How to Fix Stuff

[zoiDman]

I hadn't really thought much about the different speeds and such but that makes sense. So it's basically a variable speed drive built into the machine. To me then it would make sense then that they are using some type of electrical brake to stop the motor.

Yeah... There is a Lot Going on inside a Washer.

And that is what that whole "Open the Lid 6 Times" things is about. Clearing any Fault Codes in the Control Board. And Re-Settings everything back to a Normal State due to an Interrupted Cycle.

It might be that Bronze's motor is in Perfect working order. But the Control Board is Fubar. And is sending Conflicting signals say'n Spin your heart out. Whiles also sending a Motor Lock signal say'n that the Load is Unbalanced.

Or maybe a Load or Temp Sensor has given up the Ghost? And it is sending Funky signals? It can just be a Big Bag of Worms sometimes.

 

[rosesense]

Bronze, did you try that repair site for info/help? My son who knew nothing about washers used that site and was able to pinpoint the problem/part needed and fix mine a few years ago.

 

[Bronze]

Bronze, did you try that repair site for info/help? My son who knew nothing about washers used that site and was able to pinpoint the problem/part needed and fix mine a few years ago.

Repair site?

 

[rosesense]

Repair site?

RepairClinic.com
800-269-2609

They have a bunch of troubleshooting lists and videos. Just put your model number in.

 

[Bronze]

So I ordered the used motor. $44 delivered. Had to order a new agitator bolt and dogs. $60 total. Even if that doesn't work and I have to buy a used timer for $75 I'm only up to $135, or half what the refurb shop wants for a machine that is 6 years older. And if that still doesn't fix it a used gearcase is $90 so I'm still ahead. But after testing the gearcase today I saw nothing wrong with it. It agitated and spun perfectly fine with the cordless drill. The clutch was a little weak but still functioning. I happened to have a spare clutch in my appliance bone box that was in good shape so I swapped it out. Cleaned the crap out of all the agitator mechanisms. Disgusting job! Tapped the tranny shaft threads so they're nice and clean now.

I'm very easy to want to give up but very hard to actually ever give up. Explains why I still drive a 29 year old truck that I bought brand new in 1993. It's in EXCELLENT SHAPE! Hell, I still use a 59 cent plastic soap dish I bought in 1979. It's yellowing but works great nonetheless. If a chick wants to turn me on, I get off on substance over style.

 

[zoiDman]

... Hell, I still use a 59 cent plastic soap dish I bought in 1979. It's yellowing but works great nonetheless. ...

Damn... Now you're making me feel Frivolous buying this today just to give that Freeloading Cat that comes around in the evenings some milk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040B7YAY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

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Hope those Parts get your machine back to where it should be.

 

[hittman]

Damn... Now you're making me feel Frivolous buying this today just to give that Freeloading Cat that comes around in the evenings some milk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040B7YAY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

---

Hope those Parts get your machine back to where it should be.

What? You didn’t have an empty butter bowl?

 

[Bronze]

Damn... Now you're making me feel Frivolous buying this today just to give that Freeloading Cat that comes around in the evenings some milk.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040B7YAY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

---

Hope those Parts get your machine back to where it should be.

Bwahahahaha!! You just got yourself a permanent friend.

I freely admit I'm a cheap bastich.

BUT...after extensively researching new wash machines, I'd rather stay away from them. They are JUNK!!!!! Everyone complains about them. They don't clean clothes, they take forever to run a cycle, they only last 5 years, on and on. All high efficiency CRAP!

 

[zoiDman]

What? You didn’t have an empty butter bowl?

Yeah... I know.

But I needed to get to that Stupid $25 for Free Shipping. And have this thing about an Animal should have their Own Bowl.

 

[zoiDman]

Bwahahahaha!! You just got yourself a permanent friend.

I freely admit I'm a cheap bastich.

BUT...after extensively researching new wash machines, I'd rather stay away from them. They are JUNK!!!!! Everyone complains about them. They don't clean clothes, they take forever to run a cycle, they only last 5 years, on and on. All high efficiency CRAP!

That's what Ticks Me Off. Stuff Doesn't Last anymore.

Sure, things are Sleek and Sexy Looking. And has Digital this and LCD that. But inside everything is Plastic. And Low Quality Die-Cast Aluminum.

This Guy once at Home Depot who was looking at this Low End Dishwasher told me he Liked it because it only use 75% of the Electricity of most others. I told him that is because it has a Horribly Undersized Motor in it. And they average in the 4 Weeks of Down Time waiting for Parts while it is broke into the Energy Star Rating.

LOL

 

[Bronze]

That's what Ticks Me Off. Stuff Doesn't Last anymore.

Sure, things are Sleek and Sexy Looking. And has Digital this and LCD that. But inside everything is Plastic. And Low Quality Die-Cast Aluminum.

This Guy once at Home Depot who was looking at this Low End Dishwasher told me he Liked it because it only use 75% of the Electricity of most others. I told him that is because it has a Horribly Undersized Motor in it. And they average in the 4 Weeks of Down Time waiting for Parts while it is broke into the Energy Star Rating.

LOL

That’s exactly right. Maybe there are things where the fancy stuff is nice to have but a wash machine is not one of those things. Or a dishwasher.

I value sturdy, long lasting stuff. Sadly, that is harder and harder to find.

 

[440BB]

When the ice maker in our 20+ year old fridge began to leak, I thought I'd see if our local used appliance guy had any fresh replacements. He works with Best Buy and gets the appliances removed when new ones are delivered. My wife still prefers white, and the surge to stainless has spawned many excellent used ones. The Whirlpool washer and dryer they delivered over 20 years ago for $300 are still running well and I was optimistic.

The owner just shook his head when I asked about fridges. A veteran appliance repair man, he explained that they aren't worth working on any more. Although he will resell newer ones in good working order, they aren't built to hold up. With the cost and frequency of repairs, even his 90 day warranty was losing him money.

We kept the fridge, have three ice trays in the freezer and spent $135 at Best Buy on a chest freezer for nic and food. We'll replace all kitchen appliances with new stainless in a few years when we want to sell our house. As my Dad's Philco 1958 fridge is still working flawlessly, I'm going to see how long ours will make it!

 

[Bronze]

So the Whirlpool washer is fixed and running again. It was the motor. It's unusual for the motor to go out on a wash machine. Of all the things that break, the motor is low on the list. That's why it took so long to diagnose. But it is what it is and the machine lives again. A couple things I learned...

1. New washing machines suck! If you have the old agitator style, fix it! I believe they stopped making the direct drive (beltless), top-load agitator style machines in 2009ish possibly a little before. These were workhorses. Today's wash machines are not. End of story.

2. Check your agitator dogs. This is a very common problem with wash machines and they go unnoticed. Open the lid on your machine. Grab the agitator and rotate it clockwise. It should rotate freely. Now rotate it counterclockwise. It should lock on the lower portion of the agitator and stop spinning. If it rotates freely, your agitator dogs are shot. The agitator should spin freely only in clockwise rotation. Fortunately, it is an easy/inexpensive repair (see video). Mine were not only worn but they were broken as well. There's a very good chance your dogs are shot too. Check them out. Watch a couple few vids on this topic so you get the full picture. This one is good but he does a crappy job showing you how to put the agitator back together. You gotta get things lined up.

 

[hittman]

So the Whirlpool washer is fixed and running again. It was the motor. It's unusual for the motor to go out on a wash machine. Of all the things that break, the motor is low on the list. That's why it took so long to diagnose. But it is what it is and the machine lives again. A couple things I learned...

1. New washing machines suck! If you have the old agitator style, fix it! I believe they stopped making the direct drive (beltless), top-load agitator style machines in 2009ish possibly a little before. These were workhorses. Today's wash machines are not. End of story.

2. Check your agitator dogs. This is a very common problem with wash machines and they go unnoticed. Open the lid on your machine. Grab the agitator and rotate it clockwise. It should rotate freely. Now rotate it counterclockwise. It should lock on the lower portion of the agitator and stop spinning. If it rotates freely, your agitator dogs are shot. The agitator should spin freely only in clockwise rotation. Fortunately, it is an easy/inexpensive repair (see video). Mine were not only worn but they were broken as well. There's a very good chance your dogs are shot too. Check them out. Watch a couple few vids on this topic so you get the full picture. This one is good but he does a crappy job showing you how to put the agitator back together. You gotta get things lined up.

Congratulations on the repair!

We have Google fiber internet and tv but they are ending the tv service so they gave us two WiFi hubs and a couple chromecast. I have to do the installation today. It looks pretty straight forward but that’s if everything goes like it should. We decided to go with YouTube tv plus the streaming services we already had.

 

[zoiDman]

So the Whirlpool washer is fixed and running again. It was the motor. It's unusual for the motor to go out on a wash machine. Of all the things that break, the motor is low on the list. That's why it took so long to diagnose. But it is what it is and the machine lives again. A couple things I learned...

1. New washing machines suck! If you have the old agitator style, fix it! I believe they stopped making the direct drive (beltless), top-load agitator style machines in 2009ish possibly a little before. These were workhorses. Today's wash machines are not. End of story.

2. Check your agitator dogs. This is a very common problem with wash machines and they go unnoticed. Open the lid on your machine. Grab the agitator and rotate it clockwise. It should rotate freely. Now rotate it counterclockwise. It should lock on the lower portion of the agitator and stop spinning. If it rotates freely, your agitator dogs are shot. The agitator should spin freely only in clockwise rotation. Fortunately, it is an easy/inexpensive repair (see video). Mine were not only worn but they were broken as well. There's a very good chance your dogs are shot too. Check them out. Watch a couple few vids on this topic so you get the full picture. This one is good but he does a crappy job showing you how to put the agitator back together. You gotta get things lined up.

Good to Hear that things are back to Running again.

Sounds like it Didn't cost all that much to fix. About what a Service Call alone would cost in Many Places.

 

[Bronze]

Good to Hear that things are back to Running again.

Sounds like it Didn't cost all that much to fix. About what a Service Call alone would cost in Many Places.

$44 for the used motor delivered. Another $14 for a agitator bolt and agitator dogs. Stuff you find wrecked along the way. So $58 total.

I’ve torn apart several washers in my time so they’re not Chinese to me but you do forget stuff so this was a good refresher. These machines really are not complicated. Well worth DIY repairs to keep you from having to buy this modern junk.

And there are plenty of YT vids too as an instructional backup. I like them for the diagnostic info. Many do not get into diagnostics at all. But enuf do.

 

[zoiDman]

$44 for the used motor delivered. Another $14 for a agitator bolt and agitator dogs. Stuff you find wrecked along the way. So $58 total.

I’ve torn apart several washers in my time so they’re not Chinese to me but you do forget stuff so this was a good refresher. These machines really are not complicated. Well worth DIY repairs to keep you from having to buy this modern junk.

And there are plenty of YT vids too as an instructional backup. I like them for the diagnostic info. Many do not get into diagnostics at all. But enuf do.

60 Bucks! Hell that is about Half what I spend every time I go to get 6 Bags of Groceries.

I don't think you could get someone to replace the Water Hoses on Washer for 60 Bucks. Let alone replace a Motor.

 

[Bronze]

60 Bucks! Hell that is about Half what I spend every time I go to get 6 Bags of Groceries.

I don't think you could get someone to replace the Water Hoses on Washer for 60 Bucks. Let alone replace a Motor.

$60 gets them in their van. Another $60 gets them to your front door. Goes up from there.

 

[CMD-Ky]

$44 for the used motor delivered. Another $14 for a agitator bolt and agitator dogs. Stuff you find wrecked along the way. So $58 total.

I’ve torn apart several washers in my time so they’re not Chinese to me but you do forget stuff so this was a good refresher. These machines really are not complicated. Well worth DIY repairs to keep you from having to buy this modern junk.

And there are plenty of YT vids too as an instructional backup. I like them for the diagnostic info. Many do not get into diagnostics at all. But enuf do.

With Youtube all things become possible.

 

[Bronze]

Well, update on washer. It aint fixed completely yet. Truthfully, I felt something wasn't right so yesterday I dug into it more and discovered my concern was confirmed.

My motor was burned out. And while I had it all apart I checked the clutch too. It was very worn. Still worked, but on its last leg to be sure. I replaced both components (using a clutch from my spare parts) and the washer works again. However, when I gave it a test drive I noticed the thing was draining and spinning at the same time. Didn't think a whole lot about it but that didn't seem right. So I finally got around to researching it and, sure enough, it's not supposed to do that. Once agitation ends, the tub is supposed to drain BEFORE it starts to spin. Mine wasn't and still isn't. There's a neutral drain mechanism in the gear case that is shot. I need to replace it. The kit is $32 and I ordered one.

The reason you want the tub to drain BEFORE it spins is to reduce the stress put on the motor and clutch. There's 75 pounds of water in the tub and it takes a lot of oomph to turn it. That's why the machine is designed to drain the water before it spins.

Something to check on yours.