Kenmore DD Leak/How to Fix?

[joefuss1984]

I am helping an elderly lady to repair her washing machine and she has a small leak with the location depicted in blue in this first picture. The picture is borrowed for illustration purposes. I removed the agitator and you can see the wash basket is pretty rusty and it is soft around that area. My question is, would water seepage through the wash basket at this location cause the leak we are seeing? If I replaced the wash basket, what else should I look at/what other parts should I replace during that replacement. The machine was purchased new in 1994 and aside from agitator dog ear replacements has never needed a repair. In fact, there is hardly any dust at all when you remove the cabinet. As always, any assistance is appreciated.

 

[DADoES]

 
The spin basket is not a source of leaking.  The neck of it is hollow, water goes up in there by design.

The source may be that the tub support centerpost is compromised.  Must remove the spin basket to examine it, and possibly pull the outer tub if the leaking is where the tub seal meets the support centerpost.

 

[joefuss1984]

Thanks for the reply!

So when I pull the inner tub, inspect the post (marked by the blue arrow) on this tub support for possible rusting through? The basket drive goes through this support. I marked a red arrow, is that a seal/gasket that should be inspected as well? Is the tub seal part number 8577374?

 

[DADoES]

 
The seal at the red arrow is between the centerpost and the spin tube.  That is a potential leak source.

The green arrow I added is where the outer tub seal mates to the centerpost, also a potential deterioration and leak area.

 

[repairguy]

You have a leaking tub seal. If the center post isn’t too rusty it’s usually not to difficult to replace if you are mechanically inclined.

 

[combo52]

Leaking 1994 Kenmore Direct Dr. washer

The leak is most likely as others mentioned at the rubber grommet where the plastic outer tub is sealed to the center post, if it’s leaking down the upper seal through the spin tube and around it, the washer is basically totaled unless you really want to go to the mat and spend a lot of money Fixing it.

Normally, you can just take the outer tub out and take the rubber seal out, clean it up real good and dry it and seal it with a good RTV sealant both to the tub and to the center post you really don’t even have to buy any parts to make a good repair.

You can see by the gunky buildup at the bottom of the wash basket and when you get the wash basket out, you’re gonna have a lot of gunk in the center of the outer tub, the washers been used with too cold water and two little detergent. That’s what causes this type of buildup. It stays wet all the time, and then it starts to degrade Between the rubber and the center eventually starts to leak.

If the washers in good shape, otherwise they may be able to get some more years out of it, but it is getting old. How many loads a week has this washer been called upon to do over its lifetime, that information is often helpful and trying to determine whether to continue to fix something if it’s only one or two loads you’re in better shape if it’s been 10 loads a week it’s time to start looking for another machine.

John

 

[blockeight88]

Leaking into the spin tube

“if it’s leaking down the upper seal through the spin tube and around it, the washer is basically totaled”

That’s pretty much true. This happened with my 1996 ultra fabric care and ruined the motor. It was nasty water mixed with oil that saturated it. Of course I invested in a new motor and changed the proper seals, but most people aren’t going to do all that.

 

[stan]

Heres a part

number and pic if you suspect this is the source.

 

[joefuss1984]

Thanks for the info. Will be a few days before I find out anything further. I have a spare Whirlpool DD in the garage I’m going to take over so she has a way to do laundry. I’ll take hers back to my house so I have room to take it apart in the garage and see just exactly what’s going on under the wash basket.

 

[joefuss1984]

I just got the machine over to my house and I have removed the wash basket. The tub support looks to be in great condition, no rust at all. Looking at this pic, am I seeing three seals here which are potential places to check for leak? What is the best way to check which one? Number two and three look to be in great shape. Number 1 I am not for sure, but I don’t know what exactly it should look like. I know I can put enough water in the tub to cover the bottom seal and see if the leak appears.

 

[combo52]

Leaking direct, drive washer

It’s leaking at seal number three if it’s leaking at one or two, the machine is totaled unless you want to do major ( expensive ) repairs.

The next step is to take the plastic outer tub off the center post you’ll be able to see stains from the leak from that rubber seal in the plastic outer tub, you can either replace that rubber seal or clean it up and glue it back in place with a really good sealant like a marine sealant.

John

 

[stan]

I suppose

You could fill it part way to see if the tub seal is bad first, then add more water and keep looking to see?
You’l find it!

 

[combo52]

Direct drive washer, leaking water

If you want to fill it up with water to look for a leak you can you need to bolt the agitator back in place seal areas number one and two on your picture should not be immersed in water. There’s normally an air pocket that covers this area

He would need to fill the tub all the way up with cold water. Don’t fill it with warmer hot. They tend to leak a lot more with cold water you’ll find the leak faster.

I don’t really think this procedure is necessary if you take the tub out, you’ll see the stains. Where it is leaking around the center post. There is a very small chance It’s leaking at seal areas One or two and as I said, if water is down in that area, the machine is pretty much toast.

John

 

[joefuss1984]

Progress

Had some time after work to dig into this machine further. So the rust around the bottom of the post is the evidence I think was mentioned that I would definitely find. Is there something I can paint or spread over that rust to seal it? I have the new tub seal ready, letting the machine air dry real good and giving everything a good cleaning while I am at it. Does anyone know what kind of grease was used on the eyelets that the springs hook into? I assume it was to help prevent noise/rubbing but would like it touch that up a little when I get ready to reassemble. Thanks for the the input from everyone thus far!!

 

[repairguy]

The center post looks really good for its age. I usually sand the rust and spray it with a good rustoleum spray paint. There are other ways to do this as well. I’m sure most types of grease will work for the springs.

 

[stan]

That outer tub

sure needed a scrubbing
The outer portion of the inner needs a cleaning too.
The rust doesn’t look to bad.
Looks like ur making good progress.
So nice of you to help this lady out.

 

[joefuss1984]

Stan, I ended up buying a new inner tub. The old one has quite a bit of porcelain rubbed off, more around the top part of the tub. Also, the post area of the old one is almost rusted through. It seemed that most of it was undissolved washing powders that had been caked on through the years.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>undissolved washing powders</blockquote> Mineral deposits or precipitates is more probable.

 

[combo52]

Good progress, that’s exactly what I expected to see the reason this leaked in the first place, because of her using two little detergent, and leaving all that Gunk Behind that keeps that area, damp all the time and causes the seal leak. That’s also what causes excessive rust on the wash basket.

This is all caused by using to cool water temperatures and much too Little detergent for water conditions. It is not undissolved detergent.

This leak and tub damage would never have occurred if the machine was used properly. We see a lot of direct drive machines that have been used for 25 years where Everything is in mint condition because people used enough hot water and bleach in the machine.

John