Thread Number: 47338
I've gone insane....Neptune Stack coming 7/7...
[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 687594   7/6/2013 at 11:19 (3,918 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
The FriGeMore (starring as a Kenmore) stack has bit the dust...well the dryer bearing is screeching and it's 10 years old so I found a working Neptune stack at too good of a price to pass up...as with all Neptunes Ill check the wax motor and change it to the newer black tipped one...any other things to check before I lose my mind...as If I haven't already by just deciding to get this contraption?




Post# 687619 , Reply# 1   7/6/2013 at 13:45 (3,918 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

Relubricate the dryer bearing so it doesn't go out again. Those dryer bearings aren't that expensive. I bought a kit that contains all you need for about $25.00.


Post# 687639 , Reply# 2   7/6/2013 at 16:48 (3,918 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        

pierreandreply4's profile picture
if this would of been my washer dryer i would rather buy a new set than pay for a repair and fine out a month later that i still had to buy a new set

Post# 687719 , Reply# 3   7/7/2013 at 02:09 (3,918 days old) by qualin (Canada)        

This post has been removed by the webmaster.



Post# 687797 , Reply# 4   7/7/2013 at 11:36 (3,917 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        
and now back to the show!

moparwash's profile picture
Had them delivered today...buy the same guy that has the Easy Spindrier...Cleaned the outside up and am now running Tide washing machine cleaner..then take the front off to see if it has the black-tipped wax motor..

Post# 687798 , Reply# 5   7/7/2013 at 11:37 (3,917 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        
control panel scratched

moparwash's profile picture
going to look for a better one to make it look good

Post# 687819 , Reply# 6   7/7/2013 at 13:20 (3,917 days old) by mich (Hells Kitchen - New York)        

mich's profile picture
Forgive me for being a noob here, but was this line similar to the ones that experienced all those mold and biofilm problems?

Those Controls look Awesome :)


Post# 687822 , Reply# 7   7/7/2013 at 13:59 (3,917 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Yes ther are...but with previntive care...it should work ok

Post# 687823 , Reply# 8   7/7/2013 at 13:59 (3,917 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
These were known as Super Stacks and were the same as the side by side variety. Very nice machines but yes they COULD share some of the issues that their unstacked siblings suffered. Give me the Model and Serial and I can tell you what issues you may need to keep an eye on...

I'm looking for one of these in electric dryer flavor to add to my stable. I really like them and do not see too many having major issues...

RCD


Post# 687828 , Reply# 9   7/7/2013 at 14:37 (3,917 days old) by ultramatic (New York City)        
Handsome machine!

ultramatic's profile picture

Good luck Jerry!


Post# 687849 , Reply# 10   7/7/2013 at 17:42 (3,917 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Thanks ultra!

Ill keep everyone posted...


Post# 687851 , Reply# 11   7/7/2013 at 17:48 (3,917 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
MT Stack Neptunes

combo52's profile picture

These are pretty decent machines overall, but their are many potential problem areas almost all involving the washer. As Andy suggested if we know the serial # we may be able to predict some items that may need attention. I have lots of extra parts for these machines [ including control panels, although it would be easy to touch up the scratches on yours ] as we scrap a few every month.

 

When using the washer [ since there is no detergent dispenser in the stack models ] poor the liquid detergent directly on top of the clothing or if using power fold it up inside something, otherwise if pored directly in the tub it will just settle into the sump and you will have the same mediocre cleaning that plagued the first Neptune MAH3000s where even with the DD the detergent just washed into the sump where most of it stayed.

 

Andy if you can arrange shipping I can get one for $20, and all the MT fans out there will be glad to know that I have saved a gas one of these for installation in the museum.


Post# 687852 , Reply# 12   7/7/2013 at 18:13 (3,917 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Here is the sn

32199251uw

tried a cycle and it spins...but not very fast and the clothes are still wet..the door locked light does go on


Post# 687858 , Reply# 13   7/7/2013 at 20:19 (3,917 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
beautiful....waiting to hear and see more

Post# 687951 , Reply# 14   7/8/2013 at 12:16 (3,916 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Took a look and it does have the black tip wax motor, and it is pushing the plunger to lock the door and trip the two other microswitches..I have a new motor on order and microswitches..just to be sure







This post was last edited 07/08/2013 at 12:56
Post# 688097 , Reply# 15   7/8/2013 at 20:38 (3,916 days old) by norgechef (Saint George New Brunswick )        
What was so bad about the wax motors

Everyone on here always says make sure it doesn't have the wax motor when someone gets a Neptune washer, why? whats so bad about the wax motor?

Post# 688099 , Reply# 16   7/8/2013 at 20:52 (3,916 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
The old-style wax motor shorts-out or otherwise goes bad, blows a triac or resistor or some such component on the cycle controller board.  There's an online source to get an updated wax motor and replacement components for the board which is then a soldering job.  I did that on a friend's MAH4000.  A circuit trace on the board was damaged but I worked around it.  I tried a workaround of tying a couple wires for a secondary microswitch together so that the board effectively "thought" the door was always locked ... but that won't work because that microswitch sensing the door unlocked is what stops the fluff routine at end of the cycle, otherwise it keeps fluffing until manually shut off.

The original MAH3000 also had wax motors on the dispenser module for bleach & softener.  MAH4000 eliminated the dispenser wax motors but still had the bad one on the door lock.


Post# 688116 , Reply# 17   7/8/2013 at 22:28 (3,916 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
A fair amount of the stacks I encounter do already have the upgraded wax motor from the factory. Go figure. Your spin issue could be one of a few things depending on what it's doing.

A) it drains and tumbles but will not spin. Instead, it just tumbles back and forth until the spin cycle times out. This usually indicates an issue with the spin enable switch not being read by the control board. It thinks the door is unlocked and will not ramp up. It could be either the dreaded blown wax motor and board not locking the door and hitting the spin enable switch (indicated by the door lock light never coming on) or the door is locking but tumbling to and fro when it should be spinning which would indicate a possible bad spin enable switch. The weird thing is that the switch will usually read good with a meter but will still not let the board sense a door closed condition. It's that sensitive.

B) it starts to ramp up on speed, maybe even reaching a slight fast speed then immediately stopping and going into a unbalance condition. This is where it thinks its unbalanced due to a opening of the unbalance circuit, slows down, tumbles back and forth a couple three times then attempts a ramp up in spin speed. This is normal EXCEPT when it does this constantly, over and over and never reaches high speed. If it does this every once in a blue moon, then it may just be a load that it just doesn't like. Something like a single pillow, for example. It just can't balance that and gives up. It tumbles back and forth, draining what it can, then shuts down at the cycle's end.

Now if it does it consistently with every load, then you most likely have an issue with the unbalance circuit. There are three switches that tell the computer if the load is unbalanced. The very first ones had a little switch mounted on the back left strut and a tub impact switch on the right hand of the tub and a inertial switch right above that. Later models had the strut switch removed and replaced with a switch mounted at the bottom of the counter weight at the bottom of the tub and the inertial switch was moved to the top of the tub. The last generation had the inertial switch completely removed as it was a weak link in the circuit and caused a few false trips. For those who don't know, the impact switches opened the circuit if the tub was unbalanced enough to make contact with the cabinet side or bottom and the inertial opened if the tub shook enough but didn't impact with the cabinet. Actually a decent system that wasn't at touchy as the ones now that just sense by motor torque.

Anyway, one of the switches could be bad or, even simpler still, a wire may be broken at one of the switches from the wires vibrating as they could have been better secured.

Sorry for the long winded explanation. I try to explain something and get lost in the fun...

RCD


Post# 688149 , Reply# 18   7/9/2013 at 05:14 (3,916 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
It's answer A...It goes back and forth... I have a new spin enable switch on order and wax motor and will make sure the tip of the motor moves far enough to trip that switch..would jumping the spin enable switch for now be a good idea?

Post# 688150 , Reply# 19   7/9/2013 at 05:23 (3,916 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Thanks Drew

that was a great explanation, as well as from John and Glenn......it will be of great help in the future should an issue turn up for others, as well as myself....keep them comming....the more details, the better.....

although I think Gordon has been rubbing off on you.....lol


Jerry, I can't wait to see this up and running for you......you should also keep the Frigidaire as a project machine for a wash-in....or you could start a whole room of stacked machines by different manufacturers.....wouldn't he be the first member to have an all stacked laundryroom?


Post# 688168 , Reply# 20   7/9/2013 at 07:43 (3,916 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Non Spinning Neptune

combo52's profile picture

Great explanation Andy on the operation of these washers. The majority of no spin stacks that I have encountered [ other than the most likely bad wax motor and bad main board ] have had a broken wire in the balance circuit or the spin enable switch in the door lock assembly does not quite activate, often with the spin enable SW problem I have added a shim the thickness of a credit card and the machine would again work.

 

It is funny when these MT Neptune stacks came out we hatted working on them, but now when you stack a dryer on top of a FL washer the washer is nearly impossible to work on unless you first remove the dryer, so these MTs are at least easier to access for repair. The good news is that new WP, GE and Frigidaire FL washers are all far more reliable than the MT Neptune's ever were, but like any washer ever made they will eventually need repairs.

 

The class act in a FL stack is the SQs they come in both gas and electric dryers, [ you do need both a 240v and a 120v outlet for the electric model ], but this is a very rugged machine that can be usually serviced from the front without moving or unstacking the dryer. We are selling quite a few of the SQs to replace the Neptune stacks and lots of other stack brands also.


Post# 688175 , Reply# 21   7/9/2013 at 08:35 (3,916 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Thanks to all for your explanations...the old stacker is gone..so I have to get the neptune working soon!

Post# 688186 , Reply# 22   7/9/2013 at 09:43 (3,915 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)        
Jumping the switch

redcarpetdrew's profile picture
Well, that won't help as the machine will finish it's spin then tumble back and forth, fluffing the load until it senses the spin enable switch open as the door unlocks which tells the board to proceed with cycle finish and shut off. Tricky, huh? So is getting to it. Remove the four Phillips screws, two to each side, on the front panel. These hold the door hinges in place. Roll the 'uprights' or the two upper pieces of the front panel outward to disengage two clips then the panel drops forward a bit and you can lift it off. There are two 5/15" screws that hold the panel that hides the latch with clips. Now for the hidden screw that is only found on stacks! Remove the two screws that hold the lower dryer access panel on. There is one more small 5/16" screw that holds that latch cover on from the top right near the cycling stats. Now you can access the latch parts. Let me know if the wax motor needs changing as the spring that holds it in place can be tricky and easy to damage...

Drew


Post# 688190 , Reply# 23   7/9/2013 at 10:23 (3,915 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )        

moparwash's profile picture
Thanks for the tips!...ive had the front of and its really fun to take apart...ill jump the switch only to get a load done...I had to sneak to the laundromat yesterday!


Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy