Diagnosing Motor on 28-year-old Amana Washer

[blackstone]

For my own curiosity, I need help diagnosing the problem with this motor. The washer is 28 years old, but the motor was replaced in 2005. The color coding of the wires on the motor do match match the colors on the wiring diagram.

Symptoms:
Buzzing sound at beginning of spin; followed, most likely, by shutdown of motor.

Other observations:
Motor will spin for a few seconds, while buzzing, but not develop speed;
Problem occurs with full tub of water and clothes;
Less likely to happen if water level is at low, or if tub is empty;
Removing drive belt allows pump to drain water, most of the time;
Drive pulley and idler wheel spin freely by hand;
Motor overheats and smokes;
Putting oil in motor bearings solved the problem last month, but not now;
Today, I was able to complete one cycle, but the buzzing lasted for progressively longer period of time whenever motor started during cycle;
Could not finish subsequent cycle.

The fact that the problem is intermittent baffles me. If the starting winding were bad, the motor would never work.

I ordered a new motor, but it won't arrive until Tuesday. ($300!)

Any workarounds, or explanations?

 

[turbokinetic]

It sounds to me as if the motor's bearings are worn; allowing the rotor to drag on the stator. This will spin freely while the power is off, but the magnetism will draw the rotor against the stator while power is on.  Taking the belt off helps because the belt likely pulls the shaft in the direction of the wear, exacerbating the drag.

 

Most likely, the oil wicks in the motor were somehow not in the proper position and didn't keep the bearings lubricated. Should have lasted longer than that, since it was already replaced once.....

 

[lowefficiency]

Does the motor spin freely when all of the belts are removed?

 

[blackstone]

The motor spins freely by hand, with belts removed. No indication of scraping noise inside.

A month ago, when problem first started, the shaft was difficult to spin. Applied oil; thought I fixed the problem. Nope.

 

[turbokinetic]

Response to reply #3

Yeah, your bearings seized and the parts were scored / galled at that time. The oil got it moving again, but the damage was done and the rough, damaged parts wore out rapidly after the seizure incident.

 

 

 

[blackstone]

Replacement motor arrives today by FedEx. Box is broken. Motor is "cushioned" by deflated air pillows. Plastic motor cover is cracked. The motor shaft is impossible to turn by hand. Scraping noise when shaft is turned with aid of pliers.

No other visible damage; repairclinic.com unable to send new motor until Oct. 16. Got my $300 scheduled to be refunded.

Bought a Speed Queen TC5000.

Grrrrrrrr!

 

[DADoES]

 
Shipping is awful of late ...

 

[combo52]

Damaged Washer Motor

It is really hard for most people to understand how to park something like a motor so it will not be damaged in shipment. however thousands of such motors are packed and shipped every day by motor makers without any damage.

 

Hi Fred, I have quite a few of the motor your washer uses and will be glad to give you one if you visit, or I can leave it at Martins in NJ and one of the guys that come down and visit him from NY could get it a little closer to you, although it would be a good chance to come and see the appliances at the museum.

 

John L.

 

[tolivac]

The motors that are shipped to the transmitter plant come in sturdy boxes with custom foam liners to fit the motor.Smaller motors for fans,blowers and pumps used for the transmitters or building HVAC systems.Larger motors come on pallets.

 

[blackstone]

John, That's an Incentive...

...but we already scheduled our vacation; leaving for New Hampshire in the near future.

I am keeping the Amana as a backup machine, so if your offer still stands next year, I might just go for it. I would really like to see the museum.

I have been using the Amana, but only with small loads and low water levels; with a fan blowing on the motor; and with a max of 2 consecutive loads. Of course, with the front panel removed, I have to hang onto the cabinet during the spin cycles. With that amount of babysitting, might as well have a wringer!