Westinghouse D6 “Timer Control Thermostat”

[marks]

Hi Everyone!
It has been a minute since I’ve had any issues, but here we are…
My Westy D6 keeps frying heating elements and I think it’s due to the timer control thermostat that sits on top of the drum. The start switch solenoid will engage and disengage a few times like a shot gun then I come to find the wires to the heating element and the element itself has burnt out. I cant find any reference to what the specs of the thermostat are and it looks like it’s just a bimetallic strip in a little cup, clipped to the top of the drum. Does anyone have any data on it or know how possibly to source a new one?
Thanks!
-Mark

 

[combo52]

1955 Westinghouse dryer

Hi Mark, that little thermostat you show in your picture opens the circuit to the motor and shuts the whole machine off when it reaches a certain preset temperature. This is the auto dry thermostat, you'll notice on the timer or dial the Auto setting is the longest possible time and this thermostat shuts off the machine at a certain temperature when heavy loads of cottons are thoroughly dried.

There are two temperature control thermostats on this dryer one to control approximate drum temperature and a safety thermostat down on the heater housing. They actually controlled the heat

None of these thermostats are causing the wires to burn off the heating element. That's just simply bad wiring and the element itself may be failing because the wattage is inappropriate for your current voltage. This dryer was designed for 220 V you most likely have 240 even 245 V at your home and it makes a heating element run extremely hot And will cause durability problems with the element and the wiring that supplies it if you intend to use this dryer on a regular basis, you may have to modify the heating element by using a lower wattage element by restringing it with the appropriate heating element wire.

John

 

[marks]

Thanks John,
It’s strange that I’ve used it for years without any issues and then all of a sudden, this issue started to happen. I wonder if the voltage to the house changed.
What heating element coil could I use that would be lower voltage?
Thanks!
-Mark

 

[marks]

I also meant to mention that I’ve required it long ago, so the wiring is good.
Is a step down transformer also a way to go?

 

[combo52]

There are too many variables here and I haven't seen the dryer so I'm not sure what to tell you to do. It would probably help if I could have a quick phone conversation with you or you could post pictures of the damaged wiring or heating elements that might help me Give a good guesstimate as to why this is happening.

Email me your phone number and a good time to call if you like

Combo [email protected]

 

[neptunebob]

You would think the electrical engineers at of all places, Westinghouse, would know that voltage could be high and design to tolerate it without burning up.

 

[marks]

This is the 3rd element it’s burnt.
The lower wire is always the one that heats up.
Pics are attached!

 

[qsd-dan]

I don't mean to get too basic, but is your vent 100% clean? A clogged vent is a heating element killer.

 

[marks]

Yes the vent and inside the tub are completely clean. I thought that the first time it happened and even then there wasn’t much built up.

 

[combo52]

Hi Mark, what is your voltage at your house?

That's a fairly tired looking element. Are you putting old used elements in this dryer?

The element is not really connected to the terminal properly which will cause the terminal to get very hot and lead to the wire burning. I can see that from the picture.

As I mentioned before a lot of old 50s electric dryers have problems with elements and wiring because of the increased voltage most homes have now, I would re-string the element with one that is a couple thousand watts less if you want to use this dryer much, these old Westinghouse dryer are like several other brands tended to run very hot in the element area These dryers were not really designed to have much of vent system,on them even if your vent is completely clear. It really can't have more than a couple feet of vent pipe on it with the original element.

John

 

[marks]

Hi John,
It vents right out the back about a foot. That was a brand new element when I installed it a few weeks ago. How should it be properly connected to the terminal? Post anpic if you have one. Also what is a good lower wattage element I can use in it?
I have to test the incoming voltage to be 100% sure.
It’s odd that I used this dryer for years and years as a daily and never had an issue up until recently.
Thanks!
-Mark

 

[combo52]

Element for 1955 Westinghouse dryer

Hi Mark, are you replacing just the element or are you finding the whole assemblies, is it a genuine Westinghouse part

Heating elements are usually highly reliable, but there's a lot of variables and just the slightest thing will cause this type of problem if something's not right a connection or the element itself may not be that good that you're getting.

Again, without seeing the thing in person or talking to the person working on it, it's going to be very hard to figure out what's going wrong here, this could go on for weeks.

John

 

[marks]

Hi John, the element was a Westinghouse NOS stock replacement. I’ll shoot you an email and we can find some time to talk.
Thanks!
-Mark