Venting about the 57 GE DA820 automatic dryer

[turquoisedude]

I decided to start yet another thread in my 'dryer hell' series.... The 57 GE is giving me attitude and I am stumped.

 

The trouble first showed its ugly head last week. After finally seeming to have resolved the slipping blower issue, I noticed that the dryer would not heat on the automatic drying cycle. It heated fine on the timed 'damp dry' cycle.

 

I have a schematic and it was obvious, even for me, that the automatic dry cycle circuits are different from the timed dry cycle.   

 

My first guess was that I had not reconnected something somewhere, but this was not the case. I tested the circuit continuity from the timer to the control thermostat to the heaters - it all checked out.

 

Hence why I am stumped... it looks like it should work but it doesn't.   

 

Could the compensating resistor be the problem? Or is the operating thermostat perhaps misbehaving??

 

And while I am it, would anyone happen to know the part numbers for the timer, thermostat, and resistor, just in case??

 

[combo52]

If it heats on timed dry and not on auto dry the problem is the timer Period.

 

John L.

 

[turquoisedude]

That was what I thought....

However, per the schematic, switches A and B make contact to complete the circuit to the heaters on the automatic cycle AND on the timed cycle - hence why I am stumped. My very simple continuity test seemed to show that the switches made contact when the timer dial was set to automatic or timed dry. Are the contacts within the timer shot?? After my recent misadventure with the '56 Whirlpool dryer timer, I'm reluctant to try 'fixing' this!

Got a spare WE4X79 Timer kicking around?? LOL

 

[combo52]

The cheap fiber board cam is worn in the timer, it would be interesting to try building it back up with epoxy and then grinding it smooth again.

 

John L.

 

[swestoyz]

Paul - I dug through my parts stash as I thought I had a 57/58 dryer timer from the Osage haul, but alas its for a 57/58 620 (timed and fluff only).

If the '57 timer in question is like most dryer timers from this era, you should be able to physically watch the contacts and the cam through the whole auto portion of the cycle. I'd put your meter on beep/continuity and run it manually through the auto portion to see if you are getting full continuity during the whole auto cycle (removed from the dryer, of course).

The compensating resistor (4000 ohm) is used to drop the voltage across the heaters (9.6 ohm) down to 3 volts, when the temperature in the drum has tripped the thermostat. The heat from the resistor is used to heat the thermostat while the drum temp drops AND the timer motor runs. Once the temp in the drum has dropped enough to overcome the heat from the resistor the thermostat will trip back on, stopping the timer motor and restoring full voltage to the heaters.

If you are getting heat for the timed cycle - John's suggestions are probably spot on, but I'd still check to make sure the thermostat/resistor combo are working correctly after you check the full cycle of the auto cycle of the timer.

Ben[this post was last edited: 9/24/2019-09:23]

 

[turquoisedude]

Giving up... for now.

I did a little bit of tinkering with the 57 GE dryer on the weekend. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of taking the timer apart (in light of how nicely I messed up the '56 Whirlpool dryer timer). I did try cleaning the contacts, just for the thrills of it, but that didn't change anything. I did notice that if I fiddled with the timer knob while set to the automatic dry cycle, I very fleetingly got the heaters to connect. So until I can find a replacement timer or reach Sonny Service by Ouija Board, I'll bundle the GE back into the garage.

Torn now as to whether I should slot the '66 Inglis dryer back in, or give the space to the hopefully-repaired Unimatic. I'll have the '59 and '57 Frigidaires as stand-alone dryers, plus the 2 combos, so I think I'll manage through the winter. Oh, what decisions!

 

[turquoisedude]

So....

When we last peeked into the Dryer Hell of Ogden, the search for a new timer for the '57 GE DA820 was underway. No stones were left unturned, no parts website unsearched, no appliance store unqueried. Still, there was no joy to be had.

Then it appeared... I found a website of a company specializing in...wait for it...electromechanical timer repairs. I figured I had nothing to lose so I sent in a request. My question was - can you fix it? Their answer - yes.

In less than 10 days, the timer was extracted and mailed out, then rebuilt and returned!

 

[turquoisedude]

I don't have better video proof, but believe me, the dryer is now heating on the automatic dry cycle. I had to be sure, so after the initial test run with no laundry, I ran 2 cycles and it did just fine!

Now, guess what's going to happen to that timer from the '56 Whirlpool??

Most importantly, the company who rebuilt the GE timer for me is Turner's Timer Repair of Scarborough, Ontario. Link to their website below.

So, despite the tough go, 2 of the 3 dryers that rebelled on me this year are now back up and running!

Turners Timer Repair - Appliance Timer Repair Experts

Appliance Timer Repair Experts include some with over 29 years of experience. Our success is contributed to our Manufacturing Services, Reverse Logistics

www.turnerstimerrepair.com

 

[repairguy]

That’s great news!

 

[rp2813]

I guess if you're going to vent about something

. . . it makes perfect sense for it to be about a dryer.

 

[swestoyz]

Paul, this is great news! Does it appear that they fashioned up a new cam? Those contacts sure look shiny and new, too!

Ben

 

[turquoisedude]

Ben, I can't tell if they managed to rebuild the cam, but they did say something about a spring needing to be replaced. The contacts are beautiful, aren't they??

As I say, the timer from the 56 Whirlpool dryer will be their next 'patient'!

 

[pulltostart]

Congratulations Paul!  So glad to see the '57 reassembled in it's full beauty.

 

lawrence