THOR TH85 - some questions

You kinda have to see what happens when turned backward. It would be immediately obvious if you saw the timer internals.

Instead, hold your left hand horizontal at eye level. That's the timer contact. It's thin springy brass. Now put your right hand straight up/down under your left knuckles. That's the cam the contact rides on. Now move your right hand to the right until your left fingers fall off the 'cam' (below the right fingertips). That's turning clockwise, the way it's supposed to work.

Now try to back up your right hand toward your left. That's turning counterclockwise. If you use enough force holding both hands rigid, it hurts.

There is a pawl to keep you from turning it backwards. But it is only "so" strong. If you break that pawl the timer may still work, depends where the broken piece ends up. If you turn it backwards from there past a program step, the timer will at least have to be disassembled before it works again. Or it may be damaged beyond repair and need replacement.

Why can you generally turn a dryer timer either direction? The cam design is different, and there is a clutch between the knob and the motor. Mechanical washer timers are almost exclusively clockwise only (I can't think of an exception but there could be one).


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Post# 774944 8/2/2014 at 07:17 (3,548 days old) by racequest ()
Checkrate/Likes I came across a couple of posts about the THOR TH85, and mine looks the same as in the attached link but does not have the "t" symbol/logo 2cm left of the "THOR" name on front. It was purchased in 1992 and it is still working 22yrs later. . Rarely has it been moved from same spot since 1992 in Perth, Au. . Always used cold water for washing. . 90% of time has been a brand called "Radiant for Front loader color care" (powder has had name variants over the years but nostly I think it is the same). . Always left door open after use to let it dry out water residue in washer. . maybe avg 2 loads per wk On a handfull of occassions it "forgot" to drain the water at end of each stage but after emptying the wet clothes, "jiggling" the outlet pipe and manually stop/start and moving the selector thru a min on each stage it seemed to clear the problem. So far so good. The manual says alway turn the selector clockwise - does anyone know why? I know one house guest has accidently turned it the wrong way a couple of degrees notches before I stopped him. Q1: When would damage occur on anti clockwise selector rotation would one full turn break the machine, or less, or more turns? Q2: If a house guest did this is there any way I could detect this - I mean would I notice anything with the selector or the selector "programs"? Just curious :-) (sorry phone camera is not that good - see link to other forum post for better pic) ps. I have always HATED the 90sec door lock timeout CLICK HERE TO GO TO racequest's LINK View Full Size

Post# 775095 , Reply# 1 8/3/2014 at 03:25 (3,548 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))
Checkrate/Likes You kinda have to see what happens when turned backward. It would be immediately obvious if you saw the timer internals. Instead, hold your left hand horizontal at eye level. That's the timer contact. It's thin springy brass. Now put your right hand straight up/down under your left knuckles. That's the cam the contact rides on. Now move your right hand to the right until your left fingers fall off the 'cam' (below the right fingertips). That's turning clockwise, the way it's supposed to work. Now try to back up your right hand toward your left. That's turning counterclockwise. If you use enough force holding both hands rigid, it hurts. There is a pawl to keep you from turning it backwards. But it is only "so" strong. If you break that pawl the timer may still work, depends where the broken piece ends up. If you turn it backwards from there past a program step, the timer will at least have to be disassembled before it works again. Or it may be damaged beyond repair and need replacement. Why can you generally turn a dryer timer either direction? The cam design is different, and there is a clutch between the knob and the motor. Mechanical washer timers are almost exclusively clockwise only (I can't think of an exception but there could be one).