Well I'll Be.......

[vintagekenmore]

After four years of reliable service my Kenmore 90 series decides to bite the dust tonight with a full load of clothes and a tub full of water....it started agitating just fine and all of a sudden made a loud CLUNK...stopped agitating and now just makes a noise like gears grinding on gears...it is one of the Direct Drive machines....it wont spin either....I did get the water drained out of the tub so now Im in the market for another washer...I shouldnt complain,I only paid 200 for the set used when I bought them. But of course it goes out AFTER I pay bills and in between pay days.....GRRRR. Serial number is 110.22912101. Probably not worth repairing either....oh well

 

[toploader55]

Oh Boy...

Sorry to hear that.

Now you can find a Nice Belt Drive : )

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Probably not worth repairing either....oh well</blockquote> The problem could be simple as replacing the motor drive coupler.  ~$20 part and 30 mins.

 

[washdaddy]

I agree with DADoEs

I'd take the time and check the coupler to make sure it isn't the cause of your problem.

It's easy enough to check and doesn't take a lot of time.

If it is the problem and you replace the coupler which isn't expensive the machine could last you quite a few more years.

 

[washdaddy]

I agree with DADoEs

I'd take the time and check the coupler to make sure it isn't the cause of your problem.

It's easy enough to check and doesn't take a lot of time.

If it is the problem and you replace the coupler which isn't expensive the machine could last you quite a few more years.

 

[washdaddy]

Sorry for the double post everybody! I goofed and can't delete the second one.

 

[brucelucenta]

The direct drive machines are pretty durable and what you have described sounds like it is only the coupler between the motor and the transmission. It certainly would be worth checking out, it is fairly simple to replace and could give you many more years of service. You certainly won't find another machine like that when you go to buy a new one.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

The one repair our M-M 90 needed:

There was a small shaft in our Kenmore 90-series washer that was the one repair it needed, so far, and the repairman went as far ahead to show me how to open the cabinet and to use a small, narrow dowel to remove the old part, and install the new one...

He, of course made it known to how easy these Whirlpool and Kenmores are to fix and that there are plenty of parts available to this day!

When the in-laws moved away earlier this year they tried to foist their fairly-low line Speed Queen washer and dryer set on us... I'll leave it at that...

-- Dave

 

[vintagekenmore]

Well I had the machine checked out, and when they took the front off of it, I had a nice little puddle of oil up under the machine. So my next question, do I fork out the dough to have it fixed, or should I find myself a good ole belt drive? I honestly cannot complain about the service the machine gave me, the only little hiccup it ever had is that sometimes when it went into neutral drain, it would kick into spin as well. And when it finished the drain portion, it would do its brief pause and kick into the normal spin cycle

 

[volvoguy87]

Whirlpool DD repair.

Whirlpool DD machines are pieces of cake to repair and usually worth it too. You can swap out a drive coupler and transmission in no time. Putting on a new clutch at the time is a piece of cake as well. I'd say to pony up the money for the parts and fix it. There are lots of YouTube videos which show how to do these repairs.

Dave

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Whirlpool direct-drive machines catch a lot of hell on the forum, but they are usually a piece of cake to repair.

 

[norgeway]

I personally

Would not trade a belt drive for a hundred direct drives!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Direct-Drive Heaven: The NEW Industry Standard!

As I've said, gimme "ordinary since the time appliances were painted White", "Everyday Almond", "Dull Beige", "OK in Black" or "Boring Biscuit"...

 

I did NOT want to get my in-law's Speed Queens from the same vintage era foisted on me, and without the fewer featured that MINE have, let alone the fact, that those machines would'a been well-worn out--and we would'a had'a re-do the DC outlet because the dryer is ELECTRIC!--before we'd gotten any kind'a good use outta'em and it would be just plain too late to retrieve our GREAT Kenmore (even if they are just Ken-More) machines (yes, see my post in the "How Many Loads Per Week" thread) someone else could have the life-long privilege of owning...!

 

 

-- Dave

 

[pumper]

A new transmission runs upwards of $200+.

 

[stan]

For $20.00

You could fix the coupler and run it til it quits. Or fix both.
If you crack the trany open to replace the neutral drain pac (another inexpensive part) your going to be resealing (stoping the oil leak)
Machine will probably run for years.
A Freind of mine has a 1994 Kenmore, she bought used. I've replaced the tub seal, pump, agitator dogs, lid switch, coupler..I look for her old machine to outlast another freinds new front loader!