This Kenmore dryer more than likely has the dual fan setup on it and I believe they kept that until 1953 or 1954 sometime.

  View Full Size
Post# 1108606 , Reply# 6   2/18/2021 at 18:43 (1,134 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)        
Pics

akronman's profile picture
Wow and congratulations! We'll need pics of both, washer especially. Tons of pics, fun viewing!
Congratulations on both!


Post# 1108615 , Reply# 7   2/18/2021 at 20:01 (1,134 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.)        
70+/- years old.

bradfordwhite's profile picture

Wow.

 

They look like all they need is a good wipe down and they'd be ready to go.  It's amazing that people hold onto this stuff all these years.

 

 


Post# 1108621 , Reply# 8   2/18/2021 at 20:27 (1,134 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Wow! Great finds. Love the bolt-down washer. Wouldn’t say no to video of it in action when it’s ready to make its debut. Congratulations!

Post# 1108654 , Reply# 9   2/19/2021 at 00:10 (1,134 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

That dryer has 2 blowers?Interesting!

Post# 1108656 , Reply# 10   2/19/2021 at 00:29 (1,134 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
The second fan was to help with air flow on these older Whirlpool built dryers and interestingly enough the perforated drum back on these older Whirlpool built dryer is built out of a chicken wire type material and are more open per square inch compared to the late 50’s to 1965 Whirlpool dryers with the stamped perforated drum backs. Putting felt strips around the air inlet and exhaust might help but since the perforated drum back is much closer to the stationary bulkhead it won’t really matter.

Post# 1108807 , Reply# 11   2/19/2021 at 20:28 (1,133 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Well

I think I might try to bring back this bolt down. It is in okay shape but will probably need everything. I like to clean them up a bit so it is a little more rewarding to work on them. This is the before shot

  View Full Size
Post# 1108809 , Reply# 12   2/19/2021 at 20:30 (1,133 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Here

is the after shot. It has a little cosmetic touch up I don't know if I want to paint it though I have done so with some of the ones I own. This took a few hours.

  View Full Size
Post# 1108813 , Reply# 13   2/19/2021 at 20:34 (1,133 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Here

is an effective agitator repair on the one that was in the machine. Maybe it is original? I don't know but I have another one I think I will use. That original one is a little too ugly now but I do kinda like it.

It sounds a little rough when I move the agitator so I am thinking it needs new bearings. I will try to get out that inner tub next to see what is going on.


  View Full Size
Post# 1108817 , Reply# 14   2/19/2021 at 20:57 (1,133 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
That washer looks new now with the same logo as my '48 Kenmore wringer. I thought those models all came with a straight vane not that "pregnant roto swirl". That Surgilator, if it fits, would wash just fine.

Post# 1108831 , Reply# 15   2/19/2021 at 21:57 (1,133 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Kenmore Bolt Down Automatics

combo52's profile picture

All had a 3 vane black bakelite agitator originally, there are probably around 20 or more agitators that were used in WP built BD washers that could be used in this washer,

 

A Vari-a-flex might be fun since it is only a 1 speed washer to begin with.

 

John L.


Post# 1108833 , Reply# 16   2/19/2021 at 22:30 (1,133 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
A Vari-A-Flex will fit but I am not sure what the agitator shaft looks like but if it’s the older style with the metal drive block it won’t fit but if it has a newer transmission with the newer style of agitator shaft it will fit.

Post# 1108840 , Reply# 17   2/19/2021 at 23:05 (1,133 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Kenmore Bolt Down Automatics

combo52's profile picture

Yes to use any Polypropylene agitators the washer would need the 1964 and later agitator shaft, but it is highly likely that when this washer gets rebuilt one will not find a good pre-1964 shaft to use. 

 

WP discontinued the old style shaft in 1964 and replaced it with the new shaft.

 

John L.


Post# 1108941 , Reply# 18   2/20/2021 at 23:51 (1,132 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
these

of course were really a pain to get off. They are held in with a pin through the whole knob which hasn't moved in 70 years, so one needs patience -- to tap a punch through and I had to carefully drill out about half of it.

  View Full Size
Post# 1108951 , Reply# 19   2/21/2021 at 01:12 (1,132 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.)        

bradfordwhite's profile picture
Whirlpool also had that triangular shaft or adapter.
I've only seen one or two of those.


Post# 1108975 , Reply# 20   2/21/2021 at 08:43 (1,131 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Kenmore Bolt Down Automatics

combo52's profile picture

Hi Brain, Very cool that you  are starting to restore this neat machine.

 

The one we have looks exactly like yours except yours has a blue outer tub, I wonder whether yours is older or newer than ours, I believe I have found that ours is 1947 or 1948, Have you found and dates on parts yet ?

 

Does yours have the Suds-Saver system still ?  Ours has an electric return pump which is a very early SS system.

 

Those  knobs were not meant to be removed easily, On ours I  removed the knobs with the shafts attached and my friend John Eichinger in St Paul MN restored the painted areas on the back of the knobs without removing them from the round steel shafts.

 

Keep us updated how it goes, I may have some parts for your machine. 

 

John L.


Post# 1108993 , Reply# 21   2/21/2021 at 11:03 (1,131 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Knobs

Thanks John I can see that that would have been a better way to get the knobs off, I was treating it like my 51 Kenmore which come off on top. I guess I just will figure it as honing my skills at taking stuff apart.

Does anyone know if the tub to pump hose on these early Kenmores can be replaced with the more modern one I am seeing online? or do I have to mock something up? thanks


  View Full Size
Post# 1109005 , Reply# 22   2/21/2021 at 12:47 (1,131 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
You might have to use the pump grommet that’s used on all later belt drive washers along with a coin trap and that will alter it’s originality a little but if the parts are interchangeable it won’t be that big of a deal.

Post# 1109082 , Reply# 23   2/22/2021 at 01:12 (1,131 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Paul

here is that wiring diagram. this machine is early and is different than my 1951 models. I did own one of these so I have some spare parts (like 1950 or so)

For instance there is a solenoid operated switch in front of the heat element that they eliminated. and a motor choke coil? that is separate (I think). this motor has three wires coming out of it, not four.


  View Full Size
Post# 1109099 , Reply# 24   2/22/2021 at 07:23 (1,130 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Early WP-KM Dryer Wiring Diagram

combo52's profile picture

The Choke Coil is to drop the voltage for the Ozone light bulb, later they wired the Ozone bulb in series with a 40 watt drum bulb to reduce costs.

 

John 


Post# 1109154 , Reply# 25   2/22/2021 at 11:34 (1,130 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Dryer wiring diagram

turquoisedude's profile picture

Thank you very much for this Brian!  It seems to be the right one for my 51!  I had seen the 'choke coil' (aka a transformer for the germicidal lamp) but could not figure out why there were extra wires from the timer...  Some clever soul bypassed the 'solenoid switch' at some point in time.  Let's just hope the timer contacts haven't been cooked. 

 

It's about time I tackled this dryer... maybe now I'll actually start!

 


Post# 1109472 , Reply# 26   2/24/2021 at 22:19 (1,128 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
So

I am going off of Robert's 57 renovation for some guidance and after pounding and heating I was about ready to give up and get my grinder with metal cutting blade but I noticed it had moved about 1/8 of an inch so I knew I could get it off. This gear puller came in handy after that

  View Full Size
Post# 1109473 , Reply# 27   2/24/2021 at 22:20 (1,128 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Here

is the spanner nut tool I just purchased and this came off with no problem

  View Full Size
Post# 1109475 , Reply# 28   2/24/2021 at 22:26 (1,128 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
The question is

does this inner tub on this real old machine now just come off or is there something else I have to do? It seems pretty solid so I have just put some oil in there.

Notice that this drive block on the shaft has just one notch not like the gear-like configuration on the later models. It was a real bear to get off.

So is there some technique to get this inner tub out?


  View Full Size
Post# 1109496 , Reply# 29   2/25/2021 at 07:02 (1,127 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Disassembling An Old WP BD Automatic

combo52's profile picture

To remove the metal agitator drive blocks heating with a propane torch makes them lift on and you should heat it to reinstall it as well.

 

To remove the wash basket you stand in the washer and rock your weight from side to side a few times and it will loosen and lift right out. [ I have done this more than 100 times ]

 

John L.


Post# 1109669 , Reply# 30   2/26/2021 at 22:44 (1,126 days old) by Northwesty (Renton, WA)        
Here

is the transmission out. I plan on using that other transmission that came out of the 57 vistimatic I parted out years ago. I think it worked at the time. The original one doesn't seem to be working and it leaks (water contaminated) oil like crazy when the machine is on it's side. I might rebuild it for fun in the future.

Anyway and advice would be most appreciated. Should I try to polish up that agitator shaft on the new one? I am assuming I need new bearings and seals but I don't have the tools to do it so I will have to figure something out.

I will have to take the break assemble etc off the old one though I should have kept the vistimatic one around here somewhere.


  View Full Size
Post# 1109672 , Reply# 31   2/26/2021 at 22:53 (1,126 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

maytag85's profile picture
I’d try to clean the agitator shaft as much as possible. I greased the agitator shaft on the used transmission I installed in my ‘63 Whirlpool and even added oil to the bearings to help extend their life more. Even topped off the transmission with motor oil yes it’s not the correct oil but the tolerances in these transmissions aren’t as tight as they are in a engine.


Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy