Darn that Dominion

[jamman_98]

Ok Let me take a stab at it.

There are some questions on the pic. Hope they are not too dumb but I love to solve a problem. Also could the spin issue be related to bad spin bearings? I know I've seen pics of Kenmore rebuilds on here with spin tube replacements so just wondering if the culpret is friction and not the belt. It could be a combination of the two. I admit I have never fixed a washing machine but love working on machines. Maybe this could generate some other ideas from the members.

Jamman_98
Joe

 

[jetcone]

Yes Uni is right

sometimes its the only way and what this all means is the classic washer world has opened new doors for you to grow.

 

Off ! with her cabinet I say!

 

[turquoisedude]

Dis-assembly day for the Dominion

I took some time to carefully examine the Dominion before disassembling it and figured the cabinet will lift off like a Maytag.

I started by removing the timer assembly and fill solenoid. I also disconnected the wires to the motor so that they would not get caught when the cabinet came off.

 

[turquoisedude]

Three screws on each side bolted the cabinet to the base. I also found a removable access panel on the front of the washer. Keep that point in mind for later - part of my new theories...

 

[turquoisedude]

Gently and carefully, the entire top, sides and front of the washer lifted right off!

 

[turquoisedude]

With the top off, I tried to give the wash tub a good spin by hand. I as had observed before, it took some force to do so. I tried rocking the tub slightly - I heard a slight 'boing' that sounded like a spring being released. After that the tub turned a lot easier but it still took some strength to turn it.

 

[turquoisedude]

The hunt for clues

I kept thinking about the 'Who Shot Mr. Burns' episode of The Simpsons where Chief Wiggum has a dream about Lisa giving him hints ("This suit burns better. Look!")

I had no such inspiration, but I tried to carefully note what might be causing my spin situation...

First observation: with the cabinet off, I could now see there was some kind of bar to hold the spring that is on the motor mounting. When the motor mounting is swung to the left, the belt loosens and can be removed. My first thought was this may be a belt tensioning device...

 

[turquoisedude]

The four springs that seem to hold the tub plate assembly suddenly seemed significant - this is one of the two on the front of the washer. These front springs were visible and accessible when I took off that front access panel... The rear ones were accessible when the lower cover plate was removed.

It begs the question: could they need adjusting by tightening or loosening? If so, would this have any effect on the washer's behaviour??

 

[turquoisedude]

Directly under the tub, you can now see a spring between the tub bottom and that central drive pulley. But it just seems to sit there - there are no other collars or a brake assembly that I can discern. Perhaps this was the source of the 'boing' I heard when I was messing with the tub...

 

[turquoisedude]

And yet another hitherto unseen spring! This one is under the pulley that I beleive is driving the cam shaft that makes the washer agitate. But again, what the heck is this supposed to do??

 

[turquoisedude]

Back to the motor mounting bracket - note that bolt with a spring at the rear of the bracket. The bracket swivels around this when pulling the motor to release the belt tension. I wonder if it could be a tension adjustment of some kind??

 

[turquoisedude]

On the underside of said bolt is a nut - possibly the one to be used to tighten or adjust the motor mount, but again, this is all guesswork...

I am wondering if the weight of a tub full of water somehow makes the spin engage, but on the other hand, I saw the machine spin with an empty tub with my own eyes.

But, could it be possible that the springs holding the tub plate need to be adjusted so that the spring under the tub engages to the drive pulley somehow?

I don't know if there were other machines that had anything even remotely resembling this, but any and all information is going to be greatly appreciated!!

 

[swestoyz]

Hey Paul -

 

Before tweaking/adjusting any springs (or anything, actually), my suggestion is to first build up a strong understanding of how this machine spins.  What objects move and in what direction; look for a clutch or a helical drive of some type, etc.  Once you have a good idea of how things work, then you can start to play with adjustments.  Do you have more pictures of all the components of the spin pulley?

 

I also wouldn't imagine that the tub springs would assist in the spin action of the machine.  I'm suspecting they do what a Maytag does by holding the tub in place, with some sort of leaf pressure point that will move while the tub is spinning, similar to a Speed Queen.

 

Ben

 

[turquoisedude]

Joe!

Sorry! I missed your post completely!! Love what you did with the 'callouts' on the photo - I really should get some photo editing software myself...

This photo of the belt back on should help. The belt inside surface loops around the pump pulley (small one at the front of the photo on the left) and around the large agitator pulley. As it heads back to the motor pulley, the outside belt surface contacts that central drive pulley that should make the machine spin when it's running counterclockwise. When the machine runs clockwise, the central drive pulley does spin but the machine agitates. When running counterclockwise, agitation halts and the spin is supposed to kick in.

I am not sure if there is enough tension on the belt to adequate drive the central pulley - it's a good potential cause of the problem!

 

[turquoisedude]

Ben, that's where I'm stumped... I can't see if there is any kind of a clutch or drive here. Other than the previous observation of spinning being dependent on the direction the motor is turning, I don't have any further picture of what the machine is supposed to do. I sure know how to pick 'em.... LOL

 

[turquoisedude]

I didn't post this before, but here's the agitator/spin shaft of the washer. When the tub spins, the shaft also turns. In agitation, only the drive block will move though. This may be important, ya never know.

Also, I have this horrible feeling that I will need to remove the inner tub as part of this repair process. Any thoughts or suggestions as to what I might be able to use to remove the drive block? I think it's aluminum...

 

[swestoyz]

If you spin the spin pulley by hand, in either direction, what does it do?  Does the pulley move up and down slightly depending on direction? Does it move freely or is it binding?

 

I suspect the back side of the belt is acting as a clutch, and the spring on the agitate pulley is there to apply pressure such that it is returned to the agitate height (engaged) after spinning in the opposite direction (disengages during spin).

 

Ben

 

[turquoisedude]

Ben, the spin pulley moves easily in either direction if spun by hand. I can't see any upward or downward movement as I spin it, however I have this funny feeling that the belt is lower than it should be... The way the belt travels to the motor pulley looks as if it is not quite engaging the drive pulley; the belt could indeed be the 'clutch' here!!

 

[Unimatic1140]

Ben, the spin pulley moves easily in either direction if spun by hand.

Paul when you turn the spin pulley by hand does the tub rotate as well? That said I mean when you turn the spin pulley by hand in the SPIN DIRECTION does the tub turn? When turn it in the opposite direction is the tub stationary?

 

[swestoyz]

That is good news!  If you spin the pulley, do you see the tub move?

 

It would take a lot of surface area and force in order for the belt to spin the pulley, so yes, there's hopefully an adjustment of some sort.  Is there a solenoid that might move the motor for spin?  Does the motor float freely, or does something move it in order for it to spin?

 

Ben