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Thread Number: 95711
/ Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Kenmore DD Leak/How to Fix? |
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Post# 1203484 4/15/2024 at 14:41 by joefuss1984  (Little Rock, AR) |
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I am helping an elderly lady to repair her washing machine and she has a small leak with the location depicted in blue in this first picture. The picture is borrowed for illustration purposes. I removed the agitator and you can see the wash basket is pretty rusty and it is soft around that area. My question is, would water seepage through the wash basket at this location cause the leak we are seeing? If I replaced the wash basket, what else should I look at/what other parts should I replace during that replacement. The machine was purchased new in 1994 and aside from agitator dog ear replacements has never needed a repair. In fact, there is hardly any dust at all when you remove the cabinet. As always, any assistance is appreciated.
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Post# 1203489 , Reply# 1 4/15/2024 at 15:15 by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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 The spin basket is not a source of leaking. The neck of it is hollow, water goes up in there by design. The source may be that the tub support centerpost is compromised. Must remove the spin basket to examine it, and possibly pull the outer tub if the leaking is where the tub seal meets the support centerpost. | ||
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Post# 1203494 , Reply# 2 4/15/2024 at 16:33 by joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR) |
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Thanks for the reply!
So when I pull the inner tub, inspect the post (marked by the blue arrow) on this tub support for possible rusting through? The basket drive goes through this support. I marked a red arrow, is that a seal/gasket that should be inspected as well? Is the tub seal part number 8577374?
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Post# 1203506 , Reply# 3 4/15/2024 at 18:16 by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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The seal at the red arrow is between the centerpost and the spin tube. That is a potential leak source. The green arrow I added is where the outer tub seal mates to the centerpost, also a potential deterioration and leak area.
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| Post# 1203516 , Reply# 4 4/15/2024 at 20:14 by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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Post# 1203519 , Reply# 5 4/15/2024 at 20:37 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Leaking 1994 Kenmore Direct Dr. washer
The leak is most likely as others mentioned at the rubber grommet where the plastic outer tub is sealed to the center post, if it’s leaking down the upper seal through the spin tube and around it, the washer is basically totaled unless you really want to go to the mat and spend a lot of money Fixing it.
Normally, you can just take the outer tub out and take the rubber seal out, clean it up real good and dry it and seal it with a good RTV sealant both to the tub and to the center post you really don’t even have to buy any parts to make a good repair. You can see by the gunky buildup at the bottom of the wash basket and when you get the wash basket out, you’re gonna have a lot of gunk in the center of the outer tub, the washers been used with too cold water and two little detergent. That’s what causes this type of buildup. It stays wet all the time, and then it starts to degrade Between the rubber and the center eventually starts to leak. If the washers in good shape, otherwise they may be able to get some more years out of it, but it is getting old. How many loads a week has this washer been called upon to do over its lifetime, that information is often helpful and trying to determine whether to continue to fix something if it’s only one or two loads you’re in better shape if it’s been 10 loads a week it’s time to start looking for another machine. John | ||
| Post# 1203521 , Reply# 6 4/15/2024 at 21:06 by BlockEight88 (Northwest, IN) | ||
Leaking into the spin tube 
“if it’s leaking down the upper seal through the spin tube and around it, the washer is basically totaled”
That’s pretty much true. This happened with my 1996 ultra fabric care and ruined the motor. It was nasty water mixed with oil that saturated it. Of course I invested in a new motor and changed the proper seals, but most people aren’t going to do all that. | ||
| Post# 1203529 , Reply# 7 4/16/2024 at 01:06 by Stan (Napa CA) | ||
Heres a part 
number and pic if you suspect this is the source.
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Post# 1203583 , Reply# 8 4/16/2024 at 21:35 by Joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR) |
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Thanks for the info. Will be a few days before I find out anything further. I have a spare Whirlpool DD in the garage I’m going to take over so she has a way to do laundry. I’ll take hers back to my house so I have room to take it apart in the garage and see just exactly what’s going on under the wash basket.
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Post# 1203919 , Reply# 9 4/21/2024 at 19:46 by Joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR) |
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I just got the machine over to my house and I have removed the wash basket. The tub support looks to be in great condition, no rust at all. Looking at this pic, am I seeing three seals here which are potential places to check for leak? What is the best way to check which one? Number two and three look to be in great shape. Number 1 I am not for sure, but I don’t know what exactly it should look like. I know I can put enough water in the tub to cover the bottom seal and see if the leak appears.
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Post# 1203920 , Reply# 10 4/21/2024 at 20:31 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Leaking direct, drive washer
It’s leaking at seal number three if it’s leaking at one or two, the machine is totaled unless you want to do major ( expensive ) repairs.
The next step is to take the plastic outer tub off the center post you’ll be able to see stains from the leak from that rubber seal in the plastic outer tub, you can either replace that rubber seal or clean it up and glue it back in place with a really good sealant like a marine sealant. John | ||
| Post# 1203935 , Reply# 11 4/22/2024 at 03:15 by Stan (Napa CA) | ||
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I suppose | ||
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Post# 1203940 , Reply# 12 4/22/2024 at 09:13 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Direct drive washer, leaking water
If you want to fill it up with water to look for a leak you can you need to bolt the agitator back in place seal areas number one and two on your picture should not be immersed in water. There’s normally an air pocket that covers this area
He would need to fill the tub all the way up with cold water. Don’t fill it with warmer hot. They tend to leak a lot more with cold water you’ll find the leak faster. I don’t really think this procedure is necessary if you take the tub out, you’ll see the stains. Where it is leaking around the center post. There is a very small chance It’s leaking at seal areas One or two and as I said, if water is down in that area, the machine is pretty much toast. John | ||
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Post# 1204044 , Reply# 13 4/24/2024 at 19:57 by Joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR) |
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Progress
Had some time after work to dig into this machine further. So the rust around the bottom of the post is the evidence I think was mentioned that I would definitely find. Is there something I can paint or spread over that rust to seal it? I have the new tub seal ready, letting the machine air dry real good and giving everything a good cleaning while I am at it. Does anyone know what kind of grease was used on the eyelets that the springs hook into? I assume it was to help prevent noise/rubbing but would like it touch that up a little when I get ready to reassemble. Thanks for the the input from everyone thus far!!
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| Post# 1204065 , Reply# 14 4/25/2024 at 08:23 by Repairguy (Danbury, Texas) | ||
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| Post# 1204097 , Reply# 15 4/26/2024 at 00:44 by Stan (Napa CA) | ||
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That outer tub | ||
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Post# 1204103 , Reply# 16 4/26/2024 at 07:30 by joefuss1984 (Little Rock, AR) |
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Post# 1204106 , Reply# 17 4/26/2024 at 08:59 by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 1204111 , Reply# 18 4/26/2024 at 09:29 by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Good progress, that’s exactly what I expected to see the reason this leaked in the first place, because of her using two little detergent, and leaving all that Gunk Behind that keeps that area, damp all the time and causes the seal leak. That’s also what causes excessive rust on the wash basket.
This is all caused by using to cool water temperatures and much too Little detergent for water conditions. It is not undissolved detergent. This leak and tub damage would never have occurred if the machine was used properly. We see a lot of direct drive machines that have been used for 25 years where Everything is in mint condition because people used enough hot water and bleach in the machine. John | ||
| Post# 1204112 , Reply# 19 4/26/2024 at 10:17 by Stan (Napa CA) | ||
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New tub was a good plan !
So it was the tub seal at the bottom that leaked?
Where did u find a new tub for it? She should take John’s advice and switch up her laundry habits. If she doesn’t want to do any of her laundry on hot water, then every month or two run a full empty load with hot water and a cup of powdered Tide and some LCB to keep the machine from building up. Show her the pic of the outer tub so she can see. Good job | ||
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