What the Wig-Wag?!

[washerlover]

Many thanks to all of you who helped me get my ‘85 Whirlpool washer up and spinning again with the successful replacement of a brand new wig-wag. I have gently used the machine since (only a couple of months) and lo and behold this morning, it won’t spin again. The motor doesn’t stop, spray rinses on cue, but won’t spin on either normal or gentle speed.

Do I need to replace the wig-wag yet again or is there another fix?

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks as always for the help and support!

Todd

 

[potatochips]

While I try to find your original thread, I wonder if one of the wires in the wig wag harness is cracked? I had that on my portable machine. It would spin, but it would stop spinning, start spinning, stop spinning etc... at the same frequency as the wig wag hahaha.

 

OR it could be a faulty lid switch since it still spray rinses.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Check the back panel

There should be a wiring diagram. Upload that if possible. I’m just vaguely familiar with these machines but I’m certain the power that activates the spin solenoid passes through the lid switch.

 

[pierreandreply4]

might need a lid switch replacement

I would try the following if it fix the problem try disabaling the lidswitch or simply replace the lid switch to see if it would fix your problem and maybe uploading a video of the problem might also help pinpoint the problem?

 

[washerlover]

Many thanks for the suggestions!

I bypassed the lid switch the day I got the machine so I don’t think that’s the problem, however I will take another look...my wiring could have come undone. I will take a look at it this weekend — can’t believe it’s a faulty wig-wag since I just replaced it with a brand new one...

 

[potatochips]

If you have a good multi meter Id check the spin coil, and agitate too while your at it, for resistance. I cant remember the exact value but when I get home Ill get it for you. Sometimes a broken wire may be hard to diagnose as you may get continuity at certain angles, but not others.

 

[eronie]

The coils on the wig wag hardly ever fail.
Its the wires going 2 the Wig Wag get bending soooo much.

 

[combo52]

Non Spinning WP BD Washer

There are at least 20+ reasons why this washer is not spinning, first thing to do is figure out if it is an electrical problem or mechanical.

 

The essayist way to see if power is getting to the control magnet is to watch and see if the plunger lifts when the lid is closed during a spin period. If not you have an electrical problem. It is unlikely that the Wig-Wag assembly is bad again [ was it even bad to begin with, did it test bad ? ] Most common reasons why these washers fail electrically to spin are.

 

#1 bad timer, check and see if it will spin on any other cycle.

 

#2 broken wire to spin control magnet, either the red wire or the white wire could have a break in it, if the machine is agitating properly it is likley the red wire. To find a break just pull the red wire off the control magnet and pull on the wire firmly, if the copper conductors are broken inside the insulation the wire will pull apart at this spot.

 

#3 bad control magnet, test with ohm meter, agitate and spin magnets should be about the same.

 

#4 Bad lid switch, although this was not as common as on the later DD washers.

 

John L.

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would suggest

I would suggest the following you open up your washer then set it on the spin cycle and check the following washer timer to see if you need to replace the timer motor of your washer and check to see if the motor gear under your washer kicks into the spin cycle

 

[combo52]

reply #8

If the washer has a bad timer motor it will still spin properly when turned to the spin cycle.

John L.

 

[blackstone]

Is it a mechanical problem?

Does the motor spin, but without transferring motion to the belt? The belt may feel tight, but might not be tight enough.

We always carried a generic, 2-foot-long spin shaft, for use as a lever. Loosen motor bolt, use the lever to move the motor as far as possible, then tighten bolt.

 

[turquoisedude]

It may be a long shot, but also check the connections to the spin solenoid wires coming from the timer.  They can come loose (most often if the washer top has been removed) but you never know... 

 

[washerlover]

Schematic

Hi Eugene,

Wiring diagram as promised. Although I have bypassed the lid switch, could that still be the problem? I hadn’t thought to reconnect it to see what happens...

Thanks again to everyone for their advice and ideas. Haven’t had the time to work on the washer yet.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Look

At the bottom you will see “spin solenoid “. Going to the right is the white wire. You can ohm it out with a voltage tester against the plug. If that checks then off to the left:

The wire goes from the spin solenoid to the lid switch, then through the water level switch and ends at the timer.

First check for power at the solenoid. If no juice just make your way back until you do

 

[maytag85]

Lorainfurnature

My Kenmore portable belt drive washer still has it's original wig wag solinoid, and it still works perfectly. I actually had an issue where it wouldn't drain the water last June, and I thought it had something to do with the wig wag solinoid, but it turns out it was the drain pump that was the issue.