Kenmore 800 motor switch needed

[classiccaprice]

Hey fellas,

Does anyone have a motor switch for a belt drive whirlpool (1968 Kenmore 800)? Part number 298699 or possibly 298309. I'm short on cash right now, so I need the best deal possible. Thanks so much![this post was last edited: 7/11/2014-21:25]

 

[classiccaprice]

Forgive the lint...

Here's the culprit of my dryer running, but not heating. I figured it out thanks to combo52 and volvoguy87. John suggested bypassing the switch's red wires (1 & 2 in the picture) and the heater coils started working. If I can't find the switch, anyone know where I can get a deal on a 279827 drive motor?[this post was last edited: 7/11/2014-21:24]

 

[akronman]

First

Try cleaning that motor and switch. I have old Whirlpools that work perfectly once I took that switch apart and sanded the contacts, re-assembled, etc. IT's just springs and contacts, nothing fierce-and it's free

 

[classiccaprice]

Thanks Mark! As good as new. I didn't realize until you said something that the switch just pried apart. That was easy! You rock!

 

[swestoyz]

Woot woot, way to go Will! 

 

[classiccaprice]

Thanks Ben!

 

[akronman]

so

Your picture showed so much(standard) lint and oil/grease buildup, I knew you couldn't really know the switch was bad until you cleaned it--

Congrats on your success

 

[classiccaprice]

Live and learn

Thanks again.

 

[combo52]

Faulty Centrifugal Switch on a KM Electric Dryer

Yay Will you got it working, and a good suggestion Mark to try disassembling and cleaning the old SW. Trying to get an orignal CS working can be worth a try, but with 25 Amps going through the contacts of these switches for the electric heaters this type of repair seldom is a long lasting one if the dryer gets much use, but I will keep my fingers crossed and hopefully it will run a long time.

I am impressed Will that you were able to get it working, it is always a great feeling to fix something without expensive parts.

 

[classiccaprice]

Thanks John!

Side note, how do the modern motors with the switch integrated compare to the vintage motors? Is it better, if things go downhill in the future to hunt for a switch or just get a new motor?

 

[combo52]

Modern Non Repairable Motors

The motor in your dryer was among the first on the non-repairable motors used in major appliances, it is non-repairable in the sense that the housing is welded together so bearing replacement, rewinding etc are not easily possible. The good thing is that the centrifugal switch became easily replaceable when they made the motor itself not repairable.

If you have the same non-heating problem again and the motor itself is still running well I would try replacing just the CS.

Note to anyone with this style GE motor, be sure to clean all lint from the openings on both ends of these motors, these openings are where the cooling air enters the motor and if they become blocked it really affects the life of the motors bearings and windings etc.