Thread Number: 61352  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
1972 Lady Kenmore not draining properly.
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Post# 840105   9/7/2015 at 18:52 (3,124 days old) by scoots (Chattanooga TN)        

scoots's profile picture

About 18 months ago I bought a garage door Lady Kenmore washer that needed some work (missing drive belt, missing detergent etc. dispenser.) About a month ago I fixed the washer up and up until today it's worked perfectly after running about a dozen loads.

 

First Problem: Flooding and Failure to empty tub.

Today I put in a load of towels and selected a prewash and white cotton cycle, high water level. When I came back the room had flooded*, the dial had reached the final OFF position, and the water in the tub was was down to the fourth row of perforations (row 4th from the top).

After defeating the lid switch, I tried various remedies over the next hour and found several problems:

 

  1. Laying the drain hose on the floor SOMETIMES would drain the tub, but frequently nothing came out.
  2. I tried draining with the pump on the various "spin" cycles (there are four on this machine). Sometimes the pump would drain the tub correctly, other times nothing happened. Other times, the pump would drain the water down to the fourth row from the top. The pump continued to run, but the water did not go down.
  3. Occasionally, additional water would leak from the bottom of the machine while the pump was in operation.
  4. When the water level reached the side check valve, there was gurgling and it was spitting air.
  5. The water delivery to the detergent dispenser was weak. It started off strong, but about three quarters the way though it would slow to a trickle.
  6. Spin and Agitation were normal.

There was no pattern to the pump: either it worked, failed completely or only drained some. Quickly turning the unit on and off with the cycle switch did not improve anything.

 

I replaced the belt a few weeks ago and partially withdrew the agitate solenoid bar.  I am wondering if there is an alignment problem this is creating an issue with the pump lever (I haven't been under the machine since it's all too wet right now. I have fans running to clear the water.)

 

Second problem, intermittent noises when spinning.

 

This is also something that just started, during spin there is a rubbing sound.  This unit as the vari-flex agitator in it, and I've noticed that if the vanes are not locked in one of the four positions, the plastic chatters and grinds while spinning.  This was a very similar sound. Also, completely random. I must have gone through 8 spin cycles as I was trying to drain the tub.

 

 

Any input on these problems would be welcome.

 

Washer: Model 110.7204902G Serial C32317369

 

===========

*It's in a Victorian cellar with a floor drain, so no real damage.

The Backstory on this washer and survey photos can be found in the URL below.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO scoots's LINK




Post# 840123 , Reply# 1   9/7/2015 at 19:52 (3,124 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
Laying on the floor wont let it completely drain if as the drain hose comes from the top, not the older bottom draining ones without the siphon break that you could get every drop out like a wringer washer. I had an 80 series Kenmore and the stupid self-cleaning filter decided to plug up with pet fur. My ex brother in law did a quick switch with a small hose and as far as I know, they are still using it.

Post# 840706 , Reply# 2   9/11/2015 at 07:22 (3,120 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Problems With A 72 LKM Washer

combo52's profile picture

Most likely problems, the side check valve has failed, and or the water pump is having problems shifting properly [ could be external linkage or an internal flapper problem ] replace the pump and the side CK valve.

 

These are really great performing but complicated washers, it is sort of like finding a 1972 Buick Electra in a garage with low miles and expecting every thing to work.

 

A good friend of mine recently scored a low mileage set of 71 LKMs and wants to use them as a secondary pair at one of his homes and I advised him to not even consider hooking these up and trying to use them without having us completely go over them. It would be like jumping in that Buick Electra and trying to drive across country without even oil changes and much more.



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