Part 6
Hoover Keymatic!!
- Thread starter Frigidaire Deluxe
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Part 7
I had a look at the UK service documentation which seemed much more detailed than the Australian version so I thought might be helpful in rebuilding the machine and getting it running again. It is contained in the attachment, I think your current issue about bearings my be covered towards the end of the document (it is 46 pages!). There may be some detail differences to your machine as these machines were constantly being updated during the production of the 3224 at least, but hopefully it will be of assistance
Al
Al
Oh wow, thanks for uploading those! Such a great resource.
The part 7 spare parts section - the cover shows something that confirms a memory from my childhood that I have long puzzled over.
As a child we always had Hoover upright vacuum cleaners, always bought from the local Hoover store, Westwoods in Frankston.
Even bags and belts were always bought there. I always enjoyed going to the store, there were interesting displays and the people were lovely. It was a very small store, just a little counter and usually one or two vacuums, one polisher and one washer on display.
One day there was a Keymatic on display, but it wasn't badged Keymatic, it had only a number - a 3 digit number, in the 400s. 420? 450? It was right towards the end of Keymatics, early 1970s?
There in that parts catalogue is the answer - the catalogue is for 3224, 3226, 3226A, Mark 4 and..... 425! The mystery is solved.
When the Keymatic was dropped in Australia (we never had the later, square body Keymatics) it was replaced by the Hoover 455, a unique for Australia model made at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. Black dashboard with an orange switch for A/B, which was basically spin / no spin.)
That was replaced by an Australian made version, the simplified Hoover 460 and 465. (No dispenser drawer, and no heater on the 460.)
The part 7 spare parts section - the cover shows something that confirms a memory from my childhood that I have long puzzled over.
As a child we always had Hoover upright vacuum cleaners, always bought from the local Hoover store, Westwoods in Frankston.
Even bags and belts were always bought there. I always enjoyed going to the store, there were interesting displays and the people were lovely. It was a very small store, just a little counter and usually one or two vacuums, one polisher and one washer on display.
One day there was a Keymatic on display, but it wasn't badged Keymatic, it had only a number - a 3 digit number, in the 400s. 420? 450? It was right towards the end of Keymatics, early 1970s?
There in that parts catalogue is the answer - the catalogue is for 3224, 3226, 3226A, Mark 4 and..... 425! The mystery is solved.
When the Keymatic was dropped in Australia (we never had the later, square body Keymatics) it was replaced by the Hoover 455, a unique for Australia model made at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. Black dashboard with an orange switch for A/B, which was basically spin / no spin.)
That was replaced by an Australian made version, the simplified Hoover 460 and 465. (No dispenser drawer, and no heater on the 460.)
Frigidaire Deluxe
Member
Thanks Vacbear85
Those are so incredibly helpful! I’ll definitely have a shot at the bearings on the weekend. There was a lot of corroded aluminium in the bottom of the drum so hopefully everything is ok. That pin that holds the bearing sleeve on (I think that’s the correct term, the part that has the brake shoe and what the pulleys go on to) seems pretty difficult to remove.
But again, thank you so much! This is so greatly appreciated. I’m surprised there are documents floating around.
Frigidaire Deluxe
Member
That’s pretty cool!
I do have a Hoover 460 which I saved, was sitting outside and probably was going to get chucked. Just needs a pump and the wiring to be sorted.
In the new downloads, that pin is called the transax pin. (point 19 in section 4.)
I drilled mine out when I pulled mine apart years ago, but the manual says to punch it INWARDS, into the pulsator shaft tunnel. I'd use a parallel pin punch, Bunnings sells sets of them. You would have already removed the pulsator which includes its shaft, so the spin tube now has an empty hollow where you can punch the transax pin. Later you can remove the transax pin from inside the shaft - I'd try using a magnetized screwdriver - and with luck you might even be able to reuse it.
The transax pin should also have a little rubber cap pressed in on top of it, (It's in the parts diagram) I'm not sure of the purpose but I'd just put a little silicone sealant in over the pin, smooth it down and leave it to dry before doing any more reassembly.
The Hoover Keymatic is probably the best washing machine ever made in the history of humanity. Lucky to all who have one!
I just want to ask, why are there two pressure switches?
I just want to ask, why are there two pressure switches?
That's some statement in the history of first automatic washing machines , others will have many different views 
The pressure vessel is lower front right of the machine cabinet connected to the sump hose ( hence the complicated sump hose arrangement ) two hoses come out the top of the pressure pot and travel to the fixed on top chassis pressure valves , 2 because it's a Hot & Cold washing machine with individual pressure switches for the wash rinse water levels .
The pressure vessel is lower front right of the machine cabinet connected to the sump hose ( hence the complicated sump hose arrangement ) two hoses come out the top of the pressure pot and travel to the fixed on top chassis pressure valves , 2 because it's a Hot & Cold washing machine with individual pressure switches for the wash rinse water levels .
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That's some statement in the history of first automatic washing machines , others will have many different views
The pressure vessel is lower front right of the machine cabinet connected to the sump hose ( hence the complicated sump hose arrangement ) two hoses come out the top of the pressure pot and travel to the fixed on top chassis pressure valves , 2 because it's a Hot & Cold washing machine .
Hoover Keymatic is certainly at least I think a top contender. I wish I had one to try out and play with. I don't entirely have a preference for the keymatic concept, but the rest of solid with great washing and rinsing.
I'm still confused though, couldn't one pressure switch do the job and sense water only in one location? In the US Hot and Cold connected machines have only on pressure switch, though to be fair like the Maytag Neptunes had more than one set of contacts within the pressure switch for varying wash and rinse levels.
Yes , didnt make that clear in last post , this slope front Hot & Cold Keymatic has different water levels for wash & rinse on individual pressure switches which determine low & high water levels.
The later Keymatics had one pressure switch with multiple levels low medium & high
It's certainly a heads scratcher at times to work on if you think this series had 4 timers and six wiring loom upgrades for two models over 5 years of production
The later Keymatics had one pressure switch with multiple levels low medium & high
It's certainly a heads scratcher at times to work on if you think this series had 4 timers and six wiring loom upgrades for two models over 5 years of production
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I absolutely love Keymatics, but really they weren't very good machines.
They were unnecessarily complicated and quite unreliable.
The wash action is poor due to the tub tilting backwards when full and the extremely high water level, the clothes aren't so much lifted out of the water and dropped back in it, more sort of tumbled in deep water, which isn't as good an action. The wash time on standard cycles is only 4 minutes, though the machine tumbles during the heating phase too which helps. (I think they alternately tumble and heat, not both together?? It's been too long, I'm not certain of that.) I don't think the pulsator adds much to the wash, it's just below the water surface and much smaller diameter than the Hoovermatic twin tub pulsator. The one-way only tumbling doesn't help, either.
The very last versions in UK had a 4th rinse, there would be a reason for that... The Aussie ones were always 3 rinses, AFAIK we never got a 4th rinse version. Aussies are very water conscious. There was only one, 15 second intermediate spin, though the rinses were deep.
One good thing about them was the lack of vibration on spin - the cable suspended drum could shake about on spin, but it didn't transfer to the body of the washer. They were on wheels, so the excellent soft suspension was needed so they didn't wander.
The two pressure switches reflect the technology of the time - they were each single stage pressure switches. Later technology gave us two and three stage pressure switches, and later again, infinitely variable pressure sensors.
In the Keymatic, the low level pressure switch turned on the tumbling when the water reached the low level, but fill continued (may have a change of fill temperature, depending on the cycle) until the high level switch clicked over, which turned off the water and turned on the heater, if needed.
During Tumble phases the pulsator clutch solenoid is activated to prevent the pulsator turning, during the actual wash or rinse phase (in cycles that use the pulsator), the pulsator clutch releases, which allows the pulsator to turn - the solenoid is activated to prevent pusator action. The pulsator is only allowed to drive when the high level pressure switch is satisfied.
When pumping out, the timer does not advance to spin until the low level pressure switch has reset. (actually after pressure switch resets, it moves to distribute the load by tumbling for 15 seconds, then the timer advances to spin, where the main motor instantly reverses to spin the load.
They were unnecessarily complicated and quite unreliable.
The wash action is poor due to the tub tilting backwards when full and the extremely high water level, the clothes aren't so much lifted out of the water and dropped back in it, more sort of tumbled in deep water, which isn't as good an action. The wash time on standard cycles is only 4 minutes, though the machine tumbles during the heating phase too which helps. (I think they alternately tumble and heat, not both together?? It's been too long, I'm not certain of that.) I don't think the pulsator adds much to the wash, it's just below the water surface and much smaller diameter than the Hoovermatic twin tub pulsator. The one-way only tumbling doesn't help, either.
The very last versions in UK had a 4th rinse, there would be a reason for that... The Aussie ones were always 3 rinses, AFAIK we never got a 4th rinse version. Aussies are very water conscious. There was only one, 15 second intermediate spin, though the rinses were deep.
One good thing about them was the lack of vibration on spin - the cable suspended drum could shake about on spin, but it didn't transfer to the body of the washer. They were on wheels, so the excellent soft suspension was needed so they didn't wander.
The two pressure switches reflect the technology of the time - they were each single stage pressure switches. Later technology gave us two and three stage pressure switches, and later again, infinitely variable pressure sensors.
In the Keymatic, the low level pressure switch turned on the tumbling when the water reached the low level, but fill continued (may have a change of fill temperature, depending on the cycle) until the high level switch clicked over, which turned off the water and turned on the heater, if needed.
During Tumble phases the pulsator clutch solenoid is activated to prevent the pulsator turning, during the actual wash or rinse phase (in cycles that use the pulsator), the pulsator clutch releases, which allows the pulsator to turn - the solenoid is activated to prevent pusator action. The pulsator is only allowed to drive when the high level pressure switch is satisfied.
When pumping out, the timer does not advance to spin until the low level pressure switch has reset. (actually after pressure switch resets, it moves to distribute the load by tumbling for 15 seconds, then the timer advances to spin, where the main motor instantly reverses to spin the load.
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Interesting, I will start a new thread on the subject of how Keymatics worked.
Was the last Aus Keymatic the model with the teak fascia Chris ?
My Aunt & Uncle moved out to Melbourne with work 1966 and it was only recently she saw one of my pics and said they had that Keymatic in their first rental when the moved there
She said it was really good washer and didnt have any trouble or repairs the time they were there .
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