Off-balance Switch

[jmirawm]

I have a Kenmore 90 series washer. I have never had a problem with a off-balanced load. The other night there arose such a clatter I did not know what was the matter! I thought a car had drove through the house. But the noise just continued. I went into the laundry and the washer was off-balance. It was rockin and shakin ! The tub was literally moving back and forth. I fixed the load, also had to repair the water line to the fridge. Shouldn't the machine have cut itself off? I bought this set in 1990-91. I did not have it a week and the transmission had to be replaced, it was spinning and not doing a neutral drain. My mom wondered how in the world i knew that it was not operating properly. LOL ! Anyway I am wondering if, when the repairman replaced that tranny, he disconnected the off-balance switch. I would not be worrying with it, but i had an off-balance load again....came home and the washer was all corked around and the water line to fridge was leaking again....ARGGGGGGGG ! All these years and now two off-balanced loads in a matter of weeks....hmmmmm. Can anyone tell me what I am looking for if i scoot this machine out and open the back of it up ? Thanks, Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mrb627]

DD Models

I don't believe that the direct drive machines had the off balance switch. I think they were designed to never go off balance and to always complete the cycle. While very rare, off balance can happen in these machines. As you now know all too well. :-}

MRB

 

[DADoES]

There were/are some Kenmore direct-drive machines that had/have off-balance switches. I believe Appnut's LK does.

 

[jmirawm]

wondering about balance

I am wondering if maybe a spring or something to keep it from going off-balance has come loose then.

 

[westytoploader]

My Kenmore is starting to have a suspension problem as well. The tub is leaning a little to the right, and on light loads that normally won't cause a problem it rattles on spin, and on heavy loads it really gets violent. I changed the agitator out and it's been less of a problem but still annoying. Considering it's washed about 13 loads a week (with a little help on 3-4 loads from the GE Portable) for 6 years 1 month I wonder if it's getting past its prime...

It's probably going to eBay (with the DA agitator back in; keeping the Surgilator) and the "bulletproof" Maytag is going in the laundry as soon as this weekend. While the Surgilator works really well (saving it if I buy a TOL LK DD), I noticed that the Power-Fin has much faster, stronger turnover and it has an effective lint filter. The Maytag is also more entertaining on the audio side and spin-drains.

 

[appnut]

Sears discontinued using OOBs in their machines around mid-90s or so. Yes mine does have the OOB. The first year, it wasn't working at all. I had a repairman look at it and he noticed some packing material hadn't been removed that prevented the switch from eing tripped. Tom, does your user manual mention this as a feature (the OOB?)

 

[fixerman]

I think the no neutral drain is caused by a problem inside the trans. As far as off balance goes, check that the automatic adjusting leg mechanism is working properly. Sometimes they stick.