W184 installation

[JSVLaundry]

I have a question about installing a W184 washer in my may.

I am in the process of extending my mat to include a W184 washer. This washer will be replacing the space of 2 W74's. All of the washers are on a 10" high concrete base (plus 4" for the floor itself).

I have a full basement and there is a steel beam that runs under all of the washers (under the wood joists) with steel comumns. There are a couple of angled concrete columns under the base but I am not sure why they are there. My mother bought the place originally in 1984. It was an abandoned laundromat. I am assuming that the W174's were the giants of the time and were placed above these angled concrete columns.

I am concerned with the tourque & vibration from the spin cycle. My mechanic was telling me that I should install another vertical column under the W184 to brace the machine.

Any opinions are welcomed

Vinny

[KT40]

They were put there to try and secure the upper floor to the lower one. Wascomat doesn't recommend that these washers get installed on an upper floor. The concrete columns were probably put there to help stabilize the upper floor, as the floor was probably shaking. I have seen this work if it's done properly. I would think it would be a good idea to use the same columns for the W184.

[Anonymous]

My wascomat dealer installed this way in my store and in many other stores I know of, so I find it hard to believe that Wasco does not sanction such an installation. There is nothing wrong with it, and I have W245's installed this way with no vibration problems.

[KT40]

They don't because of the chance that it may not be done properly. They want to see the person happy with the washers, and to have a vibration problem will obviously affect that. I'm not saying it won't work here, I'm just saying that they dont "recommend" that the washers be put on an upper floor. Ive seen plenty of installations that use this type of installation and it works well. I have also seen a bunch of ones that didn't and caused grief for the owner because it wasn't done right.

Sounds like I work for Wascomat.......hmmm.

Kevin

[JSVLaundry]

So should I go ahead with installing another concrete column at an angle right below the W184?

I am a contractor by trade so any work could be done and I know that it will be done properly.

[KT40]

If you dont, there may be vibrations. If you do it, you cut the chances dramatically that you will have any problems. If I was doing this, I would be putting in the column under the W184.

Kevin

[JSVLaundry]

Any particular direction?

The existing ones are set up approx. at the 1/3 points. The 1st one goes from the floor up towards 7:00. The 2nd one goes from the floor up towards 1:00.

l
O O l
1st 2nd l

What direction should this new one go? This is approx. where the W184 will go above


O O O l
new 1st 2nd
----------------------------------- - steel beam

Vinny

[SudsMan]

JSV... since you're in the business, why not talk with one of the Professional Engineers (PE) that you work with? I'll bet they wouldn't charge much to do an analysis of the existing installation, what to do to upgrade it, and to identify any unique aspects of the job. The one thing I know for sure, is that that frequency and magnitude of any vibrations coming from any source must be taken into account when desiging any sort of vibration damper. If things aren't done correctly, it is actually possible to create a standing wave such that the vibrations are actually amplified! Tis true...

[Rondo]

Kevin (KT-40), You wouldn't work in Inwood ,NY would you? :D

[KT40]

I guess you got me. A caller of mine told me about this board, and out of curiosity I joined. I figured why not. It's good to hear feedback both good and bad, and if I can make a difference to improve things, I will. I figured this would be a good place to learn a little, as well as help out those who need it on a different forum. I will try and answer as much as I can, but please realize that I have a day job, and cannot answer from there. I will however, try and help out when I can.

So to answer you.....yes this is Kevin.....Service tech at Wascomat.

[TTLES]

Hi Kevin, I had a feeling that kt40 was you. Tell Jamie I said to have a cup of cappuccino on me. Bernie"s got all the bagles !!!

For JVS's questions about the colums, in addition to the information from Kevin, The colums should be at a slight angle and be a monolithic poor of 4,000 lb concerte mix. They are ment to hold the machine DOWN, NOT UP. When the machine goes into extract, the machines inertia will lift it up. I received an emergency call serveral years ago from a customer who was new to the bussiness. He said his machines had fallen over and he had a flood. Upon arrival at the location, I found a bank of three 35 pound unimacs lying on their doors with an 8 inch thick concrete pad stoll bolted to them. The machines stopped running when they riped out their power cords and hoses. The concrete pad was poured onto the floor and supported by steel posts to HOLD IT UP.
There is a certain skill to building these pads. Most masons I've come across do not really understand what's involved. In your situation, the key word above is MONOLITHIC. You need to attach the concrete pad to the colom as one unit.
Hope this helps, Tony T

[KT40]

Wuz up Tony.......matter of fact I think I figured out who you were after reading the first post I saw from you. Your the only Tony I can think of from NJ.....so....am I right???????

BTW.....I agree totally about your comments about the columns.

Kevin

[Rondo]

Kevin, welcome aboard.... with you and Tony both here it will make this board a real winner. So Kevin shouldn't you get paid extra for tech support after hours? LOL This move with you being hear should help prove a point us Wasco lovers have been trying to prove, that Wasco's support is second to none and you guys will go beyond the call of duty with support for your machines even after the warranty is gone. Dexter, Huebsch,IPSO, Maytag lovers take note.

Now if we can get a ADC tech aboard it will be fantastic!

Kevin, you the man!

[TTLES]

I'm trying to get together with Noel and Marc to take a better look at the "new version." See you then... Again, Thanks for the information. Tony Tab.

[KT40]

No comment about the pay thing....LOL Thank you for the kind words though. As I said before........I will do my best to help. Realize that the reason I'm posting a bit right now and in the past week, is due to the fact that I was on vacation. I will be in here checkin' out to see if I can help you guys out.

Thanks again.....We do our best!!!!!

Kevin

[CharlieS]

Kevin - Good to see you here! You'll find a lot of Wasco fans on this board, due largely to the excellent support you guys give.

Charlie

[mike]

Ahhhh,

Kevin,

Can you point me to a pdf file for machine repair manual for the W640, I couldn't find any on the website. (In fact my browser doesn't seem to enable me to get around your site, probably due to the fact that I use a mac with an old netscape 4.73, and my kids probably have downloaded every virus known to man)

thanks (I promise not to ask for anything more than once a week !)

[KT40]

Well.......I have asked that the Service Manual be placed on the download page, but I guess they haven't gotten to it yet. If you like, I can e-mail it to you. It's about a 2 meg file, so your mailbox will have to be able to receive it. The other alternative is to snail mail it. I'll check again tomorrow to see if the Service manuals will be online soon.

Kevin

[SudsMan]

Kevin, do you know if the problem of locating and surfing the Wascomat web site that Mike mentions below is real? I also use Netscape 4.73 but on a PC and can't get to the Wasco web site... Any suggestions?

[KT40]

I just tried with both my browsers. I use IE 6.0, and Netscape 7. I had no problems. I do know that they recently re-did the site, but I am unaware of any major problems. I know you may not want to do this, but have you tried updating your browser??? I've had to do it for other reasons. The service manuals are NOT there yet, but I will ask tomorrow when I return to work about having them put them up for you guys. I'll keep my ears open about this.

Computers.......can't live with 'em....or without 'em......

Kevin

[mike]

KT40,

Yeah, The netscape 7.0 browser works. (sheepish look)

I hate progress ! (outside the laundry biz !)

Thanks

[buddy]

Welcome Kevin.

This is exactly what I was hoping when this board was fairly new.

One of my suggestion on this board early on ( http://coinwash.com/mb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12 ) was to have Wascomat Technical Staff and Other Manufacturers join the board and exchange ideas and answer technical question. This would not only help users of these board but the manufacturers like Wascomat as it will help reduce the support phone calls and establish their official presence on the most used BBS.

Kevin, do you know if there are any plans to put Gen4 Parts and or Service Manuals on Wascomat Website? Also, It would be great if you guys build Technical Support Knowledge base on the Website to lookup/search problems and solutions from past incidents. That will certainly reduce lot of the same technical questions you get from different people.

[Kitty]

Howdy Kevin,

Glad to see yet another excellent participant among the member list.....You say a caller spoke to you about this site? Who can we thank?


Any chance you could give me a heads up on who to discuss the possibilities of advertising with Coinwash.com??


Thanks in advance.......
Kitty

[KT40]

Hi Kitty,
I'm really not sure who to talk about the advertising thing with, but I will ask around. I'll be in touch.

Someone asked about the Generation 4 manuals, and also the Generation 6 manuals. I asked today and they will be posted soon. We are awaiting a revised version of both. As soon as we get them, they will be posted. This is what I was told....realize that I have no real control over this, so all I can go by is what I was told today.

Also, I am doing a Level 2 school tomorrow, and I will mention this site to the attendees.

Also......I cannot remember the name of the person who told me about this site....but I wanted to say thanks to him as well.

Kevin

[Kitty]

Sounds Great Kevin,

Word of mouth advertising helps tremendously, thanks for any plug you can put forth for the Coinwash.com efforts. It is greatly appreciated. Thanks to whomever it was who told you about the site.

Thanks also to all members who plug the Coinwash name everyday. The site continues to add new participants and continues to grow as well, thanks to those of you who promote this site. Keep talking..:)