Advice on a WP dryer.

[volvoguy87]

In my late grandmother's house is a Whirlpool LFE5800WO dryer. Earlier today I got a call from my father who said it had dried 1 load properly and then would not start again. It has since started functioning again normally. What could cause this? The dryer is too old to have a Thermal fuse. I had my dad turn the timer to a timed cycle thinking the timer would run until it reached zero, but he said the timer motor did not run. He is very hard of hearing and is also pretty impatient so I don't know if he tried it or not. Basically, I was trying to determine whether or not the dryer was getting power.

For whatever it's worth, the exhaust duct is very long and has likely never been cleaned. (My father isn't big on maintenance). Would this dryer have an internal thermostat that, once tripped, requires a certain amount of time to reset?

Also, what would be the matching washer? The washer is long gone, but I recall it having a metal handle on the lid and a white agitator with a white cap.

Thanks y'all,
Dave

 

[coldspot66]

Since it has a long vent that has never been cleaned, the dryer could be getting too hot and shutting down the motor. If it starts after a brief rest, the internal motor protector has reset. Not sure why the timer didn't run; it may be wired in series with the motor protector switch on the neutral side of the line.

 

[rp2813]

I think the washer may have resembled the rather basic one that RCD rescued recently and posted pix of here on Imperial, give or take a couple of years. That thread should still be active.

 

[DADoES]

 
The matching washer would be an LFA5800 (super capacity, although it'd match better with a super-capacity dryer such as LFE7800) or LFA5700 (standard capacity).

There was an LFE5700 dryer, which had a side-swing door instead of hamper door, and probably was timed-dry only.

If I'm not mistaken, this pic is an LFA5800 posted by Geoff on 9/25/2008.

 

[volvoguy87]

The control panel looks about right.

I think it had a bleach dispenser, but I don't know for sure. I don't recall a recirculating lint filter. I think my grandparents may have bought the set around 1975 when they came back from being stationed in Germany (my grandfather was Air Force). I think that would predate the 1978 introduction of the Double Duty Super Surgilator (say that 3 times fast!).

One of these days I'll need to get myself a DDSS to play with in my 1982 Electronic Lady Kenmore. It looks like a fun agitator. How will it compare to the Kenmore DA in rollover and cleaning prowess? Also, was the DDSS only for short centerpost models or was there a version for the tall ones?

Thanks for the pic, it brings back a lot of memories.
Dave

An update on the dryer:
My dad flipped the circuit breaker and it came back to life. He flipped the breaker in the midst of trying a bunch of other tings, so he doesn't know which thing fixed the problem. Given that the timer wasn't running, I think it might be a bad breaker. I have had them fail such that they will trip prematurely but will not indicate a trip.

 

[70series]

DDSS vs DAA

A very good question. Each one does an exceptional job, so if there were a comparison to made, it would be between those two.

Have a good one,
James

 

[DADoES]

LFA/E is a couple/three years later than 1975. 1974/1975 would be LAA. LDA (1976) came between LAA and LFA. Short centerpost doesn't affect the agitator. The agitator shaft is still normal length, extending well above the centerpost and spin tube.