Oh cool!! Congratulations on getting this working again!!
Westinghouse Laundromat L-4 48
- Thread starter kristid
- Start date
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Kristi,
Yay it's working again! Congrats!
I sent an e-mail to the one you listed in your profile, did you receive it?
Thanks!
Kevin
Yay it's working again! Congrats!
I sent an e-mail to the one you listed in your profile, did you receive it?
Thanks!
Kevin
Bad News - another problem
So I started a washing cycle today. It filled with water but wouldn't start to spin. It hums the whole time and when I tried to spin the tub manually, the humming increased but then a small amount of smoke appeared out of the right side of the machine so I turned it off. There was a peculiar smell, but it didn't really smell like something was burning so much. This machine has not been used for a really long time. Can anyone give me some direction? Thanks
BTW, Kevin, I didn't see your email....
So I started a washing cycle today. It filled with water but wouldn't start to spin. It hums the whole time and when I tried to spin the tub manually, the humming increased but then a small amount of smoke appeared out of the right side of the machine so I turned it off. There was a peculiar smell, but it didn't really smell like something was burning so much. This machine has not been used for a really long time. Can anyone give me some direction? Thanks
BTW, Kevin, I didn't see your email....
arbilab
Well-known member
So the motor doesn't run at all? Only hums? This model had no capacitor so you can eliminate that.
It doesn't take much friction to prevent a 1/4HP motor from starting. A vicegrip pliers and your hand can do it. I've done it.
I'd say, put a good grade of electric motor oil (NOT "3 in One") in the oil holes (I think these motors had them) and let it soak in for 24 hours. Then see if you can free the shaft with vicegrip pliers.
It's also possible the start switch is open and the motor is free to turn. But without the start winding it will only growl. To an extent, that switch is accessible for maintenance by taking the motor apart. Not as big a chore as it sounds.
If that motor cannot be made to run, it is a very common/standard size and should be readily replaceable.
It doesn't take much friction to prevent a 1/4HP motor from starting. A vicegrip pliers and your hand can do it. I've done it.
I'd say, put a good grade of electric motor oil (NOT "3 in One") in the oil holes (I think these motors had them) and let it soak in for 24 hours. Then see if you can free the shaft with vicegrip pliers.
It's also possible the start switch is open and the motor is free to turn. But without the start winding it will only growl. To an extent, that switch is accessible for maintenance by taking the motor apart. Not as big a chore as it sounds.
If that motor cannot be made to run, it is a very common/standard size and should be readily replaceable.
If you heard the loud snap of the spin solenoid first, then you can probably eliminate that as the culprit. If you didn't hear it -- and you for sure would not have missed it -- then the solenoid could be bad, or stuck, which probably equals bad.
It filled with water but wouldn't start to spin.
When you say doesn't spin, do you mean the wash drum doesn't turn at all or only turns at low speed for wash and doesn't spin at high speed?
I suspect you mean it doesn't turn at all. You need to pull the machine out and remove the back and see if the belt is slipping or if the motor isn't turning at all. If the motor doesn't turn at all but the transmission pulley itself turns easily, as stated above the motor start switch probably is stuck and needs cleaning and lubrication.
When you say doesn't spin, do you mean the wash drum doesn't turn at all or only turns at low speed for wash and doesn't spin at high speed?
I suspect you mean it doesn't turn at all. You need to pull the machine out and remove the back and see if the belt is slipping or if the motor isn't turning at all. If the motor doesn't turn at all but the transmission pulley itself turns easily, as stated above the motor start switch probably is stuck and needs cleaning and lubrication.
