Norge (Montgomery Ward) top loader motor attachment burnout

[larrymoencurly]

My parents once owned a mid-1970s or early 1980s Montgomery Ward top loader made by Norge that had an electrical device attached to the motor that was replaced several times in the first year. I believe that attachment contained contacts that were turned on and off by the motor. What was this device, and why was it so troublesome?

My parents returned that Norge washer for a refund and bought a Whirlpool wig-wag belt drive that ran until 2005.

 

[rp2813]

Your parents made the proper amends for their poor original sin. 

 

I was raised with Norge and Signature (Wards) machines, and as a result I'm scarred for life.  As is the square of ceramic tile that was directly below one of the machines' drive pulley.

 

Don't lose sleep over the part that needed to be replaced multiple times.  It's was par for the course with Snorges to have things break -- and in short order.  How many repairs did the Whirlpool need over the 20+ year period they had it?  I'm betting it was a whole lot less than several, if any.

 

[combo52]

Motor centrifugal switch

Sounds like the part you are describing, in this time period Norge used either a GE or Emerson motor in their washers. These were very good motors and a bad MCS is a rare failure on any washer, however if it fails more than once often the real problem in in the motor and probably they should have replaced the entire motor.

Usually on Norge washers the motor would outlast several machines as Norge was not one of the durable washers, although given the choice of a Norge or a Maytag washer I would take the Norge any day as at least you would have clean clothes that were not prematurely worn out.

In any event your parents made about the best choice at the time buying a WP Belt Drive Washer.

 

[norgeway]

NORGE!

Best washer ever built!!!!!!

 

[rp2813]

As opposed to best built washer ever.

 

Sorry Hans, I couldn't resist that set-up.

 

[washerlover]

Now Ralph, let's not be so hard on Norge/Wards products. That scar on your floor means that the machine was actually doing something! Those machines were tanks and no clothes ever went unwashed in a Norge!

 

[norgeway]

Oh I agree

Maytags lasted longer with fewer repairs....because they did about half what a Norge would...!