Kenmore washer lid leaning far back

[maytaga806]

Hi everyone. I’m having an annoying problem with the lid on this machine, it’s leaning very far back. It’s supposed to stand almost straight up when its open but this one just leans back. This is not the first time I’ve had an older Whirlpool machine that has done this. My last one was like this too, and the lid would rest on the timer knob while the lid was open.

Due to where my washer must sit in my new home it creates an inconvenience because of the doorway going into the kitchen next to the washer and if the lid is left open it’s in the way of the kitchens entrance and I leave my lid open as much as possible to keep the tub dry after uses, and it makes it easy to smash right into it when it’s darker in the house at night. Is there any way to repair this? I’m unfamiliar with the hinges underneath the cabinet to support the lid, I wonder if it just needs to be tightened or something? I’ve searched all over the internet and cannot find anyone else reporting this issue and asking how to fix so I decided I’d throw it out there.

 

[DADoES]

 
There's normally a rubber bumper on one of the hinge arms beneath the top.

 

[combo52]

Proper lid angle on Kenmore top load washers

You are correct and the lid hinges on your washer are bent from it being forced open too far.

This is a simple problem to correct nearly every Kenmore belt drive machine we ever rebuilt we had to straighten the Hinges a little.

Remove the cabinet on a direct drive machine make sure all four screws are tight in the hinges, then close the lid and from the underside straighten the hinge arms a little bit till you get the hinge jangle where you want it., As Glenn mentioned there may also be a rubber bumper missing on the hinge arm Which you can replace if you want, but it’s not that important. This is an important adjustment because otherwise the lid leans against the enamel on the top of the machine and damages it overtime.

It’s not necessary to leave the lid open on the top load washer like this because the top is not sealed. It will dry out just fine, and if you’re having odors, you should stop washing cold water, lol It’s not from leaving the lid closed.

John

 

[maytaga806]

Thank you guys!! I’ll take a look soon. I do not use cold every cycle I only use cold for my regular casuals that require that temperature to maintain the colors, I use warm or hot very often and try to use warm rinses as often as possible as I’m really conscious about keeping the inner tub as clean as can be, but it’s very difficult to achieve a warm rinse with the ATC on this washer because it lets in more cold than warm during the rinse cycle and it’s pretty cold once it’s filled up, and not very warm at all and I’m not sure if that’s the way it should be or if something’s wrong as I’ve never owned one with ATC before, maybe you would know John?

I’ll always leave it open after cycles. It dries out much faster with it open for a little bit and I don’t wanna chance any mildew buildup. I probably don’t need to with how often I clean the machine but it’s been wired into my brain to leave it open my whole life from my grandmother.

 

[ryner1988]

On my TL, I just leave the lid open long enough for my last dryer load of the day to finish, that's roughly an hour. By that time the washer interior feels dry enough to close the lid, so I do. Likely you could do the same on your DD Kenmore.

Ryne

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I miss my 'not entirely laying on its left' left-opening lid on my Kenmore that I parted with...

 

Thing is when it sat around unused with its lid shut for a short time I thought it gained a rather stale odor, making me want to leave the lid open until its smell went away a few short days later...

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

 

 

[maytaga806]

If the inner tub is mildly to severely dirty than yes that’s why the stale stank odor comes back while leaving the lid shut. That as well as mildew growing from it being too moist on the plastic inner.

Yeah I leave mine open for an hour or two and close it. But most the time I leave it open for days, it’s not gonna hurt anything other than me smashing into it in the middle of the night when I walk into the kitchen. Lol.

 

[combo52]

Mold and mildew in washers, etc.

You should have no mold or mildew in your clean clothing at the end of a cycle, I commented before that I left a load of sheets for three weeks in my Speed Queen front load washer with the door closed when I was in Australia, when I came home I opened the door, they smelled perfectly fresh. Put them in the dryer and put them back on the bed. In 19 years of owning my Speed Queen front load washer, I have never run any type of cleaning cycle never even wiped off the door boot. It’s never been necessary, I Can still stick my head in in the machines smells like a brand new washer.

On a Properly used washer it should never be necessary to do any type of cleaning if you’re leaving dirt behind when you’re washing clothing, you’re not taking clean clothing out of the washer. You need to adjust your habits accordingly. John