HE3t teardown...My misery-Your entertainment

[partscounterman]

On a recent thread about the quality of modern appliances, Launderess and others bemoaned the fact that they don't make 'em like they used to. I didn't add anything to that thread as I like to have more to say than just "Amen".

So here is my example of modern junk. When we moved here, Dennis gave me permission to get the most "bling-bling" washer available at the time, saying something about "Malama aina" which means care for the land. So I got the super stingy HE3t from Sears Kenmore.

Over the course of the last year, I've noticed that it makes a strange knocking sound at the lower spin speeds, the sound goes away at the higher speeds. I chose to ignore the sound. The other day I was looking at things more closely, I noticed that there was play in the tub; by jiggling the tub back and forth, you could recreate this knocking noise I kept on hearing. It felt to me like the tub had come loose from the spider that holds it to the shaft. The only way I could prove this is by tearing the thing down.

Now let me just say that it galls me slightly to even have to consider this procedure on a machine that is not even three and a half years old. It is just Dennis and I so its not like its doing laundry for one of the huge Catholic families that Maytag used to feature in their ads....

So I tore the f#*&ing thing down today, which is not how I wanted to spend my sunday, but I took pictures so my friends here could enjoy.

I started by removing the top.

 

[partscounterman]

Back panel removed

 

[partscounterman]

Front access panel and pump guard

 

[partscounterman]

Main front off

 

[partscounterman]

almost there

 

[partscounterman]

So I get it all apart, and it is not glaringly obvious to me what the problem is. The tub is securely attached to the shaft and spider. There is some rust on the surface of the bearings, but they feel smooth when I turn them and I don't feel any play there.

There is a spot on the shaft that looks a bit worn- I cannot tell if that is the problem or not.

 

[hotpointwf220]

is that like the whirlpool duet aka dreamspace in uk, If it is I'm glad I didn't get one. cheers for the pics.

 

[partscounterman]

The bearing-There is some rust here which leads me to believe that the seal has failed

 

[partscounterman]

Yes Richard this is the same as the Duet and the Dreamspace. Other than this (major problem) it has been a good machine and I would be spoiled to go back to a machine that spins at a pathetic 600 rpm.

I need to get on the phone with Sears as the main tub has a twenty year warranty (which includes the spider and shaft) and the rear tub shell has a ten year warranty (and the rear tub includes the bearing). I would really like them to send me both pieces. If I had to buy these out of pocket the tub is $510 and the rear tub shell with bearing is $330. Don't know if I have the emotional energy to deal with Sears today. In the meantime here is the obligatory cat picture featuring Bruno

 

[partscounterman]

One more picure of pump guard schmutz

 

[appnut]

How depressing!!!

 

[partscounterman]

I knew this wouldn't be easy....

So I decide I am not putting this back together with only one new part-I really want a NEW bearing as well as a basket. So I call Sears hellish 1-800-Fuk-my-Home. I tell the little bimbo there that I need these new parts and that my owners manual states that these parts are under warranty. She tells me that this is not Sears warranty, but Kenmore's warranty. WHATS THE BLEEPING DIFFERENCE! So I call the special Kenmore number. I tell the guy whats up. What does the dumbshit do? He transfers me back to the Sears parts number where they tell me that they cannot help me and that I must call Kenmore again. I cannot believe that Sears hates it's customers so much! So I dial the fricken Kenmore # again. This time I am told that they will cover those parts under warranty provided that I pay a Sears service tech to come take a look. So now I have to pay a service tech even though I am a service tech! So now I have to sit here with my washer in a million pieces until May 1. So Sears warranty isn't worth the paper it is printed on.

I am tempted just to put the machine back together, cancel the service call and just run the damned thing til it blows up.

I may go down to the local Sears store and make a little scene...

What do you guys and gals think?

 

[westytoploader]

Junk it and get a Maytag.

 

[appnut]

Even more depressing!! Maybe a shredmore isn't so bad after all.

 

[bleacho]

junk it, and get a frigidaire

forget about sears, or Kenmore warranties.. the company has gone down the drain.. had an elite dishwasher that i paid 1200 bucks for.. simply not washing well.. because its been two months, im out of the 30 day unconditional warranty.. so i know wht youre going thru..
tech coming tomorrow. why? no clus the thing is a piece of junk.. tossing it away, or thru a Sears window. they can have it.. im dont with that company...
not a sears but a Kenmore warranty.. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!
buy your next thru someone local.. small business..at least they look at you in the eyes..

 

[peteski50]

Small Business!

I bought my LG combo through a small business and I got screwed with the warrenty. I was so surprised but they don't even want to know me now. Now I want to get rid of the machine and the next time I will go through a bigger business. You take a chance with whatever you do.
Peter

 

[decodriveboy]

Hmm

Everyone loves a Frigidaire FL, seems like.

I already love mine (it came with the house I just bought) mainly because I was able to very easily "modify" the water level....hehehehe. No stingy-ness tolerated here!

 

[soapnsuds]

F@#$ Sears

Go with an LG. Got mine through Best Buy and love them. Also had a Frigidaire FL for several years and had no problems. Only got rid of them because the LG's came out.
I gave up on Sears and Kenmore YEARS ago with their lack of customer service and crap appliances. And you don't even want to go down the WhirlyTag, MayPool or whatever they are calling Maytag these days...I'm sure I'll hear it from everyone, but appliances are just like cars, if you want a good one, you certainly don't buy an american made or american engineered one!!
Thanks for the fun and cool picks!!--James

 

[westyslantfront]

May I suggest a top loading, direct drive Whirltag??

Ross

 

[gansky1]

I have a client with the exact same problem in his Duet washer. I looked at it, but everthing appears to be fine. Put it back together and tighten the drive pulley nut very securely. It should stop the noise during lower spin speeds.

 

[peteski50]

F@#$ Sears

From my experiences I would stay away from LG. If they are working they are great. But if you need it serviced you are screwed. I am currently looking to sell my LG combo at this time. At least with Americam appliances you get better service and get a better warrenty.
Peter

 

[pulsator]

My dad's Duet is getting to the point where it will only tumble in one direction! It'll go closkwise, stop, start going the other way about a quarter turn then reverse to clockwise again! Kinda annoying, it also has a bad habit of filling for a only a few seconds for the final rinse, I've started using the soak to wash. then the drain and spin cycle, the another soak with downy, then a drain and spin, seems to work, but it is ANNOYING!!

 

[alr2903]

Is that "Outer drum shell" plastic or some kind of die cast metal? Thanks

 

[pulsator]

The outer drum is plastic.

 

[maytagbear]

Well,

Bruno looks puurrrfect in the drum!

Do you still have the Calypso to play with?

Good luck, David.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[panthera]

Gosh,

I think your pictures are much prettier than the disassembly film on this machine.
And Bruno, too!
Every brand has its down sides, but three years? Those bearing seals shouldn't be letting any water in at all the first ten, minimum.
I've had very good luck with Miele and LG, but am over here in Europe - American LG must be staffed by in-duh-vi-duals who couldn't get hired by Sears, er, Kenmore, er, Target.
If the water consumption in a vintage machine is too high, I guess you really should go with a Miele. Never mind all the bling-bling - get the simplest one you can. They are all built to the same high standards.
Good luck and keep us informed.
We've got our fingers crossed for you.

 

[DADoES]

Try a Staber.

http://www.staber.com

 

[launderess]

Dunno how frugal with water vintage Miele's are; my W1070 is quite lavish with water for both wash and certianly those deep rinses. Then again wouldn't have it any other way.

Am gob-smacked on how much plastic is in that machine. Hardly seems worth all the money they cost, IMHO.

L.

 

[veg-o-matic]

I say keep calling Sears/Kenmore service and complaining until they give you what you want just to make you go away. Sometimes it takes a while, but the water-on-stone method really seems to work.

Then, when you get your parts and they're all installed, I suggest you go down to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Sears and throw a high-frequency screaming fit. If you can manage to bitch-slap a salesman or two, even better.

Trust me, honey, you'll feel better!

veg

 

[foraloysius]

Hmmm, I told y'all before that these machines are made by Bauknecht and that Bauknecht is the least reliable German brand according to the Dutch consumer organisation. In about ten years we will see heaps of these machines in landfills. Trust me.