Duet 9400

[logixx]

Pump access made easy outside the US

Checked the filter on mine after one year of use and it was clean. That one is disgusting. I wonder how often the machine suds-locked.

 

[pierreandreply4]

my toughs are that the previous owner must of used non he de

my toughts on this and what might of cause this is that the previous user of this washer must of used non he detergent when these m,achines are ment to be used with he detergent like any type of front load washers unless the detergent is formulated for both he and non he washers in other words for all machines.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Looks like WP set out to make cleaning the pump protector a service call type procedure by not having an access port.

 

[logixx]

By the way, the Lux machines have a trap but it's located just under the drum in the sump hose. Not sure how one's supposed to get there without pulling the machine off the wall.

This is the parts diagram from the WaveTouch from searspartsdirect. The trap is #40.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Dumb question

If the spider is corroding as is pictured above, but the pump itself and the inner & outer tub are clean, would the machine smell?

 

[DADoES]

 
I do know who owned the machine (a local insurance agent), but I have no specific information on their usage habits.  I could call the fellow and question him but no doubt he'd find that to be extremely odd, LOL.

I will conjecture that it had a diet of liquid detergent (the dispenser drawer insert is in the liquid position, although that may not be meaningful).

I will conjecture that a lot of cold or low-temp washes were run.  There is NO mineral scale buildup on the heating element so I would assume the element was never utilized for a "super hot" wash.

And no bleach washes.  It reeks of a mild sewer odor.  The tub and drum are near, if not AT, "hazardous bioagent" status (not to mention the pump per pic above).  I've cleaned half the outer tub, sprayed it with bleach and all the mold/mildew stains are cleared ... one would assume that use of chlorine bleach on a regular basis would have had an appreciable effect.

Rear half of the outer tub.  Bottom/sump is at the right.  The lighter area is sunlight.  The object stuck near the sump is a piece of foam from a shoulder pad.

 

[DADoES]

 
Outer tub, front half.  What looks like mineral residue on the element is just debris/dust that dried and fell off the tub and spider.

 

[DADoES]

 
Boot.

 

[DADoES]

 
Questions for folks more experienced than myself:  Is it a reasonable proposal to remove the spider and treat it with POR-15, if it's still sturdy enough to be used?

Is removing the spider a bad idea?  It's available only part-and-parcel attached to the drum, so maybe it shouldn't be pulled off ... which kinda presents a problem for dealing with the ick accumulation behind it.

 

[Iowegian]

I think POR-15 is only intended for ferrous metals. If I understand correctly, the Whirlpool spider is some kind of aluminum alloy.

Powder coating is pretty accessible and cheap these days - I bet you could find someone to do a spider for maybe $40. But I don't know how well it would hold up to detergent/bleach exposure, either. Might be worth a look-see...

 

[Iowegian]

Oops, hit send too quick...

I don't know how hard it would be to remove the spider - I think if I were going to attempt it, I'd try a few applications of penetrating oil over a day before I put a wrench to it - I'd bet that the fasteners are probably corroded and there's no worse feeling than snapping off a bolt...and then having to get out the easy-outs and hot wrench.

As far as reassembly, I suppose a person would need to use some care in reassembly so the basket would end up parallel to the shaft so there wouldn't be a runout/balance issue on spin.

 

[DADoES]

 
The spider is not going to come off ... at least not under my effort.  Don't know if the anchor screws are sealed with something, tried one (T35) and slightly damaged it so that's the end of that.  Gave it an initial spray-down and the most A-L-A-R-M-I-N-G mass of lint and smutz flushed from behind.  Will apply a pressure washer tomorrow.  I'm halfway considering replacing the basket/spider, just for reason of doing the job better and longer-lasting (assuming the bearing deal is successful) but that would up the cost by more than double.

Got the seal and two bearings out and rear tub cleaned.

 

[mattl]

I would not buy a new tub/spider-- I would look for a parts donor.

 

[DADoES]

 
The bearing seal is identified as 50mm x 100mm x 13.5 mm (shaft diameter x outer diameter x thickness).  Doing some online searching/research, I don't find that exact specification.  I do find 50mm x 100mm x 10mm.

Looking back at MattL's thread from his project, the "Handyman" guy sources a 50mm x 100mm x 10mm seal.  Hmmmm.

Also interesting.  Parts diagram for "current" Duet model WFW9151YW shows the spider available as a separate item.  An online source lists it for $87.48.  However, GHW9400PW4 is the model at hand, which lists a different complete drum than WFW9151YW, so I don't know if perhaps the drum sizes are slightly different or 9151 mounts the spider differently, or something.

 

[mattl]

I bought a seal on ebay that is exactly the same as the one I bought from Handyman, but it was the wrong size, my mistake.  The seller claimed to have an assortment of sizes and i contacted him/them but never heard back.  What I was/am after is the correct size double lip with a stainless steel spring.  I think the stainless steel spring will help prevent rust out which may be what leads to early failure.  At least that is my theory.

 

[DADoES]

 
Debris laid out from the pump protector.  Coins, bobby pins, pellets, two screws, a nail, possible chicken bone, various cellophane wrappers, accumulated lint, possible tampon applicator.

It still REEKS after drying out for several days.

 

[mark_wpduet]

UGGGHHH

It's gross to see all of that but I'm really not surprised in the least. I think there are probably many many washers currently in operation that are in such a state. A tampon applicator? That reminds me - someone once told me that if you open a tampon in the dark, it makes a *spark*! I never tried it.

 

[Iowegian]

Heh, that pic looks like something out of an episode of CSI!

You need a Horatio Cain dry one-liner to caption it...

 

[Iowegian]

@mark_wpduet:

Dunno about the tampon thing, but I remember hitting Wint-O-Green Life Savers with a hammer in the dark when I was a kid just to see the sparks.

 

[tolivac]

You can also see the "sparks" in Wint-O-Green Lifesavers by standing in front of a mirror in the dark and biting them with your mouth open-You can see the sparks and eat them and not waste them by not having to hit them with a hammer.