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I took a call yesterday to go to a Bendix Washer Dryer that the elderly customer said “It’s pretty old but it works fine except for a slight leak underneath, when can you come and fix it?”
I called this morning and was staggered at what I saw……….
http://img248.imageshack.us/slideshow/w … ndix7a.jpg
The machine was supplied and delivered by a firm in Twyford, Berkshire way back in 1962
I’m told that over the years it had been lovingly serviced by a Mr Orchard but my elderly lady customer suspects he may no longer be around and she couldn’t find his phone number.
The good news is that I cut my eye teeth on these machines back in the 60’s. I delivered and serviced many in that time throughout the Thames Valley. This for me was a serious case of overwhelming nostalgia and indeed joy when I fixed the leak. The dryer venting solenoid mechanism on the back was stuck open and wash water was splashing down the back – the return spring had rusted so I cobbled a replacement together from the collection of various springs I had on the van! 😀
The gearbox whines a bit as I think the oil had dried up in there. So I poured some lawnmower oil in it from her garden shed and it has quieted down considerably. :tup:
Un-bl**dy-believable…the machine is best part of 49 years old and it still works..megger reading a bit on the high side mind you but still safe enough to use. Incidentally, the old rubber inlet hoses long since replaced with nylon hydraulic hoses from farm machinery – very clever improvisation on that one I reckon. Drum bearings just slightly rumbling but as it only spins at 700 rpm they ain’t gonna give anytime soon. Door seal is the only caution, it’s getting a bit stiff and leaky, but hey!..aren’t we all?
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