82 LK buzzing during wash, please help!

[speed_queen75]

For all you KM/WP experts out there I need some help, I've got a 1982 Lady Kenmore washer that is my daily driver as of now and during the wash rinse cycle while the water is circulating through the dispenser it makes a very annoying buzzzzz lol, however if I push the timer knob in and pull it out it will stop, idk what could be the culprit of this buzzzzz, oh and another thing too I'm thinking the tub break is slipping as I can move the wash basket, not a compleat rotation but I can move it side to side and it will knock slightly during agitation on heavier loads. Any input or advice on what I should do to correct this issue would be greatly appreciated thanks everyone.

 

[goatfarmer]

Out of balance buzzer?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Buzzing while circulating thru the dispenser but stops if you turn off the machine and then back on makes me think that you have a noisy solenoid that may not always be 'seating' when activated. Proof would be to temporarily disconnect the dispenser solenoid and run a few loads. If the noise is now absent, there's proof in the pudding. If it's only noisy but still functioning fine, you may either find a replacement, clean the plunger that goes into the solenoid body which may or may not help or simply deal with it as a unwelcome but now routine noise from a vintage machine. (Some try to use the excuse of it adding 'character' to justify it...)

Others may have helpful ideas about quieting down a noisy solenoid that will chime in. Gordon? John? Anyone?

RCD

 

[rp2813]

I agree with RCD that it's probably a solenoid.  My mom's Kenmore buzzed for years and years when one of its dispenser solenoids was activated.  Since the buzzing only lasted for a few minutes, we never did anything about it.

 

[combo52]

Buzzing 82 LKM washer

I think that Andy and Ralph are on the right track, to be sure it would be good if you posted a picture of your washer so I could tell with certainty exactly which model LKM you have, John.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

When I read your initial post, I was going to suggest you have a noisy solenoid --- then I see I'm in good company with a number of others. It happens with my 1985 Lady K as well at times, but in my case its the softener solenoid.

As Ralph and Andy suggested, for me its just a "vintage machine quirk" that isn't worth investigating further. Mine does not do this all the time however.

The basket slipping when it should be tightly gripping the brake may be the result of either some oil on the brake pad (potentially not good), or an adjustment and cleaning needed to the basket drive. I have never had to specifically address this issue by itself, but have seen it before I worked on other issues. When I clean and lubricate all the area where the basket drive is involved, this issue has not returned upon reassembly. This has involved cleaning everything from the T-bearing to the brake pad and the braking surface on the baseplate, including cleaning the agitator shaft and installing some new turbine oil at the spin tube bearing. This involved total disassembly. I don't know what to suggest if you aren't comfortable with that level of work. Maybe John has some advice, as I would presume that some field calls resulted from this same issue.

Gordon