Back to the blog post: http://www.matthewfurman.net/blog/2022/02/07/fixing-my-1972-frigidaire-jetcone-1-18-washing-machine/

Below are two email threads between myself and Dave at DavesRepair.com about my 1972 Frigidaire 1-18 JetCone Washing Machine Bellows.

I highly recommend talking to Dave at DavesRepair.com if you have any appliance related questions. He is a great resource of knowledge!

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'Morning Matt,

Excellent! I'm really glad to hear that was a nail-in-the-bellows issue
and not a leaking center seal. Good to hear you persuaded it to go on, too.

Frigidaire sold a tool for those retaining rings that looked like an old
fashioned jar opener, with a groove on its inside edge for squeezing the
ring to open and close it. They also made a smaller one for the little
inner bellows.

'Wish I had $1 for every bellows I replaced over the years. Could buy
some nice stiff with the total! ;-) I remember charging $7 for one and
another $7 for the service call (Wow, now I really feel *old*, ha ha).

No longer available, I've sold all of them I had except the set I
carried every day, which I'll be keeping. I've attached a photo of the
larger wrench, just FYI.

A big Channel-lock pliers can be used to latch one closed in a pinch.
Not fun, but it can be done.

Hope that's helpful.

Thanks, and God bless you,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
http://www.davesrepair.com/
drs@sosbbs.com

Creation vs Evolution, the 'Bottom Line':
Psalm 118:8

On 2/18/2022 10:47 AM, Matthew Furman wrote:
> I was able to get the bellows on, however now I am having a lot of
> trouble getting the ring on. Is there a trick to getting it on?
>
> I found the nail and the hole in the old bellows.
>
>
>
> --
> Matthew Furman
> -----Original Message----- From: Dave at DavesRepair.com
> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2022 8:15 PM
> To: Matthew Furman
> Subject: Re: 1-18 bellows installation
>
> 'Evening Matthew,
>
> They can be tough, especially your first one ;-)
>
> Work the retaining ring up onto the bellows 2 or 3 folds, then hold its
> bottom under running hot water at the sink for a bit to soften it up.
> Then it's worked onto the tub's rim using both thumbs.
>
> PS - Did you find a nail hole or tear in the old one?
>
> God bless you and yours,
>
> Dave Harnish
> Dave's Repair Service
> http://www.davesrepair.com/
> drs@sosbbs.com
>
> Yesterday is history, Tomorrow a mystery.
> Today is a gift. That's why we call it the Present.
>
> 2 Corinthians 6:2

'Morning Matthew,

Center leaks in those otherwise terrific washers were their downfall.

The leak is usually through the big rotary seal under the tub. The water
finds its way down into the spin clutch, and once its two fiber linings
get wet, that slips like crazy.

Sometimes, if you're lucky, it's a nail caught in the rubber bellows
(638860) under the agitator, and I'd check that first, but it's almost
always seal failure, which spells the end of the line for one of these
washers.

Generic seals were available at one time, but I'm not sure if they're
still around. But it's usually not something I recommend doing now.

The water also goes through the two big main (ball) bearings, washing
their grease out and making spin progressively louder over time. You may
have already noticed that louder spin noise.

I replaced a lot of those bearings and seal kits over the years, but at
this point in time, the 8 small (1/4-28) steel screws that mount the
transmission to the tub will have electrolytically "welded" themselves
into the aluminum tranny casting (steel and aluminum just don't "play "
well together), and at least 2 or 3 will twist off. It's definitely the
end of the road when one gets to that point, I'm afraid.

Hoping I'm wroing, and it's just a leaking bellows, but... Let me know
when you get a chance.

Thanks, and God bless your 2022,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
http://www.davesrepair.com/
drs@sosbbs.com

No Jesus, No Peace.
Know Jesus, Know Peace.

John 14:27

On 2/6/2022 11:49 PM, Matthew Furman wrote:
> I have a 1972 Frigidaire Jetcone 1-18 Washing Machine that has stopped
> spinning. I believe there is a small leak under the agitator (a very
> tiny drip). It also appears the clutch is not working (I’ve gotten it to
> start spinning for a moment but it slips)
> Do you have the seal I need to fix the leak and instructions on how I
> can fix or replace the clutch?
> I found this part on your website that might be what I need for the seal.
> http://davesrepair.com/Parts/638860sale.htm
> <http://davesrepair.com/Parts/638860sale.htm>
>
> Matthew Furman