Refurb project started yesterday. Bad bearings.
Pump protector.
Discuss. (Or perhaps disgust.)
Duet 9400
- Thread starter DADoES
- Start date
Refurb project started yesterday. Bad bearings.
Pump protector.
Discuss. (Or perhaps disgust.)
Yup, disgust!
Was this on an oil rig?
Was this on an oil rig?
tecnopolis
Well-known member
tecnopolis
Well-known member
Obviously someone doesn't check their pockets before hitting the start button.
Duets never had an access door. You had to stand on your head to remove the center screw from the lower panel and the two other screws to access the innards. This looks like a decaying bird. Sorry.
Where are you sourcing the seal from?? I've got a Duet torn down, for a number on months -- not high on my list, but need a decent seal. I bought my last one from the guy online but felt the shipping was price gouging. looking for a good source.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Dadoes
Don't you have a Duet? I know this can't be YOUR washer.....
Oh - oh - oh and regarding the access door to clean the pump - isn't that the freaking truth! I mean, there should be a door for easy access to clean that!
Don't you have a Duet? I know this can't be YOUR washer.....
Oh - oh - oh and regarding the access door to clean the pump - isn't that the freaking truth! I mean, there should be a door for easy access to clean that!
laundromat
Well-known member
Why whirlpool refuses to put the small door on so customers have access to the button catchers they have on their Duets is beyond my comprehension. The Electroluxes have no catch hense no door but everyone else has it. Why????????????
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I know! It just makes ZERO sense that they don't have an access door on the front. I can't figure it out. Even the latest models!
1,2-Kalamozoo; 5,6- West Phoenix; 1008,1009-Anaheim - Why do I have to wait for it? I don'wanna wait for it!
1,2-Kalamozoo; 5,6- West Phoenix; 1008,1009-Anaheim - Why do I have to wait for it? I don'wanna wait for it!
I have had my HE3t washer (Duet sister) for 9 years, and have yet to find something in the pump protector.
Not my machine. Doing the project for my neighbor to use the pair stacked at a foreclosure he's remodeling for rental. Same neighbor of the Catalyst project last year.
The set was obtained via CraigsList. Seller had listed only the dryer. The washer had been "abandoned" at the local Whites Western Auto after diagnosis of bad bearings. Seller said he could try getting it back and toss it in for "free" with the dryer deal, which he did.
MattL had been reporting on his bearing replacement project at the time so I figured I'd try it.
Unfortunately the peeps at the store cracked the outer cover on the door. Seller said it was not cracked prior to leaving the machine there. The store gave him a spare door but it's the wrong design (duhhhhh). The crack is cosmetic but Mr. Neighbor wants to replace the cover, which is the most expensive of the short-list of needed parts. I may yet convince him to take the cover off and do without.
My only other concern at this point is whether the spider has enough "life" remaining to justify the project. The arms aren't bad but the center around the shaft has some corrosion. A new drum/spider tips the project over to "uhhhh, maybe not" territory. I need to remove the spider to clean all the smutz, I suppose whether or not it breaks is an indication.
MattL, I don't have any knowledge/experience of how to source the bearing seal, so will have to go with the "Handyman" guy's offering.
Wow
Hi Glen, what a mucker, looks like you`ll need a hazmat suit with that!!
Wonder what type of detergent ( if any) was being used and programme selection!!
Many of our older machines used a vortex pump which had vanes and flushed everything through to drain....new machines do have traps but must admit have never seen a pump and spider so bad - best of luck!!
Hi Glen, what a mucker, looks like you`ll need a hazmat suit with that!!
Wonder what type of detergent ( if any) was being used and programme selection!!
Many of our older machines used a vortex pump which had vanes and flushed everything through to drain....new machines do have traps but must admit have never seen a pump and spider so bad - best of luck!!
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
The scuttlebutt was...
That Whirlpool eliminated the lower access panel to eliminate cabinet vibration issues. I never noticed any major noise that I'd blame on that lower panel, myself. My personal thought was that it would make it 'more cost efficient' to stamp only one panel during production. As to trying to access the clean out on a washer full of water and why isn't there a easier way to get to it without dismantling the whole pos, very seldom have I seen Whirlpool actually try to make the servicer's lives easier. I just wish that they would regularly involve a few techs when designing things...
RCD
That Whirlpool eliminated the lower access panel to eliminate cabinet vibration issues. I never noticed any major noise that I'd blame on that lower panel, myself. My personal thought was that it would make it 'more cost efficient' to stamp only one panel during production. As to trying to access the clean out on a washer full of water and why isn't there a easier way to get to it without dismantling the whole pos, very seldom have I seen Whirlpool actually try to make the servicer's lives easier. I just wish that they would regularly involve a few techs when designing things...
RCD
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
Every time
I see a Duet washer that is similar to mine that's almost 8 yrs old, I have to wonder what my spider looks like on it.....but I'm not taking it apart to find out..Even if I wanted to, I don't know how and would be terrified to attempt such a thing.
I'm not so sure I would go through this project.......That spider doesn't look that great....It would be a shame to do all of that work only for it to disintegrate in a few months....
I see a Duet washer that is similar to mine that's almost 8 yrs old, I have to wonder what my spider looks like on it.....but I'm not taking it apart to find out..Even if I wanted to, I don't know how and would be terrified to attempt such a thing.
I'm not so sure I would go through this project.......That spider doesn't look that great....It would be a shame to do all of that work only for it to disintegrate in a few months....
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
would not like to see my 2004 duet in such a state i would rather replace it with a new machine rather than pay for a tech to come clean these parts
This machine is a tad-bit over 6 years old now. Serial number CST33. 33rd week of 2006.
It was a few months past 5 years when the seller was selling. We picked them up on/about 12-20-2011.
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.
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
Well-known member
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.
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.
Looks like WP set out to make cleaning the pump protector a service call type procedure by not having an access port.
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.
This is the parts diagram from the WaveTouch from searspartsdirect. The trap is #40.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
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?
If the spider is corroding as is pictured above, but the pump itself and the inner & outer tub are clean, would the machine smell?
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.
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.
Boot.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
