1980's Whirlpool New Screech Noise

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cbex

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Good day. Learn about this website from the rabbit hole on youtube and other sites trying to get some help or direction on my issue.

I have a 1980's or so I think washing machine that I obtained from my Grandmother after she passed. The only issue I had with it when I got it was the agitator ear dogs were brittle and broke. Easy replacement and its worked amazing since then. Today though all of a sudden it started to make a screeching metal on metal sound. To me it might be a pulley bearing or maybe the motor is close to its final days.

I'm uncertain and would like some other opinions on the matter. I've taken a video of the washer and you can hear the high pitch screeching. It doesn't make this noise when you fill the tub with water. Only when the agitator starts and during spin/rinse cycles.



 
I couldn't locate a model number on the washer. Just the number under the lid and a plate on the back. Also the numbers behind the controls console.

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CBex, the model/serial tag is on the back of the loading port, under the lower/rear edge of the lid, as indicated by the red arrow on the screen-capture above that I pulled from your video.  Bend down to look under there and close the lid partially to see it better

John, I hear a metallic rattling behind the hum of the motor and sloshing of the water.
 
DADoES,

I couldn't edit my last post once I posted it. I've attached the information. Sorry about that.

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Post editing (for a limited time-period after submission) is among the bonus features for paid board memberships.  However, it's generally better to post a new reply to a progressing discussion unless an edit is done quickly before there are following replies.  The board software may not tag a thread as having new info via editing an existing post (I haven't paid attention whether or not it does so).

Anywayyyyy ....

Model (B) = 1994

Serial (D19) = 1994, 19th week (May 9-13)
 
Thanks for that information. I guess it just looks like its older than 27. Learn something everyday.

As for the noise in question. There is a metal on metal type of noise. I haven't had the chance to pull her out and take off the back cover for a closer look.

Just off hunches or guess anyone have any?

I uploaded a better video that gets down by the noise on youtube so maybe the sound quality is better.

Thanks!

 
 
Be advised the back cover does not come off.  Trying to get into the machine that way will cause destruction.

Access is by removing the screws at the lower front corners of the console (there's a crack at the right, shown in your first video clip).  Pull the console slightly forward and rotate it upward and back (it's hinged at the top/rear corners).  Disconnect the lid switch harness plug under the console and remove the two large spring clips.  Open the lid, grab the front of the loading port and the outer cabinet (top/front/sides as an assembly) tilts forward and off the machine base.

Suggest waiting for further advice from John and/or whoever else may reply with suggestions.
 
It sounds to me more like a ringing sound than screeching.  Kind of like a metal component is spinning and lightly touching/scraping against something that may have shifted over time, or maybe a worn washer/bushing, which IIRC was found to be the culprit in a recent post about a similar noise on a Speed Queen which granted, isn't at all mechanically similar, but you never know.
 
Thanks to DADoES for explaining how to open the washer.

Right after I opened it up I seen what I thought was the issue right off the start. The capacitor clip was broken with the capacitor hanging by the wires. During washing and high vibration the broken clip ends would rub on each other creating the squeak. I made a clip out of some old galvanized pipe hanger metal just bent it around making sure it was tight around the capacitor and added some electrical tape around the new metal clip to keep from any future damage from rubbing.

The washer seems to be running back to normal squeak free.

There is also a rubber gasket type material running around the bottom of the basket drive assembly. I can spin it freely with my fingers, it doesn't seems to be attached to anything and serving no purposes. See picture with red arrow.

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Noise From A 1994 WP DD washer

Yay glad you fixed the problem, the description of a screeching sound did not seem right.

 

Over the years a lot of people were puzzled by the foam rubber ring around the brake drum, without it when the brake disengages you would hear single ring like a bell.

 

John 
 

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