Open portable Kenmore case

[davek]

After confirming that my washer is supposed to spray rinse and looking closely while it fills, I've determined that I need to check some stuff here.

It fills slowly, part of that is probably due to a modern kitchen faucet that's stingy. When it fills, water seeps through the holes in the left-rear tub area. It's probably supposed to vigorously spray from the diagonal slot holes above there. A spray rinse would only be effective if the water actually gets to the clothes.

I know that decasing a regular Kenmore involves taking the control console off the back, then removing some brackets and tilting the case forward. The portable has the controls on the front, with no screws. The rear brackets are covered by the top and can't be removed with it in the way. I probably really only need to move the top to check this if it can be removed on its own.

Any ideas?

Watch the Imperial thread later if you're an old Speed Queen or coin-op fan. I've got some pictures to post later.

 

[norfolksouthern]

First, tape down the lid. Next, the lid is held down by a spring/latch thingie that sort of looks like one of these concrete bumps in parking lots that keep cars from rolling forward. There is one somewhere above the timer, and one on the other side. Both are in front. Anyway, take a putty knife and feel for that spring. Then, position the putty knife in the groove and gently tap. Each side should then pop up. Now, you can open the top like a car hood.

Look at the wiring. There should be one clipped plug that hooks to the timer, and also at least two hoses that hook to the tub ring. I think the fill hose hooks to the outer tub, but I don't know. Anyway, unplug the timer from the cabinet and then unplug the lid switch. You should be able to remove the top at this point. Then, there are about 6 screws at the bottom of the cabinet. Remove those, and you should be able to take the cabinet off from the base. You may not need to go that far if it's just a fill valve or something blocking the hose coming from it. Good luck!

NorfolkSouthern

 

[queeny77]

i also used to have a kenmore portable that did the same thing,you could not see any water when it was filling.

 

[davek]

Thanks. Nothing appeared kinked or clogged. I'll take the cap and hose off the water valve and switch their places and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then the valve is blocked somewhere or going bad. If not, then it's probably an issue of how it's connected rather than a "problem." I just know that every DD Kenmore or Whirlpool I've ever used before just gushed the water out when filling unless something was wrong. When I saw that the BD Whirlpool did a spray rinse, I got a little jealous. Maybe not jealous, just itchy.

 

[pulsator]

You shouldn't be able to see water gushing into the machine, it might dribble through some of the holes and one or 2 slots on top. The slots on top are angled such that during spin, they redirect the water to spray in for the spray rinse, however I don't think they do a very good job of it...

 

[alr2903]

Thanks Jamie, i always wondered what was "really goin on" with those ////////// slants in the top of the whirly portable tubs, now it makes perfect sense. arthur