Kenmore BD

Chaz -

The model number probably doesn't have the 9 in it, otherwise it's a 110.82070120. That is a 70 series five-cycle machine, 4 levels, three temps. very popular, good middle line machine. A 1980 model.

If your machine is squealing in spin, I am tempted to suggest dry bearings. I had never heard that in a short centerpost machine (1978 -1987 production) until two years ago, and again recently.

The first time, I had taken down my 1979 machine a couple times (once to correct a non-spin condition after it had been in storage for 8 years) and again to seal the agitator shaft which I should have done when it was apart the first time, and each time I did that, the machine lost a certain amount of centerpost bearing turbine oil, which drips onto the cabinet and floor. I like to work on my machines partially upright, and gravity allowed the oil to drip out. It wasn't a lot each time, but there is only a couple teaspoons of the oil in there to begin with. I finally stuffed a shop towel into the lower bearing to stop the drips, but foolish me never thought about replacing the oil. DUH!

So, about three loads of laundry later, it began this awful howling during spin. I knew what it was pretty fast and quit using it until I pulled it down AGAIN and re-oiled it. It has been fine since.

Now I have a different machine doing that. It is quieter but you can clearly hear the spin-tube whipping around in the bearings. Metal on metal.....I am not using it until I check it out, but I expect to find it lacking oil too.

Your machine if it has sat a long time in a warm garage (we know how warm they get here in Charlotte), it may have lost it's bearing oil simply from age and a lot of sitting around. Sometimes I'll find a basket drive brake pad saturated with oil. Your model was made from fall 1979 until mid-1981 when the entire line got an internal major redesign (baseplate, tubs & baskets) and new 1981 models were introduced. If it is 31 or more years old, it very well may need centerpost oil. I wouldn't be concerned about the bearings being worn, they seldom wear out in this short centerpost design, unless they have been floodeed for many years of centerpost leakage and many many miles of operation. Your machine doesn't sound like it has had enough use for that, but running the bearings dry definitely will increase friction and wear.

If you want to bring it by here sometime this summer, we'll give it a once-over!

Gordon


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Post# 513709 4/25/2011 at 19:54 (4,749 days old) by wvkenmore (Wv)
Checkrate/Likes I put back into service my cousins old belt drive kenmore after the shredmore started overfilling. This washer had light use for 15 years as my cousin was a old lady (who never had a dryer due to the elctric bill be to high with one) and then after her death went ot my aunts garage in 1995. It was used for 3 months or so and stored again and only used when the 2003 shredmore be broke down. I have plugged it up and let spin a cycle a few times a year. She washes great and has the pentaswirl in white but as she starts to spin she screaches loudly for 1 min the quite. I was thinking bearings are going . The model #820701290 ( I think its kinda worn off). This washer is in my aunt estate in Charlotte and I am planing on adding her to my other 5 kenmore bds and any advice on her noise be great...Chaz

Post# 513771 , Reply# 1 4/25/2011 at 21:53 (4,749 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Chaz - The model number probably doesn't have the 9 in it, otherwise it's a 110.82070120. That is a 70 series five-cycle machine, 4 levels, three temps. very popular, good middle line machine. A 1980 model. If your machine is squealing in spin, I am tempted to suggest dry bearings. I had never heard that in a short centerpost machine (1978 -1987 production) until two years ago, and again recently. The first time, I had taken down my 1979 machine a couple times (once to correct a non-spin condition after it had been in storage for 8 years) and again to seal the agitator shaft which I should have done when it was apart the first time, and each time I did that, the machine lost a certain amount of centerpost bearing turbine oil, which drips onto the cabinet and floor. I like to work on my machines partially upright, and gravity allowed the oil to drip out. It wasn't a lot each time, but there is only a couple teaspoons of the oil in there to begin with. I finally stuffed a shop towel into the lower bearing to stop the drips, but foolish me never thought about replacing the oil. DUH! So, about three loads of laundry later, it began this awful howling during spin. I knew what it was pretty fast and quit using it until I pulled it down AGAIN and re-oiled it. It has been fine since. Now I have a different machine doing that. It is quieter but you can clearly hear the spin-tube whipping around in the bearings. Metal on metal.....I am not using it until I check it out, but I expect to find it lacking oil too. Your machine if it has sat a long time in a warm garage (we know how warm they get here in Charlotte), it may have lost it's bearing oil simply from age and a lot of sitting around. Sometimes I'll find a basket drive brake pad saturated with oil. Your model was made from fall 1979 until mid-1981 when the entire line got an internal major redesign (baseplate, tubs & baskets) and new 1981 models were introduced. If it is 31 or more years old, it very well may need centerpost oil. I wouldn't be concerned about the bearings being worn, they seldom wear out in this short centerpost design, unless they have been floodeed for many years of centerpost leakage and many many miles of operation. Your machine doesn't sound like it has had enough use for that, but running the bearings dry definitely will increase friction and wear. If you want to bring it by here sometime this summer, we'll give it a once-over! Gordon

Post# 513789 , Reply# 2 4/25/2011 at 23:20 (4,749 days old) by wvkenmore (Wv)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks Gordon I waspretty sure the bearing were dry but, the garage is in basement garage and is always cool and is climate controled due to drafty hvac ducts. This waher looks realy nice and washes great . I will be in Charlotte in the next month and will bring it up north or the washer will end up for special services to haul off and its to nice for that. Thanks again for the info..chaz

Post# 513853 , Reply# 3 4/26/2011 at 07:41 (4,748 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *SCREECHING BD KENMORE* The question is does it screech with no load in the machine or just with a load? If it is just making the noise as the basket gets up to speed it is not likely dry center-post bearings. As Gordon stated it is very unlikely that this machine will have dry bearings. It is much more likely that the belt is loose and maybe a little glazed and the clutch disk can also make the type of sound you describe. I have never seen the oil leak out of the bearings in the center post of a BD washer that has been sitting for long periods of time. If it did it would be all over the brake and clutch assembly and probably wouldn't spin at all with the clutch covered with oil, I have yet to ever see this.