westy stat question

[christfr]

hey all I have never messed with any dryer stat but I guess its time. my baby westy spacemate dryer seems to me to run way to hot so what I would like to ask is how do you test the cycle stat and high limit stat so see if they are good or not? or would it just be easier and safer to find replacements?

 

[christfr]

the reason im thinking I have a problem is that the way this dryer is made the fan blows through the coils and into a flat type duct then into the drum. the flat duct is right behind the front cabinet skin with about a 1/4 inch space between the duct and the outer cabinet. when shes running and heated up the cabinet get so hot you cant touch it. that cant be right. so im on the search for both stats. any ideas

 

[turquoisedude]

Chris, I tested my GE Combo thermostat by putting the temperature probe on the barbecue and using a voltmeter to check when the switch was kicked off by the thermal element... Not pretty but it worked!

 

I'd suggest using a heat gun to see if the switch kicks off when the high limit is reached with a thermostat like this though.   Westinghouse dryers do like to run hot though...  The '53 has a safety thermostat at the drum exhaust port and that will kick off if you run the dryer with no clothes load for 10 or 15 minutes.

 

[christfr]

ha ha what im afraid of is either burning my hands or burning the paint on the cabinet I mean it gets that hot. now on the label that's still on the back of the dryer it does show how to wire it down to a 110 instead or either to 220 that is what its set to right now. not that its ever gonna get all that much use I just don't like fire

 

[tomturbomatic]

There should be a stamped number for the temp at which the thermostat will open. If you have an electric skillet, you can set it to maybe 25 or 50F higher than the setting on the thermostat and heat it disc side down then check with an ohm meter to see if it ever opens. Maybe the front of the dryer gets hot because a piece of insulation has fallen out of place that should be between the duct and the cabinet.

"Today on the mad chef, we are using our electric skillet to prepare a delightful toasted fusion of operating and hi-limit thermostats. Join us as we listen for the pops and snaps that signal their doneness."

 

[alr2903]

Checking out the thermostat is a good idea for safety and peace of mind.  My parents had spacemates the Laundromat gave out in the late 60's. They bought a topload Maytag.  The spacemate drier soldiered on until  the Mid 1970's.  I still remember it being wicked hot.  The  dryer had the heavy concave glass exactly like the washer.  

 

[christfr]

hum don't have an ohm meter but will take it to work and see who has one. westy is the hottest machine I have ever had the dryer that is the match to the L5 washer dosent even have a timer it runs on temp alone and that thing is like a blast furnace

 

[tomturbomatic]

Westinghouse was not alone with those early thermal auto dry controls. I guess you are talking about the one with the dial marked 1 to 9 with the perforated white cylinder. Blackstone had a similar system, also.

Westinghouse had auto dry dryers, generally the glass in the door machines, that ran until the machine reached 250F and then just stopped with no cool down leaving the load pretty damn hot, but certainly dry.

 

[lotsosudz]

Westy"s run hot!

My parents had a 1956, that ran hot the whole time we owned it until about 1973. We replaced the thermostats several times during it's life, as this was a weak point about westy's. However, the cabinet, at the front near the inlet, alway's was scorching hot, as was the window. Thats why my mother, dried most things on low heat except towels, sheets, and jeans.
David

 

[christfr]

well the ohm meter and heat applied to the stat all say its good sooooo I guess that's the way it is hum. ill keep the phone handy next time I run the machine so I can call the fire mens to my aid.

 

[turquoisedude]

Now you all know why I was seen doing this once....