1967 Kenmore washer 5480series Leak

[aarnolfo]

Kevin,
Thanks so much for your fast response. I did what you suggested and looked at the video on how to lift up the top of my washer and it was easy! I ran a partial cycle and looked down into the machine as it was running and found the leak coming thru the bottom of the tub. There is a flat metal platform which supports the outer round tub and the inner round tub in which your clothes sit in. The leak is coming from the bottom of the outer tub, filling the flat metal support platform and falling to the floor. I cannot see specifically if there are any holes because the round tubs are in place and I can only see the platform filling with water and going to the floor. Everything else is dry and machine cycles just perfectly. What next? Hope to hear from you and thanks so much.
Al Arnolfo

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Hi

Hi Al -

Your machine is a 1965 model 800 series. This model had looong legs and was produced into 1968.

The platform you refer to is called the baseplate. There are four or five things that could be getting the baseplate wet.

First, the tub drain grommet could be leaking. So could the tub centerpost seal. The tub bleach hose could also be leaking or the fill control hose could as well. Finally, there could be a hole rusted in the tub.

The first four can all be fixed. If there is a hole in the tub, that may or may not be fixable.

If you want to take out the inner basket for further inspection, we will tell you how to do it.

Gordon

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Gordon, could one or more tub bolts be leaking as well?

RCD

 

[combo52]

LEAKING KM 800 WASHER

Even a leaking outer tub can be fixed, it just depends how much work you want to do. The bleach hose on this machine is also the hose carries the fabric softener from the dual dispenser chambers and it connects directly to the side check valve housing. So if this is the cause of the leak it is easy to see and fix without removing the inner tub.

 

[revvinkevin]

it is easy to see and fix without removing the inner tub.

 

 

John, how is that?   The hose feeds thru the outer tub from the inside.   I've repaired a leaking bleach hose by removing the inner tub, removing the hose from the inside, cleaning it and the tub, applying sealant and reinstalling.

 

Do you mean just slather a bunch of sealant around the outside of it?

 

Kevin

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kevin -

John is right. This model does not have the same sort of bleach hose that you worked on in the pics. The check valve, which is what is broken in your 63, has a port for the additives hose and thus does not have a separate bleach port. I forgot about those older valves.

Andy -

Yes the tub bolts could be leaking too. They often leak through holes rusted in the tub around the bolt gasket.

Gordon

 

[revvinkevin]

Thanks Gordon

 

 

John, I stand corrected!

 

Kevin