Trouble with 800 series piano key! Help

[floyde]

I have a 1970 Kenmore 800 series piano key washer. Works like a dream. Tonight while watching it fill up the hot water inlet wouldn't stop. Luckily I was watching it fill up.

I turned off the hot water and it stopped.

I am unable to fix things myself. If I turn the hot water on it fills in the washer and won't stop.

I'm in LA. If I call a repairman is that something that can be fixed on a washer 46 years old?

Cold water is fine, it's just hot water inlet. Before it had a slow hot water fill always, but now has to be turned off at the main inlet or it won't stop filling with hot water.

Many thanks!

 

[floyde]

Also

At first I couldn't turn the water valve off so I was afraid it was going to overflow, so I unplugged it and it continued to fill.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Floyde,

It sounds like your mixing valve has failed. In your case the simplest thing to do is replace it vs. trying to service the old one.

Whirlpool part number 358277 (yellow valve body) fits most all belt drives, unless your machine has a three solenoid valve. I don't think it does but Sears' website was acting up when I tried to check a basic 1970 800 series model number.

These are pretty easy to replace. The cheapest new one of these on ebay was about $11. Fortunately these are plentiful and still available from Whirlpool.

We can help you install it.

Gordon

 

[goatfarmer]

2 screws, a couple of wires, and a hose and clamp are what you need to deal with.

 

[floyde]

I think it is a 900 series

The manual has 26920 and 36920. It does have the 3 speed motor.

If I get the part if any members in LA area can install I would be happy to pay the same I would pay a service technician to handle it. I'm not handy at all.

What's the difference between the 2 models?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

26920

Floyde,

26920 translates to a 1966 model. These are cosmetic clones or very close siblings to the 1966 Lady Kenmore. They are part of a family of derivatives of the '66, and were introduced from 1968 to 1970 and later. They were a very popular and successful group of high-end Kenmores.

26920 equates to model 110.6604920. Can you confirm that your model number is similar? If so, the machine has a three solenoid non-thermostatic valve. The 358277 is not a workable replacement.

We have to find you a replacement valve before you start looking for someone to install it, OR we need to repair the existing valve.

Gordon

 

[vacerator]

second two numbers

according to my dad were the month and year. He serviced them for Sears.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Second two numbers of what?

The two numbers to the right of the decimal in the model number are the year the model originated for 1973 and older models. Only the serial number, which we have not discussed here, will indicate the year and week the machine was produced.

 

[goatfarmer]

Thanks, Gordon!

 

[floyde]

Where do I find the model number

At first I thought it was just hot, but now I have to
Have hot and cold water turned off or water comes into the machine.

Where will the model number be located on the actual machine?

So many thanks! I really appreciate all the help.

I have my Maytag 800's in the desert place,
But really love this Kenmore and want to continue using it!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Ok, now its getting interesting...

First, how old is that picture? If it was taken today, and you have the second rinse activated and the cycle is not finished, that would be why you have water coming in!

But if not a recent pic, then we REALLY need to get the model number because that appears to be a 1970 or 1971 Lady K, and if so, this becomes more interesting. Some of the 1970 Ladies show the plentiful 358277 mixing valve as an alternate to the three coil NLA one, but if this is a '71, it shows the 358277 as a common part.

So, tell me about the picture first, and if we need to, we'll look for the model number. Model numbers were in two places back in this time period. The whole model/serial tag was on the back left upper corner of the cabinet, near the discharge hose connector. Better though is a little tab on the rear lid hinge. There should be a little tab mounted with the hinge in black and aluminum color, with just the model number stamped on it. Take a looksie and report back please!

Gordon

 

[floyde]

The picture is from Tuesday .

When the problem started. But I don't understand about having the second rinse selected. Even when I had spin only water was still coming in the tub. With everything canceled and nothing selected water was coming in until I turned the hot and cold water off at the wall connection.

I will look for the
Model number on Sunday evening as I'm in the desert until then.

Many thanks!

 

[floyde]

Help Model 110.7004900

I had the water turned off as much as I could. Just came home after 5
Days away and tub was almost filled up with water .

 

[kenmoreguy64]

It seems to me...

You've got more than one thing going on Floyde... You should be able to turn the water off to the machine completely, so I'd suggest you call a plumber to have that situation looked at right away regardless of what we do with the washer. You have a flood risk if the water was all the way turned off.

Thanks for the model number, unfortunately that is the very first of the 1970 LK models, and it hadn't yet started to use the two coil very common valve, so we're stuck trying to find a very NLA 89867 three coil, non-thermostatic valve, OR your existing one needs to be cleaned and rebuilt, etc. There is either grit in both the house valve(s) and the washer valve, or something is deteriorating them to the point they are unable to stop water flow.

You need to figure out a way to get the water off, or you risk a flood because what is now a very slow drip may not stay that way. Once that is taken care of, perhaps John L or one of the other members here knows if a six-wire, three coil valve set-up can be converted into a four-wire two valve arrangement? I have never done that so I am unsure what would happen in trying to make that swap. Might need to check the search-olator to see if we've discussed that before.

Are you able to raise the top and take a picture of the valve in the left corner of the cabinet?


Get the house valves looked at Floyde!

 


Gordon

 

[floyde]

Under the lid

 

[combo52]

Flooding 1970 LKM Washer

Very cool washer, Hi Floyd, the inlet valve can be rebuilt, you could even send it to me if you like. The last time I was at Modern Parts in Ohio they still had new valves in stock for these washers.

 

Or you can substitute the two coil valve Gordon mentioned [ I did this many times in the field ] To use the two coil valve you just connect the hot valve wire to hot on the new valve and you jump the cold and warm valve wires together and connect to the cold coil on the new valve.

 

With the two coil valve installed this way in your washer when the washer calls for hot water you will still get an all hot water fill, when the washer calls for medium you will get a warm wash fill, and anytime the washer calls for warm or cold water fill you will get all cold water.

 

Actually many users found this an improvement as these machines used a lot of hot as as they were originally manufactured.

 

And do get your homes shut-off valves for the washer replaced, you should be able to easily and instantly shut off the water to your washer.

 

John L.

 

[volvoguy87]

Valves

I second the commentary regarding the shut off valves on your house! No matter what washer you have connected to them, leaking shutoff valves are a major problem, but one which is easily rectified. I am partial to 1/4 turn ball valves because they tend not to fail. Replacing those valves is a relatively simple procedure for a plumber. If you go that route, request 1/4 turn ball valves. It is also possible to rebuild the old valves for minimal expense, but you may not want to undertake that procedure. Look up some Youtube videos on rebuilding a supply valve.

Fix your shutoff valves no matter what, then fix the washing machine valve.

Clear as mud?
David

PS: In the mean time, in order to prevent a flood, you can screw a garden hose on to the leaking valve and just put the other end in a drain or outside.

 

[floyde]

Update

So I lifted up the top and cleaned the water inlet valve really well and it now does just like it did before works perfect. I'm leaving the water on and see if any drips in the tub.

I have notified the landlord that the shutoff valve would not completely shut the water off if needed.

A plumber is coming out on Thursday morning.

I have a feeling that the house is 85 years old and the corrosion has got in the hose and messed up the inlet valve.

i've bought new stainless step hoses for the plumber to connect to the washer and will have him make sure the valves are in working condition on the wall so it can be shut off.

Is all this plausible what I'm saying that by cleaning the valve it works?? But I still realize theta the shut off valves in the wall need to operate properly.

But the Kenmore is doing everything it should be doing,

BTW, is it a 900 series?

Thanks to you wonderful and helpful friends on this site.

 

[DADoES]

 
Floyde,

You said previously<blockquote>If I get the part if any members in LA area can install I would be happy to pay the same I would pay a service technician to handle it. I'm not handy at all.</blockquote> Apparently you're more handy than you believed being that you were able to dismount the water valve assembly from back of the machine, disassemble it and clean the accumulated debris from the affected parts (springs, plungers, and/or diaphragms) to get it working properly!