Why is the agitator struggling and making a clanging noise at 20:58 onward? Normally in my experience they stop spinning (basket drive) but I've never seen one do this.
What is wrong with this BD Kenmore?
- Thread starter Chetlaham
- Start date
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repairguy
Well-known member
Sounds like the agitate spring is broken inside the gearcase. Also the pulley on the basket drive is making noise.
Neat.
Was it common for the spring to break?
I almost feel like this washer should be saved, but then again it looks like its run it course and isn't vintage enough to be worth the effort.
Was it common for the spring to break?
I almost feel like this washer should be saved, but then again it looks like its run it course and isn't vintage enough to be worth the effort.
A common (but not only) cause is water in the transmission from a leaking centerpost bearing seal rusts the spring.
The video is 1.5 years ago. Kirk wouldn't fix a belt-drive of that age either for the customer or to sell it. It's long-gone unless a collector saw the video when it livestreamed and went after him to get it.
That’s a weak or broken spring that’s causing that issue and DADoES explained all the probable causes for the spring to break. A lot of belt drives built from 1978 to 1986 had a tendency to leak down the center post since it was shortened and often times it would make it’s way down to the transmission contaminating the oil and causing the spring to corrode and break. The older belt drives didn’t really have that problem since they had the tall center post and the springs on the older belt drives really only went out since they were plain wore out from many cycles.
Weak spring
My 75’ Lady K had the same issue. I swapped out the transmission when I did the tear down and rebuild. Saved the old transmission with plans to rebuild it and replace the weak spring in case I need a good one later on.
My 75’ Lady K had the same issue. I swapped out the transmission when I did the tear down and rebuild. Saved the old transmission with plans to rebuild it and replace the weak spring in case I need a good one later on.
Thanks for the info everyone!
I didn't think it was common enough, but I guess these do develop center post leaks which eventually ruin the gear case.
Lastly, anyone know why BDs had such long drain periods?
I didn't think it was common enough, but I guess these do develop center post leaks which eventually ruin the gear case.
Lastly, anyone know why BDs had such long drain periods?
And oh, why did they shorten the center post?
Perhaps Whirlpool knew there Leap/Design 2000 was about to roll off the line?
I recall mention from someone (Combo52?) that the shorter centerpost, shorter spin tube, and shorter basket neck reduced the angular forces on the bearings which reduced wear on them. Placing the centerpost seals below the waterline may have been a side-issue. And just to say, water in the transmission could occur before the centerpost was shortened.
I think shortening the center post reduced the angular forces on the bearings as DADoES mentioned but didn’t really help the machines last longer. Whirlpool would have been better off if they redesigned the center post to use roller or ball type bearings and that definitely would have helped the machines last longer but when you are a greedy corporation, you really don’t care about how long a machine lasts as long as people keep on buying machines from you.
