95 kenmore ultra Fabric Care Heavy Duty

[finn]

Hello ,
Hey all, I’m new to the community and getting interesting in vintage lifestyle and appliances. This year I purchased three new Whirlpool Washing machines and all three failed with in the first two washes. I have had it with the crap out there. LOL

Today I purchased a 1995 Kenmore ultra fabric care heavy duty 80 series. It works pretty well except that it will not agitate in the regular or the gentle cycle. It works fine in heavy duty and “hang dry” wash action settings

Can anyone tell me what might be the problem? The guyI bought it from said it might be the timer.
I only paid 60 bucks for it so I’m hoping this will be a small and inexpensive fix. I have to hire somebody to put the timer in as I’m not able to physically do it myself. Other than this problem, the machine works better than the new machine I just purchased.

Thank you so much for any help you can offer and have a great day.

Finn

 

[repairguy]

Does it spin on hang dry setting? Sounds to me like someone re placed the original 2 speed motor with a single speed motor.

 

[repairguy]

Or maybe someone put that control panel on a machine that was originally a single speed machine.

 

[combo52]

It could also be the wash-action switch, a lot of these switches failed.

 

John

 

[finn]

Just checked and it doesn’t spin on regular or gentle cycle either . Crap! Thought I lucked out. Well I hope this one lasted long enough to find a new vintage one.

 

[DADoES]

 
None of this is a death sentence.  Low speed isn't working.  Bad speed switch, burned/shorted wire, bad motor, wrong (one-speed) motor as suggested above, maybe some other possibilities.  The timer is probably not involved on this machine because of the separate speed switch.  Anything is fixable ... new parts, used parts, whatever ... depends how much you want to spend, and if overall condition of the machine justifies it to end up with something more robust than those three new failures.

 

[supersurgilator]

This is way too nice of a machine to give up on yet. I wouldn't think it would be anything major, but IMO I would just use the heavy duty setting. You get a fast spin plus more turnover in agitation, just use a shorter wash time.

 

[combo52]

What ever is wrong it is not that hard to fix [ or have fixed ]

 

Hi Finn, you say you just bought 3 New machines and hated then and you won't spend $300-500 fixing one you like better, why even ask for help ? just keep buying $50 washers till you get one that works.

 

[finn]

Im not giving up on this machine. I really like it. The guy I bought it from just wrote that he didnt replace the motor. If the motor was bad, would it still run at all? The only thing replaced was locking dogs per previous owner.

 

[finn]

It has some good cleaning power on fast. Clothes and sheets haven't been cleaned this well in years.

See quick action video link.

 

[finn]

Hey y'all,
So I haven't got a chance to fix the agitator switch but I have a few more questions if you don't mind. I was wondering if anybody knew how to clean the knobs. They are like a white rubber but they're dirty and have turned kind of a beige color. Buying new is kind of expensive but not having them clean looking is driving me crazy. Also, there is a high pitched tick tick noise during the first half of a wash and I'm wondering if anybody can shed some light on this? The ticking sound is a higher pitch and the regular washing sound and it goes away a few minutes into the washing cycle as it starts to agitate. Thank you for any thoughts you can offer.

 

[yogitunes]

pull the knobs off, spray with something like a cleaner with bleach, maybe some scrubbing with a toothbrush, rinse, dry and replace....

 

[stan]

Hi Finn

I wouldn't think it too expensive or difficult to replace the was action switch.
You might try to search for a Sears Parts Manual for that model machine. In the manual you should be able to find a part the number for the wash action switch, and with that number start search online.
Once you have the part, you could call for someone to install it, if your not able.
The tick tick sound? Couldn't hear it in your video.

 

[finn]

Hello, thank you for your replies. I soaked them in straight bleach upside down so I didn't get the silver middle. It worked fairly good but I couldn't get the timer knob off. Anyone know why the timer knob wont come off? Also what paint should I use for the silver part of the knob?

Regarding the timer. Yes I will go ahead and have a nee one put in since I'm not able too myself physically. The tick tick noise seems to have gone away on its own.

Also, I'm considering having it re painted and wonder where I could find the sticker? For the control panel with all the wording? I'm talking about the selection words. Is this even something that exists?

Thank you

Finn

 

[DADoES]

 
Push the timer in to Off position, the knob should then unscrew from the shaft.

 

[repairguy]

The panel with the words for cycles is not a sticker but nicer ones can be found if that’s what you’re after.

 

[finn]

Ok thank you. Got the timer knob off but it didn't bleach out like the other and still looks the same.-dirty.