[silverbuffalo8]

Have older GE washer with friction pads mounted on yoke contacting a damping fin. How do you test the damping system? On some sites and manuals you get comments like, make sure friction pads are in-place and tight. With the porcelain basket out how much force should it take to move the transmission shaft to one side? That would be easy to measure with a spring and indicator.

Also on the upper outside of the basket is a chamber with rubber plug. I assume that the contents are designed move and counter balance the basket contents? What it in there and does it become hardened over time? Any tests to confirm functioning?

The reason for wanting to know all of this is my rubber boot between the transmission and tub came loose at the bottom clamp due to I assume severe out of balance issues. Manuals are not much help on this.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

On your old GE washer there are no friction pads.

The tub is suspended on a cable system.

There is a cement block to counter balance the motor and pump assembly.

Check the clamp it may be rust and broken.

Here is a link to your washer model WWA8600GALAD.

[silverbuffalo8]

Dear Shelia

On your old GE washer there are no friction pad

1. Actually this model does have 4 damping fins, each fin having a yoke that holds 2 friction pads or snubber pads to rub against the fins. One fin and yoke at each corner of the base that resist or dampen the tortional and vertcial forces of the suspension assembly. As seen in the diagram you referenced. please see items 434 & 422 thru 426. This is in addition to the motor counter weight (cinder block) and the cable and pulley system that you refer to.

The tub is suspended on a cable system

Acutally the tub is stationary and the basket moves as the basket is mounted on the agitator shaft extending from the transmission connected to the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly (item# 433) holds the motor, pump, cinder block, transmission, basket, and agitator with the cables.

Check the clamp it may be rust and broken.

Yes, the cinder block is securely in place.

Is there a way to test the damping system fins, friction pads or pulleys by pulling on the agitator shaft with x-force?

Also please addreess item #2
2. Also on the upper and outside of the basket is a chamber with a rubber plug. I assume that the contents are designed move and counter balance the basket contents as it rotates? What it in there and does it become hardened over time? Any tests to confirm functioning?

SilverBuffalo
One of those dreaded engineers, but not experienced in the finer points of GE's design.

[bettyboop]

You have a lot of patience, I was glad they stopped making them a long time ago.
Your rubber boot will come off sometimes if just moving it on a hand truck.
What you should do is clean the area where the boot mounts, take out the boot and clean it good.If the tub lip is dryed, smear a little contac cement, and let it dry 20 or so minutes then place the clean dry boot on and do not over tighten.Then replace the top clamp. I did this cure a lot many years ago, because the surface area they give you is too small and slippery, the contac cement gets rid of the slippery surface, and boot is better secured. I got dozens of repair calls after movers rough handled them, and the boot would pop off.Hope this helps you outBettyboop

[silverbuffalo8]

Great tip. Unfortunately, I re-assembled it before I read your reply. I used RTV silicone (dried about 24 hours) and I probably did over tight the bottom boot. I would agree that there is not much of a lip to work with on replacing the boot. It did take awhile to get the grit out of the groove along the lip in the tub.

The boot really does the trick in releasing the tub's water all at once onto the floor. Not my favorite sight, 25 gallons of water looking for a home.

I've had only a few fixes in this macine's 22 years, a clutch, motor due to bent shaft (I dropped it, dumb), a timer, and this boot thing on this 1985 machine. I've never had a repairman out in the last 30 years to fix any appliance. It is a slow process in learning though. There are many tricks to your trade and experience means a lot.

Two last questions:

1. Could you determine if a machine's suspension is working correctly, by how hard you had to shove the agitator sideways or front to back?

2. What is in the chamber on the upper and outside of the basket that acts as a counter balance weight to the contents of the basket?

[bettyboop]

The pads on the four corners just slow the motion like shocks no tests or any thing else
I don't remember about the other balence thing? never had a problem
Betty boop