Noisy Solenoid

[washerlover]

My lovely '66 Kenmore set looks just lovely in the house (pics coming soon) but the washer's fabric softener solenoid is so noisy, it's almost as loud as the out-of-balance buzzer. Is there a way to quiet it down?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

How to silence a noisy solenoid

UNPLUG IT!!!

I think these noisy buggers and their service history is one of the reasons (as is cost) that Sears took softener, bleach, and detergent solenoids out of most all their machines but a but a very select few by 1981.

Actually, it will be interesting to know if anyone has a better solution. My treatment for this in the past has been to replace the solenoid. Fortunately I've only had to face this a couple times.

Gordon

 

[turquoisedude]

I am by no means an expert on this, but I had a really noisy NOS solenoid on the 1950 L5 Laundromat that I silenced with some silicone lubricant (an automotive type in a spray can).   I read in an on-line article that the noise, called 'chatter', can be due to the rubbing of the solenoid bar and that lubrication helps (I _know_ I am going regret saying that....).

 

[combo52]

NOISEY SOLINOIDS

You can disassemble them and clean and polish any rust away, then lubricate them. Some times this will solve the problem, the other cure is to replace them. WP sold a noise reduction kit that replaced the coil with a DC voltage one and it came with a plug on diode bridge that converted the AC voltage to DC, these kits completely eliminated the humming buzzing sound that solenoids some times make. Many of the later triple dispenser limited edition LKM washers came with these from the factory on the bleach and fabric softener coils.

 

[washerlover]

Thank you for the advice! I'll try lubrication first...that always seems to help out!