Filter-Flo Help!

[ttuee2006]

Well I got the Filter-Flo today, but we're having an inexplicable problem. It runs great and does a teriffic job washing. But if it does a heavy load, or does several loads in succession, the motor turns off somewhere around the "Rinse" section of the cycle. The power doesn't die and the timer still advances, but the motor stops. If the timer is stopped and the machine is allowed to cool down for a bit, everything's back to normal! Confused? I am too...

It acts like the motor thermal switch is opening, and it indeed gets pretty toasty while running. Any suggestions what to check?

The machine is a mid 80's model with the ramp activator and push-buttons on the console if that helps anyone...

 

[ttuee2006]

Did some prodding...

The service chart and schematic (God I hate one-liners...) were in the console for this washer, so I bailed it out and started prodding for problems. Timer operation: check. Voltage at motor: check. Start winding: check. Run winding: check. Motor overload: Houston....we have a problem.

That motor overload is wide open. The motor never got excessively hot, nor did it ever smell like "heat" or anything burnt or even "hot", so I'm assuming the overload relay is toast. So here's the question: is it repairable/replaceable or is it time for a new motor?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Could be the motor bearings are shot and need replacement (if the motor felt toasty it's not just a bad switch) or the transmission is tight and causing the motor to overload.

 

[goatfarmer]

Try blowing the dust out of the motor. Just about every FF motor I've seen is packed with greasy lint.

 

[ttuee2006]

Greasy Lint...

Oh this one's definitely got the greasy lint. I pulled the motor and sourced a replacement. The overload is definitely still open. Start and Run windings check out good so it's a shame the switch went bad. It appears it's embedded in the motor under the stamped end bell. The bearings feel pretty tight on the motor which is probably what was causing the heat and thus the thermal overload to trip. Oh well....such is the life with ancient machines sometimes! I'm not that upset really...it gives me something to do.

 

[ttuee2006]

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiit's FIXED!

Well the new motor came in today for it. After fighting with the clutch, I was able to get it off and swapped out. I have a motor/clutch set coming as a backup since the clutch on this one seems pretty worn. It's not messed up yet, but it's starting to make some chatter, and the new motor/clutch set was cheaper than I could find the clutch alone for! Pays to be prepared right?

The only issue left to work out is a timer issue. Only on the "Regular" cycle, it will sometimes trip the breaker when the motor is paused before rinse. GO FIGURE! I knew this when I got the machine, and it is NOT the motor, so the only thing really left is a timer issue. It does it at the same spot, and only on that one cycle....kinda telling right? I may see if I can take the timer apart and clean it up.

Anyway, here's some celebration pix!

 

[ttuee2006]

Pix Not Loading...

A few people have been having issues with the pix not loading. If you're having issues and want to see them, check out the link below...just ignore the pix of the Maytag Highlander...

http://flickr.com/photos/ttuee2006/sets/72157612954027756/

 

[gewa1054wguy]

Timer Points

Good morning,

Sounds like the timer point set is bad. I think for the motor it is timer point set #3. They are very easy to replace and you should still be able to get the timer points from GE. Check a repair manual first. It is either timer point set 3 or set 1. I did mine several years ago on one my V14. It did the same thing you mention. Motor would stop during the cycle. It quickly got worse, Filter Flo Jimmy diagnosed it right away.

Keep us posted.

EMP

 

[ttuee2006]

Timer Points

I got it working last night, and it was definitely the timer. Now that I know what the problem was, I can get a new timer for it and be done with it.

The problem was that point set #2 was fused, and since set #1 controls the motor, it was trying to close in on a dead short. The #2 apparently controls reverse, so since it was fused, it got hot, warped the cam follower to be out of time, and caused all sorts of problems.

I sat down and watched it, and what it was doing was immediately going into reverse while running, of course still with the forward coil energized. With the ammeter plugged in, the current would go higher than it could read (20 amps) and then the breaker would trip. No WONDER the original motor burnt out!

So I spent many long, profanity-filled hours jerking that timer apart, resetting the cam follower using a hot soldering-iron, and then re-polishing the contacts in the followers. After cleaning all the carbon and flash-over residue out, the thing works like a champ now! I've run several loads through it without a single issue, so it's a keeper! Now I just need to get the new timer for it, which I've since sourced and it should run for many more years.

 

[frigilux]

I love Filter-Flo washers. When I was a kid, a neighbor had one and, compared to our 1960 Model 80 Kenmore, the agitation seemed really fast and exciting. Glad you have it up-and-running and have sourced a timer for it. I'm always humbled by everyone's ability to keep these cool, classy older machines running.

By the way, 'harvest gold' (or whatever GE called it) is a great color for your machine. Very handsome. Nice ramped activator, as well.

 

[ttuee2006]

I have a straight-vane agitator for it too, but I don't think it's ever going to be used. The ramped agitator does a GREAT job turning the clothes over....even with the machine overloaded, but that straight vane monstrosity is just painful. With the tub empty, it splashes around and makes a bunch of suds and the water swirl, but with the clothes in the tub, it just sort of sits there. Splashes and makes a lot of drama, but nothing really going on where it counts...

Sad too because I like the straight-vane agitators! I have a new power-fin coming for the Highlander, so at least I'll have a straight-vane machine that works!

 

[volvoguy87]

FF Clutch!

If you replace the clutch (that pin is a pain in the rear, isn't it?) BE SURE TO REPLACE THE RELAY!!! I don't recall which one, but DO IT or it will burn out the motor. I learned the hard way and am now looking for a motor for my FF. I replaced a really REALLY bad clutch on mine and it ran like a Swiss watch for 2 weeks then the motor died. I have finally found my camera and I will take pics of the bad clutch when I get home from visiting Ohio. I still don't understand how an old fully functional relay can burn out the motor, would someone please explain this?

Enjoy the best lint filtering ever devised,
Dave

 

[ttuee2006]

Relay

From what I understand, the GE's don't use a centrifugal switch like the other brands do. Instead they use this funky relay thing to pop the start winding to get the motor going. The relay is SUPER cheap and tends to get cruddy as time goes on. With the extra drag of the new clutch, the motor pulls a bit more power when starting (since the clutch is grabbing better) and causes the relay to give up the ghost.

When I replaced the motor in mine, I went ahead and replaced the relay too. Granted my timer was FUBAR, so it almost destroyed the new motor too! I have a new clutch coming for mine, so I can't wait to hear it without the rattle and grind of the worn clutch. Now that the timer is fixed, it's running like a top! So I can't wait to get it running like a Swiss watch!

And that filtering is fantastic. After all the laundry I ran through it this weekend, I had a lint ball about the size of a tennis ball sitting on the top of the dryer!