My first major appliance repair!

[dustin92]

I guess we all have to start somewhere. I just picked up a TOL or close Kenmore Direct drive washer from one of our local Facebook for sale groups "Kenmore Washer: Doesn't work needs repair" I asked them what was wrong with it, and of course they didn't have the foggiest idea "it fills with water and drains but won't wash or spin and it's making a funny noise" Well, this sounds easy enough, sounds like a broken drive coupler. I went over yesterday afternoon to look at it, and sure enough, the coupler was broken in half. I paid the $15 we had agreed upon and the guy even loaded it in the truck and strapped it down for me! So goes the story, if I hadn't picked it up it was going for scrap tomorrow. It was far too nice for that. So today after Church, I went out in the garage and started tearing into it. (Of course I watched a couple Youtube videos last night on the subject, which made it look easy) It was actually easier that I expected, and in 10 minutes flat I had the cabinet off, pump off, and the motor laying on the garage floor. Another 30 seconds I had the broken coupler off and that was that. I did want to make sure the transmission was working properly, so I used a cordless drill to spin the shaft, and sure enough, it agitated, neutral drained, and kicked into spin! I had tested the motor last night, and it ran and sounded fine on all 3 speeds, above the racket of the coupler clicking. Ordered the coupler off of ebay today for the grand total of $3.56 and will pick up some hoses locally this week. It will need a lid switch, as it's been bypassed and removed, but I'll take it one step at a time. So far sucessful with my first "real" repair (did put a new pump in our Whirlpool Duet sport washer, but that didn't even require any tools!) And need to put new shocks on the same machine, but that will come a bit later. I have done some minor repairs on several dishwashers, but that is a bit different, and repair vacuums regularly. Just had to share my latest project, soon to be accomplishment!

 

[appnut]

Congratulations!!!

 

[washdaddy]

Congratulations on you getting the machine and completing the replacement of the drive coupler. It's surprising how much that those pieces of hard molded plastic and rubber are key to the operation of those machines. Luckily they designed it so that it is relatively simple and easy to get at the problem and take care of it. Hopefully you'll get many more years out of it.

 

[laundromat]

Awesome!!!

 

[whirlcool]

Whirlpool/Kenmore DD machines are really pretty easy to work on. It's like they were designed to be easily serviced. Congratulations on your repair. Now you know that no matter what happens you can keep your washer nearly forever and if anything breaks just buy the parts! I have also found that parts are pretty cheap for DD machines.

 

[dustin92]

I picked up a set of fill hoses and a drain hose yesterday. Now I'm just impatiently waiting for the coupler to get here, and we should be in business!

 

[DADoES]

 
Be sure when setting the new coupler that the halves are flush with the end of the drive shaft on both the motor and transmission.

 

[tennblondie78]

Congratulations!

That will just be the first of many DIY appliance repairs! You've caught the bug; it's incurable now.

 

[dustin92]

I already *had* the bug, I just hadn't ventured into mechanical repairs on a top loader. I've been repairing vacuums since I was about 10, and I'm 22 now

 

[supersurgilator]

are we gonna see pics of this machine? Congrats on the repair. My first repair was replacing the pump on one of these machines, wasn't too bad of a repair.

 

[dustin92]

Yes, I will post pics once it's back together- it is sitting in the garage with no cabinet right now, and it's pretty dirty.

 

[dustin92]

Success!!!

Back together and working perfectly- not bad for a first try! I did mess up a bit at first though- I put the coupler on the wrong end of the motor, then wondered why nothing fit...duh. Put it right and had it back together in about 20 minutes. Scrubbed on it a bit, cleaning off 15 years of goo from around the lid, cabinet, and agitator. Then, moved it in the laundry room, installed the new drain hose and filled it with hot water. Added a capful of Tide HE (all we have since we only have front loaders!), and let it agitate for a few minutes, then added about 2 cups of bleach, and let it complete the longest wash. Lots of crud floated into the water (am assuming from cold water washing, as the agitator had a gray ring and the machine flat STANK. Moldy mildewy nastyness. After that was done, I started a load with some dirty work clothes and some rags. Set it to auto temp warm/cold, large load, 2nd rinse, Heavy Duty fast/fast, 14 minute agitation. Perfect results in 45 minutes or less, vs. 85 for the Duet on Whitest Whites. Pictures to follow shortly

 

[dustin92]

[No message]

 

[washer111]

Yet another machine that proves that cold-water washing can be detrimental to odour control, and probably the machine over time. 

 

I would be very interested to see what the outer tub on that machine looked like after so many years of poor washing habits.... 

 

[washdaddy]

You certainly cannot complain about the price on that machine.  For the $15 you paid for it you have managed to pick up a very nice machine that is very close to the TOL machine.  For the price of the coupler, a lid switch, and some spit and polish so to speak, you have a machine that should last you for a while.

 

Again....CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[gusherb]

Those machines are solid

I've always had a "thing" for those direct drive Kenmores since my dad purchased the building that my mothers shop is in and one of those was left in one of the apartments. I got to use it and play around with it etc and liked everything about it except that they go off balance too easy (coming from a SQ clone Amana at the time that never once tried to walk away)
I think it's from 1996 and in 19 years (with 10 years of renters abusing it) the only thing that has ever broken down was the lid switch and I had it replaced in about 20 minutes, mind you never having worked on a DD Whirlpool/Kenmore before and never had any instructions.

Enjoy!

 

[fan-of-fans]

I think these are good machines. My parents purchased one in 1999 and it gets used a lot and has never needed any repairs that I can recall. They also have the matching dryer they got in 2004 and it too has been fairly trouble free other than the door switch not working.

What year did these consoles come out? Was it in 1996, coinciding with the new Kenmore logo? My neighbor has a Kenmore set that I suppose is from the mid 90s (white square consoles and the older logo) and they seem to be nice machines, I think she got them used.

 

[mtn1584]

Get some new end caps for the console

new end caps in white would make the washer look BRAND NEW, I hate when those white plastic pieces of an appliance start to yellow!
Best of luck, you got a great washer, pick up a fabric softener dispenser too!
Mike

 

[dustin92]

Here we are almost a week in, and it is washing beautifully, but I am getting a squeak during agitation, mostly on high speed. Doesn't seem to be affecting anything but is annoying. Also, is it ok to switch the speeds while it's running, or best to stop it before switching? Other than that, it is working great, and I haven't even bothered to level it yet.