Hotpoint WM12 Motor Fault?!

[washboy2005]

Hey, just recently got my hands on a Hotpoint WM12 in Polar. Got it home and all cleaned it up. It needs the bearings replacing which I am aware of. However the motor will not run. Ive replaced the brushes (yes they are inserted correctly). However it still refuses to move.

It fills, drains and the timer advances, but the motor won't do anything. Ive checked the armature and it is still smooth and makes decent contact with the brushes.

If anyone could indicate anywhere else I can look to repair it, that would be a great help!

Thank you

 

[fido]

There is a thing called a TOC (thermal overload cut-out) in the motor and they sometimes fail. If you have a multimeter you can check the motor using a low ohms range. You disconnect the wires to the brushes then touch one meter probe to a brush wire and the other to a terminal in the motor terminal block / socket (also unplugged from the wiring harness). Repeat this for every terminal in the block until you find the terminal for that brush. Repeat this check for the other brush and if you can trace terminals for both brushes in the block you know the TOC is OK. If you can only trace the terminal for one brush you know the TOC is faulty. If it is the TOC you might be able to scrounge one off another forum member as I don't think they are available as a new spare part.

 

[aquarius8000]

Hiya Dan. I would suggest before buying a new motor that all the connectors are fully connected to where ever they need to go. Most should be spade clips but some aren't. If none of the connectors are at fault then there could be a problem with the armature but I am no expert with motors . I would just replace the motor in a situation like this. I have found you a motor that should fit your machine, I will get a pic of my WM12 motor up here when I can find it, However it is not the cheapest motor ever but it is the one and only I can find, Yes it is not an FHP motor so dont worry It is in the link I have attached.

Christopher

Pardon our interruption...

 

[hoover1100]

Thermal Overload

I was thinking it could possibly have to do with that. All the older Hotpoint machines we have had have all had issues with the TOC, although not to this extreme.

On ours the machines stop dead on a 95 (and sometimes 60c) on the first spin because of the motor overheating. The timer runs and it fills and drains but no motor action for a good half hour or so before it cools down.

I can only imagine having the motor above the tub (where heat rises) makes the motor get hotter on the hot washes than machines with the motor underneath the tub, as I've never seen this happen on any other type of machine.

If the TOC has gone completely and that part is obsolete then I guess it will have to be new motor time if a replacement can't be sourced unfortunately.

Bet you're dying to get it up and running again, as much as the vintage fanatic in me hates me for saying this I actually think this range of Hotpoint's were a lot better than the earlier 95 series in terms of programming and external build quality!

it looks immaculate in the pic Marc sent me!

 

[washboy2005]

After much perseverance with it and jiggling of cables and brushes it's come back to life. I've only had time to run it on a spin cycle so far. Struggled a little to 800 but I presume that's the brushes bedding in properly. Needs the bearings doing now but not sure I'm confident enough to do them myself!

Thank you everyone for your help, I'm on my phone at the moment so I can't upload a pic but will get one on as soon as possible. It's polished up really well!

 

[fido]

Perhaps one of the wires in the motor wiring harness has an internal break. When you see how much the motor shakes from side to side on a spin I'm surprised there are not more fatigue failures of the motor wires. A lot of the wiring plugs on Hotpoints just have the wires poked in, similar to how you wire up some telephone sockets. This is not as secure an arrangement as the normal crimped connections.

 

[washboy2005]

As promised... Pictures!

 

[washboy2005]

Minging door seal!

 

[washboy2005]

During its first test cycle!

 

[washboy2005]

Its first proper wash cycle performed flawlessy last night!

 

[washboy2005]

Apologies for the huuuuuuge pics, as I dont know how to resize them, Hope you enjoy them though!

Dan