That's what I get for 50 bucks, eh?
July 11, 2010 10:17 PM   Subscribe

Help me identify the settings on my new (used/old) washing machine. Please?

I bought a washer from a friend. It had been kept in his yard for a year. The washer works fine, but all the printed setting have since faded from the front. I can't even find a brand name to google pictures of old washers. Does anyone have this washer, or can identify the make/model? Is there anyone out there with an encyclopedic knowledge of washing machines? Here's a pic of the full front knobs. Here's the left hand side which has the knob I'm most concerned with, the temp control. Ring any bells? Thanks!
posted by lizjohn to Home & Garden (13 answers total)
 
Can you try running some loads empty (or with sturdy items that can withstand any temperature) and just try each setting and make a note of it?
posted by ambrosia at 10:51 PM on July 11, 2010


Take a look at the back and inside and google any strings of numbers or letters you find along with "washing machine". You might get lucky.
posted by MadamM at 10:58 PM on July 11, 2010


The temp dial likely had four settings: cold wash/cold rinse, warm wash/cold rinse, hot wash/cold rinse, hot wash/warm rinse, and probably in that order, or else that's in backwards order. I'd set it to the far left, toss in a few towels, and let it fill up. Then open it up and see what temp the water is. I'm betting it's cold.
posted by donnagirl at 10:59 PM on July 11, 2010


Oh, I think that's my grandmother's laundry machine! She had a Sears Kenmore. Here's pics of a similar model. The knobs are temperature control, water level, and... okay, I can't remember what the third one was for.
posted by ErikaB at 11:02 PM on July 11, 2010


The photo marked "closeupbottom" looks as though it has a word starting with "M" on the black section at the bottom left. Could it be "MAYTAG"? If so, at least you know the make.
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:42 PM on July 11, 2010


It also looks like my old Kenmore. I can't remember what order the knobs were in thought, sorry. I think there was temperature, water level, something I didn't use so I don't remember it (maybe spin speed?) and the big one on the right for the kind of cycle.

If it's a top loader why don't you just turn it on, stick your hand under the water and twist the knobs until one of them changes the temperature?
posted by fshgrl at 11:51 PM on July 11, 2010


btw "Heavy Duty" was a series of models with numbers like "Heavy Duty 70" and "Heavy Duty 80". They still make them so you could bring the photo to Sears and ask a repairman.
posted by fshgrl at 11:53 PM on July 11, 2010


Temperature control knobs usually have detents, and water level knobs usually spin smoothly throughout their entire range.

From looking at your photo, I would guess that from left to right, your knobs are Temperature, Water Level, and Speed.
posted by twblalock at 4:39 AM on July 12, 2010


If you have the model number, you can go to the parts section of Sears.com and view the owner's manual. Plug-in the model number and click enter. Then, on the next page, click on the View Manuals page.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:00 AM on July 12, 2010


Best answer: It looks like you can read the temp controls in your closeup picture. There is a chart with WASH on the left and RINSE on the right. Under the RINSE column, it's COLD,COLD,COLD,WARM.

Under the WASH column, there is an A,B,C,D. I can hardly read A, but B,C,D are WARM,HOT,WARM. Really staring at A and knowing that one of those needs to be COLD, I think it's A which says COLD.

I would guess that the selector knob has A on the left then B,C,D going to the right. Turn it on and stick your hand in the water to test that theory.

Also, look inside the door or take off the back of the washer and look inside where the motor is to see if there is a plate with make/model/serial numbers. If you still can't figure it out, post it on applianceblog.com
posted by CathyG at 6:41 AM on July 12, 2010


The plate with the model and serial numbers should be on the rear inside edge of the lid opening. At least that's where it is on my old Kenmore.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:06 AM on July 12, 2010


Another place to post the photo for more info: in the Discus-o-mat forums at automaticwasher.org. I was kind of embarrassed looking around on that site - it reads like porn but it's all about old appliances. One of those guys will know exactly what you have and how to work it.
posted by CathyG at 11:24 AM on July 12, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks all! I made labels for the knobs. I don't know if it makes it better or worse looking :)
posted by lizjohn at 4:47 PM on July 12, 2010


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