 shortcktWatchen Das Blinken LightsPremium
join:2000-12-05
Tenant Hell | Washing machine gearbox lube ever needs changing? I have a 25ish year old Whirlpool top loader that sometimes engages the drum spin when the motor starts up for the drain cycle, instead of waiting until after the drain cycle where the motor stops and starts a second time to engage the spin. This causes it to spin with the tub full of water and continues draining while it spins. Continued operating this way will wear out the spin clutch prematurely along with overloading the motor.
The problem seems to be temperature related. The machine will do this the first 2~3 drain-spin cycles in cold weather, less in hot weather or if the wash cycle used hot water. Then it runs fine for the rest of the drain-spin cycles until it sits overnight or longer and cools down.
If it engages spin while starting to drain I can clear it by setting it to agitate for a moment to reset it, then advancing the timer to drain, usually once but sometimes I need to reset it twice before it will drain without spinning.
Could the gearbox lube have become gummed up, lost it's lubricating ability and cause parts to stick until the gearbox warms up?
Another possibility I see on the exploded view diagrams there is a small clutch dog near the rim of the main gear that engages the drum for spin by sliding out under centrifugal force. That looks like it might be a plastic part and could be worn, although I only run about 4~5 loads per month. |
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1 edit | I had a 1996 Kenmore/Whirlpool direct-drive washer that did the exact same thing. Even the same temperature-related behavior.
Repairman was unconcerned.
The problem would go away after replacing the motor coupler (which broke regularly), but then return after several months.
The washer would break every 3 years, on average. When it finally broke for the sixth time, I junked that piece of junk and got a new HE top-loader.
Anyway, my uneducated guess is that the problem has to do with the clutch dog you mention in the last paragraph. One of the repairmen said something similar but said it wasn't necessary to fix. |
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| reply to shortckt
Mine did the same thing. It seems to happen more if I turned it off just as it was starting to drain. When I start it again, the tub starts to spin while it's draining.
And it would spin even when I lifted the lid. |
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shortcktWatchen Das Blinken LightsPremium
join:2000-12-05
Tenant Hell | reply to Bobcat79
Mine is probably the same, direct drive with the water pump on the back of the motor. Cycle changes done by reversing the motor.
A friend who repaired appliances advised me to keep it since it was better built than newer stuff. I don't think this one has ever needed repair other than when I R&R the lid switch and recalibrated the water level selector.
I can't understand your repair guy saying it wasn't necessary to fix the problem since that will eventually cause premature wear of the spin clutch. I'm also concerned that if mine starts spinning with the tub full of water to the top, the spinning action will cause the water to overflow over the top of the tub cover. I live in an old building and the laundry space is in the kitchen, so large amounts of water is something to be concerned about. |
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shortcktWatchen Das Blinken LightsPremium
join:2000-12-05
Tenant Hell | reply to 8744675
said by 8744675:Mine did the same thing. It seems to happen more if I turned it off just as it was starting to drain. When I start it again, the tub starts to spin while it's draining.
That's how it works. Engaging the spin clutch requires the motor to start in reverse, come to a full stop, then start in reverse again. The first reverse doesn't engage anything so it only pumps the water out. The second reverse engages the spin clutch (and keeps pumping water out.) That's why when the motor stops after draining and before it starts spinning you hear the clunk as the drive mech engages right when the motor stops spinning. If you had the lid open at that moment you would see the basket turn a little, just from the left over motion of the motor coming to a stop.
My problem is that during that first reverse start the basket starts spinning while full of water, it doesn't wait until the second reverse start.
said by 8744675:And it would spin even when I lifted the lid.
Bad lid switch probably. Failed in the shorted position. Mine once failed in the open position, so no spin. Fortunately it's easy to change out without even opening the top. |
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| reply to shortckt
Those gearboxes should be lubricated for 'life', unless there's a leak, in which you need to fix the leak and refill with oil.
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Palin 2012! |
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