1995 Kenmore DD TL - motor clicks (and arcs) on and off loudly during agitate

Hi, I have a Lady Kenmore early electronics model (see pictures, but in white), original owner, it has received light use only.

MOD: 110.92595200 SER: CD3501230

The motor clicks (and arcs with sparks on the motor start switch internal to the motor) on and off loudly during the SLOW motor agitate speed. Since the motor is starting and stopping several times a second, it does not agitate at all on SLOW.

Everything (all parts of wash cycle) work fine on Fast, or extra slow agitate speeds. It is a three speed motor WP-3352287. It had a bad lid switch for years which might have stressed the system with transient resistance spikes.

I figure it is either:

the start capacitor (but it works on other speeds, and the motor does start), or
bad motor start switch PN:62850 (quite burnt up now) for the SLOW amperage/voltage requirement (but it works on other speeds),
or bad motor,
or bad electronic controller board.

Unless there is a mechanical relay controlling the voltage/amperage for that motor speed that might be worn after 28 years? As the problem got worse it seemed to work when urn with a very small load even on SLOW motor speed, but seems to be getting much more sensitive to load.

Any ideas on how to fix. If the computer is bad, the machine is probably junk, but how do I know that before replacing other expensive parts? Motor is a little harder to find used than two speed.

Any help would be appreciated.

++Regards,
Grant

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Post# 994043 5/13/2018 at 01:11 (2,169 days old) by grostig (Austin, TX)
Checkrate/Likes Hi, I have a Lady Kenmore early electronics model (see pictures, but in white), original owner, it has received light use only. MOD: 110.92595200 SER: CD3501230 The motor clicks (and arcs with sparks on the motor start switch internal to the motor) on and off loudly during the SLOW motor agitate speed. Since the motor is starting and stopping several times a second, it does not agitate at all on SLOW. Everything (all parts of wash cycle) work fine on Fast, or extra slow agitate speeds. It is a three speed motor WP-3352287. It had a bad lid switch for years which might have stressed the system with transient resistance spikes. I figure it is either: the start capacitor (but it works on other speeds, and the motor does start), or bad motor start switch PN:62850 (quite burnt up now) for the SLOW amperage/voltage requirement (but it works on other speeds), or bad motor, or bad electronic controller board. Unless there is a mechanical relay controlling the voltage/amperage for that motor speed that might be worn after 28 years? As the problem got worse it seemed to work when urn with a very small load even on SLOW motor speed, but seems to be getting much more sensitive to load. Any ideas on how to fix. If the computer is bad, the machine is probably junk, but how do I know that before replacing other expensive parts? Motor is a little harder to find used than two speed. Any help would be appreciated. ++Regards, Grant View Full Size

Post# 994052 , Reply# 1 5/13/2018 at 07:19 (2,168 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *No Low Speed On A WP-KM DD Washer* Check the motor first, if the low speed winding is open it will do this, it could also be a bad motor start sw, in any case check out or replace the motor. The reason the machine behaves like this is when the motor starts on low or Extra-Low the high speed and start winding are engaged and as soon as the motors centrifugal switch reaches about 2/3 of full speed to switches back to either the low or extra-low winding and if one of these winding's is open-bad the motor will briefly cut off till the speed drops and then the CS will cut on the hi-speed winding again. John L.

Post# 994096 , Reply# 2 5/13/2018 at 17:51 (2,168 days old) by Supersurgilator (Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes My guess would be the motor. I'd definitely try and repair it as these were some awesome washers and hard to find. My aunt and uncle had 2 of these sets in black, a 1989 set and a 1999 set.

Post# 994124 , Reply# 3 5/13/2018 at 23:26 (2,168 days old) by grostig (Austin, TX)
Checkrate/Likes It turns out I found a number of soldering connections on the relay board and a few on the CPU board. It appears to be working now, but will test more fully tomorrow. The solder had small cracks in it. I guess it fatigued with current draw or vibration, others appeared to have corroded a bit. Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Post# 994146 , Reply# 4 5/14/2018 at 10:07 (2,167 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA)
Checkrate/Likes I wonder if it could be "tin whiskers" on the circuit board, those have been known to take out satellites. It's possible you need new circuit boards and a new motor.

Post# 994497 , Reply# 5 5/18/2018 at 00:24 (2,164 days old) by grostig (Austin, TX)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Machine now works, having re-soldered several connections.

Post# 994534 , Reply# 6 5/18/2018 at 12:53 (2,163 days old) by realvanman (Southern California)
Checkrate/Likes *Good Job!* Replacing the motor is the easy way, but motors can pretty much always be repaired unless they have a failed winding(s). Even then they can just be rewound. Probably not worth it while new ones are available, but eventually there are no new ones...

Post# 994556 , Reply# 7 5/18/2018 at 16:46 (2,163 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes Congratulations gett4ing this up and going again!!!

Post# 995050 , Reply# 8 5/24/2018 at 03:06 (2,158 days old) by Combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *Motors in modern washers and dryer�s* Are actually almost never repaired as the motors are either glued or welded together. It makes it almost impossible to replace bearings and to rewind them. The other problem is no parts are available for them. John L