Kenmore center post and POR-15

I agree with rickr completely. Water only goes as low as the centerpost gasket (unless it's leaking, then you need to pull the tub anyway) but I have one very strong suggestion to protect any centerpost....make sure the agitator shaft seal at the top of the spin tube is replaced.

This little seal is responsible for holding an air pocket under the agitator, provided everything else is sealed properly, and will allow only a couple inches of the center post to ever get wet in the first place.

When this seal goes bad, it gradually fails, allowing water higher and higher up the centerpost. Eventually, water gets up high enough to pass down into the bearings and in between the agitator shaft and spin-tube.

So, not only does this let the centerpost itself get wet and rust (over time) but its loss can wreak havoc down below in the mechanicals. This is also why on many older models, the agitator shaft splines will rust. I have seen MANY Kenmore/Whirlpools, especially the 1978 and later short centerpost models, die prematurely because this seal failed.

My experience has been that an early sign of failure is black greasy water droplets that accumulate on the floor (it can also decorate the inside walls of the cabinet). This is water that has come down thru the centerpost and is flung out by the basket drive pulley (don't confuse this with the two or three GOLDEN oil drops that seemingly every Kenmore oozes over time).

The seal is not exactly fun to change, but it has instant and long-time repair effects as long as it is sealed to a smooth agitator shaft surface.


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Post# 281428 5/23/2008 at 19:22 (5,808 days old) by whitekingd ()
Checkrate/Likes I recently replaced my base plate in my 60's Kenmore. I had never heard of POR-15. I don't want to tear it all apart again. But, what if I just removed the basket and coated the center post, rather than removing the entire tub? Any thoughts?

Post# 281431 , Reply# 1 5/23/2008 at 19:47 (5,808 days old) by rickr (.)
Checkrate/Likes That would work just fine. There is no reason to remove the outer tub as the rust starts above the outer tub, not below.

Post# 281463 , Reply# 2 5/23/2008 at 23:50 (5,808 days old) by kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes I agree with rickr completely. Water only goes as low as the centerpost gasket (unless it's leaking, then you need to pull the tub anyway) but I have one very strong suggestion to protect any centerpost....make sure the agitator shaft seal at the top of the spin tube is replaced. This little seal is responsible for holding an air pocket under the agitator, provided everything else is sealed properly, and will allow only a couple inches of the center post to ever get wet in the first place. When this seal goes bad, it gradually fails, allowing water higher and higher up the centerpost. Eventually, water gets up high enough to pass down into the bearings and in between the agitator shaft and spin-tube. So, not only does this let the centerpost itself get wet and rust (over time) but its loss can wreak havoc down below in the mechanicals. This is also why on many older models, the agitator shaft splines will rust. I have seen MANY Kenmore/Whirlpools, especially the 1978 and later short centerpost models, die prematurely because this seal failed. My experience has been that an early sign of failure is black greasy water droplets that accumulate on the floor (it can also decorate the inside walls of the cabinet). This is water that has come down thru the centerpost and is flung out by the basket drive pulley (don't confuse this with the two or three GOLDEN oil drops that seemingly every Kenmore oozes over time). The seal is not exactly fun to change, but it has instant and long-time repair effects as long as it is sealed to a smooth agitator shaft surface.

Post# 281608 , Reply# 3 5/25/2008 at 02:15 (5,807 days old) by whitekingd ()
Checkrate/Likes Many thanks!! I will coat the shaft and re-check my agitator shaft seal. I did replace it with the new center post, but a second look certainly won't hurt. Thanks Again!!