Bearings again finally on My Kenmore HE top load 700 series

[dartman]

Well finally got tired of listening to the jet take off noises every time it went into spin and tore it down again today.
Got just a USA bearings and seal kit off Amazon for 14 bucks with a warranty and picked out the best leftover shaft of the three I have and went after it. Had to bang the newish shaft outa it again, they sure rust fast, and use a jack and board to get the basket out. Everything else came apart reasonably easy enough and I cleaned up the area where the seal rides enough it should be OK.
HOWEVER again when I went to put the seal in the tub it would only go in 3/4 of the way then I couldn't get it any farther, the last seal almost dropped right into place and I have no idea why one slides right in and the other has to be beat into place.
I finally started damaging it so I dug it back out and determined it has a few critical spots on the part that goes against the main shaft that I don't trust it to work.
So I put the rest of it back together and used locktite blue on the bolt and screw that backed out last time. It seems to spin quietly and as soon as the TWO new seals I ordered get here I'll give it a try again.
If anyone has any tips to get that seal back in without have to really beat it into place I'd love to hear about it. I'm sure I'm missing something or it has to line up perfectly first try to go in properly.
I also now know what happened to the earlier Chinese complete setup. It turns out the upper bearing spot wasn't machined right so the bearing doesn't just slide into place with maybe a gentle tap to pop it in. I had to beat the crap out of it the time before the last redo and it failed within a month.
The last one lasted about 7 months before it got noisy again and it never actually leaked on the floor once.
It seams the seals they use are junk and don't last very long but if you get them seated properly and sealed good with the sealer goop they last a while, just not years and years.

 

[searsbest]

Bearing replacement

Wp has a tool that presses the bearings and sleeve into place, the tool kit also comes with a short piece of PVC pipe to push the seal into place. W10447783 is the part number for the tool, they are fairly inexpensive..

 

[henene4]

Without a properly fitted seal

There is really not much point to putting in new bearings over and over again.

Try heating the bearing with a heat gun or such and putting the seal in the freezer.

 

[combo52]

Failed Bearings Again

The shaft is just as important as the seal, I would install the complete bearing shaft and seal kit FROM Whirlpool, also use the bearing installation tool.

 

The seal failures and shaft rust are made far worst by poor washer usage practices.

 

Wash only in water hotter than 100F , use plenty of good detergent, use chlorine bleach on loads that can take bleach. 

 

You must be getting tired of working on this washer by now, if you use the correct parts and install them properly AND use the washer properly there is no reason that the bearings should not last 5 years or much longer.

 

This washers shaft and seal design was not the best thing ever sold for sure and we have found when fixing a problem design it is best to never use aftermarket parts or other half assed repair attempts otherwise the result will be worse than the original.

 

Our company has installed the new WP shaft and seal-bearing kit in well over 100 of these washers over the last 5+ years and I only know of one machine that failed again.

 

John L.

 

[dartman]

I have the bearing tool and the piece of pvc pipe they give you. The last time I redid it I got a supposedly OEM whirlpool shaft and bearings kit with the seal and it went in very easily compared to the Chinese kit that the upper bearing spot was machined wrong. The seal pretty much slid right into place by hand and I gave it a pop with the pipe and a dead blow hammer to make sure it was fully seated. I used the airplane like glue around the edge of it and waited 24 hours to do a test run with water. It was quiet again and never leaked. About 7 or 8 months later it started getting noisy again and it finally got noisy enough to want to tear it back down. Everything went in easily again except the seal and the edge against the shaft got damaged so I ordered two more supposedly improved seals so I have a backup for 9 bucks. I guess I'll try the freezer trick this time as I'm kinda scared to take a torch to the bearing area but they are us made bearings and are quiet and seated. All i have to do is get the seal in properly and sealed up and it's done. If it makes noise again I'll order another complete shaft kit.

 

[dartman]

Got the seals today.

Well I tried just putting the seal in the freezer after realizing it wasn't going to just drop in like the OEM whirlpool kit did, still didn't want to go in so I used a hair dryer on high till bearing seat area was really hot. It still fought with me but I was able to slowly work it and tap it in place with the plastic pipe and a rubber hammer till it finally went flush. I lubed it up first with the lube from the whirlpool kit and the sealant as well once it was seated. It's drying now and I figure we'll run it tomorrow and see how it does.
I'm definitely ordering the full shaft replacement kit if and when it dies again but seal appears to be good against the shaft and spins quiet again. Don't know how long you really have to wait for the sealant to set but I really doubt the outer area would leak as tight as it went in but not taking any chances and it was set nicely after 24 hours last time. Automotive black low voc silicon would probably work fine as well but didn't use it this time.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Out of idle curiosity, why does this machine warrant such (cumulative) effort?
Does that sound too jaded? If so I am sorry and will go back to drowning my sorrows.

 

[dartman]

Well a new machine is still way more than what I pay for the parts to fix it and when it's right it is very quiet, washes well, and holds a lot.
I hate to give up on things and I'm not sure what newer similar top loader would be much more reliable than this one. It uses little water and saves me a ton on my overpriced water bill. Otherwise I would still be using the old direct drive whirlpool that was super easy and cheap to fix when something wore out.
It is leaking again so we'll see what happens but probably because I reused the old shaft but it's not leaking much and going to watch it with a catch pan and see what happens. Last test load was like one drop.
So might get a OEM shaft kit again. I'm open to suggestions on a new, reliable, top loader that is easy to repair and doesn't eat bearings. I can't afford a Speed Queen or the water they use.

 

[dartman]

Well ran a couple of water only short cycles and it dripped a bit, one short cycle with washcloths and towels and it dripped a bit less, then one where I caught one drop, and a couple of regular large loads with jeans and things and it didn't leak anything I could see in the pan. I even pulled the back so I could watch everything easier and check for leaking hoses and pumps and I didn't see where it was coming from and the center bolt that holds everything up to the shaft seemed dry. I missed a few drips while poking around elsewhere and now it seems to have stopped. The last time it didn't leak at all, time before that it was leaving small puddles and was dripping around the bolt and slinging out, just not pouring out so I ordered the oem kit and replaced it when it started to make noise a month later.
Hopefully it is good for a while but I could probably swap it all out in a couple of hours now if I get lucky with the seal. The bearing install tool when you use it right makes replacing them easy. The hard part is knocking out the old ones and the shaft.

 

[combo52]

Washer Only Dripped A little

There should not be ONE drop of water coming through the main seal and bearings,

 

If it is actually coming through the bearings fix it now as it won't last long.

 

John L.

 

[dartman]

Yes, I figured as much but wherever it's coming from it stopped for now and it's together so I'll run it till it gets noisy or leaks badly and get another complete shaft and bearing set from Whirlpool.
The last time there was water all around the bolt area so it was definitely the seal area. This time the bolt always seemed dry even when there were drips. I was watching it while it ran with the back off and my head on the floor with a flashlight and it refused to drip while I was watching.
So anyway run it till it gets bad and redo again or replace. Like I said if anyone knows of a better built top loader that doesn't eat bearings after 3 or 4 years and is easy to fix let me know.

 

[dartman]

Stopped leaking

Well so far it hasnt leaked since the last few drops a while back and it remains quiet. Hopefully it wore a clean spot on the sleeve and is happy. We'll see how long it lasts this time but hopefully the bearings stayed dry or dried quick enough to run a long time.
Nice to be able to hear the TV again when it's spinning. I guess keep an eye out and we'll all see how long it lasts.