2006 Kenmore Elite Calypso

[brianl]

Hello,

I was hoping to get some assistance or a service manual to help me figure out an odd problem. Whenever the washer attempts to spin, it immediately goes out of balance. A few things I noticed was the balance ring was damaged in one section. I am not sure what contents it is supposed to have if any. It was halfway filled with water. Also noticed the tub is able to be picked up a few inches to meet the wash plate. Wasn’t sure if that was normal or not. Thought I read somewhere of a floating basket. I did not want to go through the trouble of undoing all the bolts and removing the leveler if I don’t need to go that far. Any help that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.

 

[brianl]

For reference

I wanted to share the link for the original thread when Martin found this for me.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?39059

 

[brianl]

Also found this

This was underneath the wash plate.

 

[DADoES]

 
The basket has a center hub that's the same/similar material as a frontloader spider and is subject to corrosion and deterioration/breakage, which can cause it to loosen from the basket.  The basket anchors to the drive via the hub and a spanner nut.  That looks like pieces of the spanner nut being that they're threaded on the inside.  The hub may also be damaged.  The basket should not at any time be loose beneath the wash plate.

The basket hub is not repairable or sourced as a replacement part.  The basket has a lifetime warranty (limited, parts only, not service/labor) but good luck with that at this point in time if the hub is broken.

The balance ring is partially-filled with water to provide gyroscopic balancing during spin, which of course doesn't function if the ring is cracked and the water leaks out.

 

[combo52]

Broken calypso, wash basket

In addition to Glenn’s excellent advice, you need a new wash basket for this machine, I had a used calypso some years ago that had this failure, just like with front loading washers. It comes from bad washing procedures.

The Kenmore version that you have only had a 10 year basket warranty, so there’s no recourse or chance of getting a free wash basket

The whirlpool versions of this machine did have a lifetime warranty on the wash basket.

I have good used wash baskets for this machine if you want to try to repair the machine.

The old wash basket makes an excellent fire pit. It’s a very high-quality stainless steel. If you end up parting out the machine, in any case, the wash baskets no good anyway for a washing machine .

John

 

[brianl]

Thank you both for the advice

I am getting the spanner wrench today to dig further. Will post some pictures when I do. Might take your offer combo52 on the tub. Hoping thus is salvageable as I really enjoy the machine.

 

[bpetersxx]

I think I have the digital copy of the repair manual

Where can I put it so everyone can look at it

 

[brianl]

Hi bpetersxx, can you email it? My email address is visible in my profile.

Does the spanner but come off counter-clockwise on this one? The universal joint moves along with the nut when I have a go at it with the wrench & mallet.

 

[maytagneptune]

End of final spin fluff.

I don't really understand why they decreased the fluff time from 30 seconds to 10 or 8 seconds on later models. When I do towels in mine, I usually put it in diagnostic mode and run a 300NPM dry nutation for 30 to 45 seconds.

 

[combo52]

Calypso washer, final fluff up

On the original calypsos and probably all of them there were problems with excessive wear on towels, etc.

I never even wash towels in mine because of this problem hi imagine the reduction in fluffing at the end was in attempt to reduce the wear on towels, they reprogram the machine in a number of ways to reduce the harshness on towels.

If you’re going to put the towels in the dryer, the fluffing doesn’t do a thing I can see where it might be useful if you line dry your towels to fluff them up good before they go on the line.

If I was going line dry towels, I’d still put them in the dryer and fluff them for five minutes or more .

John

 

[brianl]

Stubborn spanner nut

Is there a trick to getting off a stubborn spanner nut? I noticed the universal joint & item is threaded to both move. Therefore I cannot loosen the nut off. Been trying a penatrating oil, but still no luck.

 

[combo52]

Removing calypso lock ring

Hi Brian, it’s a standard thread, lefty Lucy righty tidy, the problem is without the basket attached there’s no inertia, and it will just keep turning. You may have to cut the ring off with a Dremel tool.

The lock ring is still available on eBay for between eight and $15, it may still be officially available from Whirlpool, but nobody on the East Coast is stocking it.

John.

 

[rinso]

Good luck with your repairs on this great machine. I have always thought that WP should have stayed with this design and worked all of the bugs out.

 

[brianl]

Finally cut the spanner nut off

For better or worse, I was able to cut the spanner nut off. Here is what I uncovered. Wondering what parts I may need.

 

[brianl]

Can't find part number

This larger spanner nut that holds the inner tub on is so deteriorated, I cannot see the part number. Cannot seem to find it in the parts diagrams online either.

 

[DADoES]

 
Your Pic #4 in Reply #13 shows that the hub is completely separated, missing from the basket ... so you need a basket for starters.

Your pic in Reply #14 isn't a spanner nut, it's part of the hub, broken off.  What's left of the hub is presumably still on the drive shaft after you removed the u-joint.

These are the only pics (with watermarks) I could find online of the basket hub, inside and bottomside of the basket.  I don't find any pics on my computer from when I refurbished my machine.

 

[brianl]

This is what is still connected to the washer

I'm assuming this is the part you're talking about?

 

[DADoES]

 
Correct.  The basket hub is not a separate/replaceable component.  It's part/parcel of the basket, permanently factory-assembled to it.  The piece left there should lift off ... although it may be stuck (the spanner nut slightly compresses the splits of the hub neck to secure the basket-and-hub to the spin tube, see Page 37 Fig 3-15 of the service manual).

The hole in center bottom of the basket in your Pic 4, the hub should be affixed there, not removable.  Compare to the two pics of a replacement basket with the hub intact.

 

[brianl]

Appreciate all the information

I will attempt to remove those parts of the spindle. Hopefully Combo52 has the spare basket for me to use. I can order the other parts it looks like.