Thread Number: 37457
Need advice on repairing Kenmore washer |
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Post# 556970 , Reply# 1   11/16/2011 at 07:29 (4,516 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Typical cause of this is either a broken spring or worn base pads. There are three springs that anchor/stabilize the tub to the base, and a 4th spring at the rear that counterbalances the motor at front. The tub support sits in and atop the base, pivots on three plastic/nylon pads and oscillates on three more pads which wear down over time. An inexpensive and relatively easy fix. Look up your model at SearsPartsDirect.com to see parts diagrams. |
Post# 556971 , Reply# 2   11/16/2011 at 07:34 (4,516 days old) by kenmore700bill (Lodi NJ)   |   | |
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Post# 556976 , Reply# 3   11/16/2011 at 08:02 (4,516 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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The house is on a concrete slab and feels stable around the washer. Thanks DADoES. I will check out searspartsdirect for the parts. Hopefully I will be able to fix this issue. |
Post# 556995 , Reply# 4   11/16/2011 at 09:27 (4,516 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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Has anyone used appliancepartspros.com. Are the parts there good quality. |
Post# 557008 , Reply# 5   11/16/2011 at 10:54 (4,516 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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I've used AppliancePartsPros several times. Factory-packaged parts should be the same quality from any storefront, although some sellers may carry a few substitute/alternate non-factory items. I search the needed parts (by manufacturer part number) at several sources including eBay to find the best price. PartsTap.com and AppliancePartsPros.com have a reasonable ground shipping charge that's apparently flat-rate to cover multiple-item orders. |
Post# 557014 , Reply# 6   11/16/2011 at 11:09 (4,516 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)   |   | |
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Post# 557016 , Reply# 7   11/16/2011 at 11:26 (4,516 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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How would I check the balance ring. Do I have to remove the washer enclosure to check it. Or can I access it without removing the enclosure. |
Post# 557022 , Reply# 8   11/16/2011 at 11:52 (4,516 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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Post# 557023 , Reply# 9   11/16/2011 at 11:54 (4,516 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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I think Malcolm left a word out ... his advice should read "Make sure the balance ring has *not* dumped its contents..." The balance ring mounts to the top edge of the inner basket, and is about half-filled with water for ballast. It can be checked without disassembly by shaking the tub and listening for a faint sloshing sound, or there may be a momentary slosh heard when heard when the basket brakes to a stop from full-speed spin. Can you post a video on YouTube? Is the problem worse with or without clothes, or about the same either way? |
Post# 557028 , Reply# 11   11/16/2011 at 12:18 (4,516 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 557111 , Reply# 13   11/16/2011 at 19:52 (4,516 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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The water level in the balance ring is tested by removing the tub cover and laying the washer on its side, the water should be roughly half full 9 and 3 o'clock. These washers should not be used without the balance ring ,yes the machine will vibrate with no clothes in the tub more with the ring than without the B R. But the machine is not made to be run empty, it won't hurt the machine to run empty but the BR can only work with a clothes load which will always be slightly out of balance. We do see BRs that have lost thier water charge, if this is the case the BR is to be replaced. |
Post# 557190 , Reply# 15   11/17/2011 at 08:09 (4,515 days old) by BrianL (Saddle Brook, New Jersey)   |   | |
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With my Whirlpools, the same thing happens as well. My newly acquired Kenmore has one too. There is a definitely clunk, I'm just not sure I would call it loud. Most likely the transmission is ok. You may even notice a clunk after it fills for wash or rinse and goes into agitation mode. For a simple balance ring I would do it; sometimes the simplicity of a BOL machine has it's charms. (Coming from a person who likes MOL or TOL machines lol.)
Though if you feel it is time to move on from your machine, please do consider us here as someone may be interested in the machine themselves. |
Post# 557196 , Reply# 16   11/17/2011 at 08:26 (4,515 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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When I had the cabinet and tub cover off I did not see any mounting tabs for the BR. Are these hard to remove? Is a special tool needed to do this? |
Post# 557215 , Reply# 18   11/17/2011 at 10:32 (4,515 days old) by yogitunes (New Jersey)   |   | |
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to get the BR off, usually involves a few screw drivers, slid down between the tub and BR to push the plastic clips outward and lift off.......
re-assembly is a matter of placing over the center and slide down onto the tub and these clips hold it in place again, theres also little tabs, where you sort of hold the tub still, and slide the BR until it locks in the little teeth against the tub...... a real simple task.......for many machines a lot of gunk builds up around this area, a good time to add some hot water and with a few slim brushes slid down between the inner and outter tub, and around the BR area, might as well as you have it all apart....don't forget to clean under the splash shield too! |
Post# 557226 , Reply# 19   11/17/2011 at 11:21 (4,515 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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Post# 557881 , Reply# 22   11/19/2011 at 17:50 (4,513 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Cut myself while removing it too which is always fun.I always get a few finger nicks when doing a refurbish. Anyway, when I push the tub to the front of the washer it returns to the center. When I push it to the rear it only returns about 7/8th's of the way.That's largely normal behavior. My DD Kenmore lingers quite a bit toward whichever direction I push it if I simply move it and let go. It remains centered when rocked/oscillated around the midpoint. A broken spring would be indicated if there's a definite lean toward a particular direction at all times. As suggested previously, posting a brief video of the spin on YouTube, if you can do so (maybe both with and without a load), would clarify what exactly is happening and perhaps lead to further suggestions/diagnosis. |
Post# 558382 , Reply# 24   11/21/2011 at 18:57 (4,511 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 558818 , Reply# 26   11/23/2011 at 16:52 (4,509 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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I posted the video of the off center spin on you tube as was suggested. The washer moved an inch from the dryer on the final spin. If this looks normal let me know. |
Post# 558820 , Reply# 27   11/23/2011 at 17:03 (4,509 days old) by akronman (Akron/Cleveland Ohio)   |   | |
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Post# 558829 , Reply# 28   11/23/2011 at 17:59 (4,509 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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That's far from excessive tub oscillation and nothing looks to be wrong with the basket. The machine moved an inch toward the dryer on this spin? You said above that it's on a concrete floor so I'm not understanding why it'd creep on that nice of a spin. Compare to this: Jeans Final Spin (spin starts at 1:54) |
Post# 558929 , Reply# 29   11/24/2011 at 08:55 (4,508 days old) by atomranch ()   |   | |
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The wash room is covered by sheet laminate. Probably from the 70's. Is it possible that the feet are dried out and causing the washer to move. The washer feels level. I'll have to recheck it. |