GE Constantly Out of Balance

[macboy91si]

So I have this problem with my GE... Like 80% of the time these days. The machine will simply not spin in balance. Even when empty the thing shakes everywhere. Occasionally it will get the perfect load and be wonderful, but not often. There is also a banging coming from what sounds like the inside of the left side of the cabinet that showed up at around the same time. The machine's jam nuts are tight, is leveled with a level and sits on a concrete floor, so it can't be anymore planted than it is.

I basically can't use it right now, it leaves the clothes pretty damp since it can't get a good fast spin from being out of balance. I don't really know why it would do this, the suspension seems pretty simple, it's like a snubber or something is bad, but they still seem to grip a bit, the tub is not super looses to the feel.

-Tim

 

[yogitunes]

Tim

I was gonna ask are all the snubbers in place....there should be 2 on each corner piece...some are hard to see.....

I am also wondering if the balance ring at the top, which has little rubber plugs, has broke open and all the stuff come out....just a thought....check he counter balance and make sure it is bolted tight too!

let me know if I can help....

 

[cfz2882]

washtub runout

if it shakes empty,seems like there is a problem with runout
of the washtub;loose bolts,broken hub,corroded hub,-time to
lift the agitator and have a look...

 

[macboy91si]

Tub Runout?

Well, the 3 center bolts are tight and the tub does not pivot or move on the hub that I can tell, not play at all in that area. I haven't pulled the machine out of the closet yet (fun!) but the banging sound is coming from within the machines left-lower side somewhere. I hope it's something simple.

Martin:
The machine has never been 100% stable when empty, it was suggested by John as well that the balance ring may be loopy. I suppose it gets contaminated? What's in there? The rubber plug has some rust around it, so I wonder if water has slowly been making it's way in...

Thanks

-Tim

 

[cfz2882]

could run the washer in spin and observe if the tub wobbles
in relation to the agitator-even if not loose it is possible
there is corrosion between the hub and the shaft causing
runout(wobble)of the hub.

 

[macboy91si]

Video

Even without the tub in the machine at all the thing vibrates... Filmed a quick video of what it's going. Also what happens when you run the washer with no inner tub so much water water for that space. Also don't do what I did...

Something inside the machine is not happy.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value=""></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

-Tim

 

[cfz2882]

weird...kinda looking like something wrong with the tranny,
but i can't think of what it might be-especially since the
tranny looks to be working ok...

 

[cfz2882]

loose tranny bolts

could check for loose bolts where the tranny mounts to the
motor frame.

 

[yogitunes]

Thanks for the video...I have never put the agitator in a machine without the tub, a unique effect...actually curious....are the bolts holding down the tranny tight?.....I thought you may have had a bend shaft, but it appears the agitator is steady except for the vibration.........

your gonna have to take the back off....I know, no fun for you, at this point I would just say tilt it towards you and lay it on its front and check for things out of place or not tight, but your best bet is to leave it upright and see whats happening when its running

you know this could also be as simple as the belt......I had this on my latest Maytag, vibration galore, motor shook like crazy, and I thought it was the motor shaft, pump, or one of the pulleys.......turned out the the NEW belt put on by the previous owner had a WIDE spot on it causing all the noise, installed another belt...all smooth and quiet....had to look close to find this spot....the owner threw this set out because he thought it was beyond repair or too costly, after the price of 2 new belts....go figure

let me know how you make out

 

[macboy91si]

Another Day

I will tackle this tomorrow I think. The belt as I recall wasn't that great, and I think I put the old damaged on back on it even. Both mine and the Spotscrubber doner had rough belts on them.

-Tim

 

[yogitunes]

I can check what I have in belts and send you one if needed....I have a spare parts machine....

 

[combo52]

OUT OF BALANCE GE FF WASHER

Tim it sounds like something is a little wrong in the suspension system thats transmitting the noise and normal vibrations to the cabinet. All kinds of things be the cause loose bolts, cracks in the cabinet or lower frame,cracks in the transmission-motor sub-frame, bad rubber snubber mounts, bad [ too stiff ]rubber transmission boot. GE FF washers in general were not always smooth running machines, the transmission it self is not balanced internally and the wash baskets do seem to vary. I would defiantly try another basket and as mentioned earlier don't overlook simple things like a bad belt.

 

[bajaespuma]

What John said

That FF suspension system is kind of complicated. With all those pulleys, weights and wires it would be my bet that something has broken, or has come loose.

View attachment bajaespuma++1-16-2011-10-02-22.jpg

 

[limitededition]

unbalanced filter flo

From my experience that doesn't seem to be an excessive amount of vibration without the tub. Check and see the top of the tub, it is filled with a black sandy material and is held in the top by a black rubber plug, if the top of the tub is rusted out this material could of leaked out over time and the tub is bad. I don't know of any way to rebalance the tub it will have to be replaced. Good luck

 

[peterh770]

I'm with Limited Edition: I didn't see a problem. My guess is the snubbers. The undercarriage that holds the transmission and has 2 clamp-like metal snubbers that hold metal plates that are on the carriage. This keeps the vibrations down. If the snubbers are worn out or if a plate has jumped out of the snubber, that would cause excessive vibration and chronic OOB.

 

[macboy91si]

My Findings:

Martin:
The belt looked like new. I may need a pump soon, it's looking pretty crusty around the top.

Ken:
Thanks for the cool illustration. Yes it is more complicated than I thought, but seems durable.

Peter:
My machine has 3 snubber plates, but they were all in great shape.

John:
I didn't have extra tubs to swap in, but I suspect this one may not be perfect.

All:
I ripped into the FF today, and I could not find anything loose underneath. Transmission bolts were nice and tight, the snubbers, while they do exhibit some wear, were in reasonable shape with good clamping force still being applied. What really threw me is that with the tub out, the machine still shook like crazy throughout the cabinet. I also realized that I should have narrowed my complaint scope to "damn that thing is loud when it spins" or something like. It wasn't so much that the machine was any more out of balance than it ever was, but it was somehow transmitting everything through the cabinet, which makes the machine walk and it's generally unpleasant.

So after removing the tub again, I realized that the vibration source was from the outer tub as both of the front bolts that secure to cabinet had worked loose. I tightened them up and then there was even more vibration. The entire outer tub was jiggling like crazy. The only point where the mechanism and the tub meet was at the boot. I took the boot off and examined it and it was VERY stiff. It's not at all flexible in the center where the raised areas are and it was hard to disfigure it by hand. The rubber has also become very tough and hard. I don't think that's what it should be like, and that stiff rubber will definitely transfer vibration to the tub and through the upper cabinet. I removed the boot and ran the machine, and man what a dream. I even loaded one side of the tub with towels and the outer cabinet held its composure. The outer tub showed no real vibration. I realize that there may be some vibration with the boot installed, but nothing like I have been experiencing. That's my logic anyhow, I'm ordering a new boot, it needs one regardless. I think this will remedy the issue though.

-Tim

 

[yogitunes]

Tim

you have me a little worried on one thing....only 3 snubbers?

theres should be a set in all 4 corners.....

 

[macboy91si]

Das SNubes

Martin:

I apparently can't type or count.

 

All present and accounted for..

 

[macboy91si]

New Boot

Well tonight my new boot from Larry @ Modern Parts arrived. What a difference in the 2. Somehow the rubber on my boot had become very stiff and brittle. It was also ultimately cracked and seeping a small amount of water out the bottom (not oil!). Here is a photo, which doesn't do any justice, the new boot was so flexible and soft it was amazing. I guess age took its toll on the old rubber, but it was stiff enough to transmit a lot of vibration through the cabinet and tub. The machine is smoother in the wash mode as well, no more rattly vibration and the spin is great as well, even off balance.

 

Larry was also great, there was a 10-day back order to get the part shipped from several online places, I think I will give Larry a call when I need another part, he was very friendly and the boot arrived only 2 days after ordering it. I'm very happy with that and talking to a real, knowledgeable human was wonderful.

 

New on the left, old on the right:

 

 

-Tim