Thread Number: 20059
Westy FL experts, I need your help please!
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Post# 320713   12/21/2008 at 11:39 (5,576 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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I may be taking a liberty by posting in this forum as the machine was built in 1994, HOWEVER, the outer tub and inner drum design dates back to the 1970's (or further?) and this is what my questions relate to.

I picked up this White-Westinghouse washer and matching dryer yesterday (FREE). I was told the washer would not drain and one time when the owner returned home, the machine was off but was full of water and overflowing on to the floor (I assume the inlet valve was leaking into the tub) and she had not used the washer since (more then a year??)

OK.... now the problem.

After I got it home I connected it to test it and it does fill and drain as normal and does not seem to leak (so far). I noticed the door does not seal tightly, but I think that's just a simple adjustment.

It does reverse tumble for the wash/rinses and spins fine too (when empty). BUT... as you can see from this photo, it would seem this washer has been overloaded quite a bit (from comments I have read in other threads). Either that or the drum is just failing? I threw in the towel I used to wipe down the washer and dryer and It tumbled fine, but when it went into the spin..........

Aside banging around from being unbalanced due to the single towel, it made a terrible noise. I then added 6 other dry towels for balance, which helped, but this other noise was no better when spinning. The noise is sort of a rattling like is something solid is loose (or bearing?), not simply a loose sheet metal panel. I did have the top off while doing this but could not see anything obvious and the suspension appears to be working fine as the outer tub assembly does not appear to be moving or banging around excessively. I still have to remove the other access panels and see what I can see below.

While yes it was free, I'm bummed because this appears to be something major. I suspected it was perhaps the bearing(s), but when shaking / moving the inner drum back and forth by hand the sound is more "shallow or hollow", like it the metal of the drum rather then a deeper more "solid" sound of a bearing. SOOO... I am guessing all of the paint/enamel that is flaked off the inside of the drum has something to do with this noise-while-spinning-with-a-load problem.

I do not have a video camera, though my cell phone may be able to do video. I will ask around to see if there may be a video camera I can borrow.

I would like to find out what my options are as this is a very nice, clean machine otherwise and it came with all the original documentation (including the original receipt!).

So what are your thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Help??

Thank you so much!!!
Kevin






Post# 320715 , Reply# 1   12/21/2008 at 12:44 (5,576 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)        

Give the tub a spin by hand and see how it sounds; if it's rough sounding and not smooth turning, then the back tub water seal has failed and leaked water into the tub bearing.

Post# 320716 , Reply# 2   12/21/2008 at 12:55 (5,576 days old) by surgilator_68 (Maryland)        

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It has advanced bearing failure.. You can see this by the porcelain failure in the center of the drum.

Post# 320718 , Reply# 3   12/21/2008 at 12:59 (5,576 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Actually when I turn the tub by hand OR allow it to do a full speed spin when empty, it's very smooth and quiet. It's only when there is cloths (a load) in it that it's noisy!

Post# 320724 , Reply# 4   12/21/2008 at 13:27 (5,576 days old) by golittlesport (California)        

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Maybe you can combine both machines you have....put the "innards" of the Kenmore into this WW. The cabinet on the WW appears to be in better shape.

Post# 320726 , Reply# 5   12/21/2008 at 13:40 (5,576 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

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Yeah Rich I was thinking about that. The Kenmore FL doesn't look that great but works well, though the motor is noisier due to being in the salt air (beach) environment for the last 18 years. The newer W-W washer is in MUCH better condition all around and is quieter too! (well, accept for this "problem")

Post# 320757 , Reply# 6   12/21/2008 at 18:56 (5,575 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
These Westys

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were prone to this with age and overloading. Sometimes it was the bearings but what I have seen in the machines I played with was this:
After about 1956 they started welding the tub to the tub shaft and with age this weld would break. So you would see only in spin that the tub would flop around and hit the outer tub.

Either way it is a complete disassembly. But you would need a new tub & shaft if that was it.

I had one that washed fine, had a great tub light and if you only put a face cloth into it it would bang something fierce.

Your photo looks like yours may have broken off the spider on the back of the tub.


Post# 321016 , Reply# 7   12/23/2008 at 01:03 (5,574 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
Well... I think I know what I need to do!

revvinkevin's profile picture
First, thank you to all for your comments and ideas, I do appreciate it!

While I have not decided completely (100%) yet, I'm pretty sure I will use the best pieces of my 1990 Kenmore badged Westy (the outer tub and inner drum assembly) and install them into my 1994 White-Westinghouse machine. Since the 1994 is in much better condition overall AND I have a matching dryer for it.

Again, thank you all!
Kevin


Post# 321018 , Reply# 8   12/23/2008 at 02:39 (5,574 days old) by fuchsware ()        
Westy's in South africa

We had the Westy front loaders of the late 60's and early 70's here in SA. They were labled Fuchs-Ware and were the best selling auto washer of that era. They all had stainless steel inner drums. Did some of the models in the US also have stainless steel drums? They were awesome,and i regret not keeping mine.

Post# 321066 , Reply# 9   12/23/2008 at 11:33 (5,574 days old) by revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
South Africa... Wow, welcome!

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As far as I know... and please correct me if I'm wrong, THIS type/style of Westinghouse front-loader never had a stainless steel drum (or stainless anything else). It was always porcelain coated steel.

My 1994 White-Westinghouse washer shown in this thread, has to be one of the last if it's kind built, because in 1997 when I bought my Frigidaire (made by Electrolux) FL washer and dryer, this was the only non-European FL choice available. The Frigidaire by the way, does have a stainless drum and also has a higher RPM spin speed then the Westy.


Post# 321116 , Reply# 10   12/23/2008 at 20:45 (5,573 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
me neither

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Welcome from S.A.!

But I have never seen a Westinghouse design with a stainless steel drum! Too cool! Can you find some pics to post for us??
jon



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