2006 Duet Dryer Repair

[DADoES]

 
Of the Duet set I refurbed in Nov 2012 (washer) and Mar 2013 (dryer) for one of RJ's rental properties.  Third tenants currently in-residence.

Complaint:  Made a grinding noise, heats but doesn't dry, door window collects condensation.

Diagnosis:  Blower off motor shaft, threads on shaft worn down, blower threads OK.

Procedure:  Replace motor (used via eBay) and clean machine interior of lint.

Note:  The washer thus far has had no repairs post-refurb (other than clearing the pump trap of debris twice for the current tenants).  The dryer has had a couple/three previous repairs.

 

[combo52]

Bad blower wheel

Hi Glenn your picture number two clearly shows the insert came out of the plastic blower it is still on the motor shaft, don’t you just need a new blower?

I’ve never seen the threads get damaged on a whirlpool dryer motor where the blower screws onto it.

John L

 

[DADoES]

Pic 2 is the new/used motor, shipped with a hub insert from a broken blower (or maybe it's a screw-on cap of some sort?).  The 3rd pic has it removed.  The Duet dryer's original blower wheel (no pic of it) looked to be intact, and it it seemed to screw securely on to the replacement motor.

Pic 1 is the damaged threads on the original motor.  Or are the threads on the blower hub damaged and that's remnants of it embedded into the motor shaft threads?  There doesn't seem to be a workable way to get the original motor's shaft threads cleaned if so.  Did I misinterpret the situation and the blower wheel also needs to be replaced?  I've not before dealt with this problem.

 

[combo52]

Hi Glenn the metal insert in the blower is aluminum and the motor shaft of course is steel, was the original blower loose on the motor what was the problem other than Noisi mentioned as being the complaint.

 

[DADoES]

 
John, thanks for the education.  I've ordered a blower wheel.  The motor is already replaced, it was less than $45.  For future reference, would a new blower attach securely onto the original motor with the threads obstructed as seen in Pic 1?  What's your recommended method to clean up the motor shaft threads if not?

 

[ryner1988]

Whirlpool duet

The used appliance shop from which I bought my current Whirlpool DD TL washer also had a duet approximately the same age as my machine, around 16 years old. I almost purchased it instead, but I heard all the horror stories about bad spiders in FL washers and I didn't want to take a chance on one that old. Now I sort of wish I had. Apparently those duet washers can last a real long time if taken care of properly. The above post is an example of this.

Ryne

 

[combo52]

Reply number four

Hi Glenn you would have to clean up the threads somehow but the material is softer so you should be able to get it out maybe a wire brush on the wire wheel of a bench grinder or of course if you can find the right size tap you could just cut it out but I would imagine it’s doable

John L

 

[DADoES]

 
Thanks, John.  There's a wire brush on the bench grinder in dad's garage workshop.

Ryne, this pair was bought used in late summer 2012 for one of my neighbor's rental properies.  He needed a stackable set for the location.  The dryer was on Craigslist.  The seller said that the washer had problems so he had bought a new pair.  The described problem didn't sound serious, I figured I could repair it.  The washer was left at the local dealer, the seller said he could probably get it back and include it with the dryer at the same price.  It was filthy.  The pump was shot and the pump trap clogged with so much debris there's no way it was draining.  The drum spider was intact but deteriorating.  I decided to go full-meal-deal, replace the drum (spider not separately available) and bearings.

Renters are horrible on appliances.  I wrote-up instructions how to run the hidden tub-clean cycle but they rarely do it, if ever.  Wife of the current occupant family complains constantly about everything.  Claims that she and daughter have mold allergies, wants the HVAC ducts cleaned.  They're getting more mold exposure via their laundry than from the air conditioning, LOL.  She uses questionable detergent, once proudly showed me a bottle of a boutique liquid, touting the wonderful lavender scent.  The washer has thus far kept running along so that must be a testament to something.

 

[DADoES]

 
John, I worked on the threads residue with the wire brush wheel on dad's bench grinder yesterday, to no effect discernable effect thus far toward removing any of it.  I left the motor there and will work on it further when opportunities arise.