Whirlpool bangs/loud spin. Model:WTW5300SQ0

[carmine]

Hello to all,

I just bought this Whirlpool washer from Craigs for a Sun City condo I'm re-habbing. Advertised as "works", but we all know how that goes... At any rate, I ran a short cycle (empty) and it did its thing, but the spin cycle banged, rattled, etc.

Part of me wonders if it would have been quieter with a load? But I know it isn't right.

Any idea where I should start for a fix? How hard? Anybody trustworthy near Sun City if I don't have time? Here's a photo with the old timey GE dryer.

 

[volvoguy87]

Motor coupler?

If the motor coupler is starting to go, that can cause what you heard. Was the machine level? That will have a great deal to do with it. There are also some springs inside that can be checked.

Dave

 

[carmine]

Reasonably level (eyeball) and doesn't rock on the floor.

Are the springs visible from the top?

How hard is the motor coupler?

Thanks for the suggestions BTW...

 

[whirlcool]

Motor coupler is cheap and easy to replace.
The link leads to a video that demonstrates how to replace it. It's a 15-20 minute job, but you'll have to take the cabinet off of the machine. But that's easy too.
While you have the cabinet off of it you can inspect the springs.

 

[carmine]

Wow... That's a great video! I'll give it a look.

I imagine the failure is usually slop in the rubber coupler?

 

[DADoES]

 
Carmine, do you mean banging and rattling as in the tub oscillating and vibrating excessively during spin?  A worn motor coupler will not have that effect.

It's not uncommon if these machines are handled roughly when moved that the tub support gets shifted out of proper position.  There's a somewhat triangular-shaped skate plate between the tub support and base pedestal that can shift awry.  There are three support pads between the base and skate plate, and also one at each of the "corners" of the base triangle to cushion the tub support's wobbling during spin.  Metal-to-metal contact will result if any of the pads are missing or cracked/broken, or if any of the support pieces are misaligned.  Also three tension springs to anchor the tub support to the base, and a fourth spring at the rear to counterweight the motor.

Removing the cabinet allows inspection.

The motor coupler typically breaks in some way.  Sometimes it's obviously broken to pieces.  In some cases there's a crack in the coupler such that it loses tight grip on either the motor shaft or the transmission shaft and slips when under a load. So-called "slop" in the rubber bushing is not a primary issue.

 

[carmine]

Ok, tore it down. The coupler looks OK, springs appear to be in place around the bottom of the tub. The Nylon pads on the triangular plate (I'm pointing at them with a screwdriver in the second photo) are all in place and look fine.

On a hunch I took the snap-on ring off the top of the tub, thinking perhaps something had fallen between the two tubs. Didn't find anything, but there is some kind of liquid-filled ring at the top. It lifted out. It says "PLUG NOT REMOVABLE", so I'll assume the liquid belongs there... Weird?

Any other ideas since it looks to be in order so far?

 

[carmine]

Pointing at nylon spacers...

 

[DADoES]

 
There's a liquid-filled balance ring at top of the basket.  Supposed to be there, don't try to drain it or take it off.

Oops, you said you'd already taken the ring off.  It should be attached *securely* to the basket.

The pads to which you're pointing are the ones on which the tub base wobbles.

There are three more pads on the top surface of the base, the flat skate plate slides horizontally on them. Make sure all three pads are in place and that the plate is not shifted out of position. You'll probably need to lift the tub a little off the base to see these other pads.

 

[carmine]

I did locate the second set of nylon pads. Present and accounted for.

Maybe it really was loud because it was empty? A pile of wet clothes probably does cancel a lot noise.

 

[carmine]

I tried it with a small load of clothes. It shakes like a banshee, actually starts walking towards me! It just seems very out-of-balance, although the load is almost nothing.

 

[DirectDriveDave]

If it still happens after that, I am guessing that the skate plate is not set properly. Loads that are TOO small can sometimes cause unbalanced spins because of too much space for them to stay evenly distributed, but since you mentioned this also happened with nothing in it, I am doubting this is the case.

One piece of advice, if you want to see just how much the tub shakes, you can operate this machine with the lid open. What you would have to do is detach the left lid hinge and then push it to the "closed" position and it should engage the lid switch. **Use Caution If You Do!**

 

[carmine]

Oh I'm well past crossing out the lid switch... I've been running it without the body, lol. I'll look more at the skate-plate, but it all looks ok.

 

[DADoES]

 
A video on YouTube may help with the diagnosis here.

 

[carmine]

Appreciate the efforts, but running short on time I traded a really beat GE dishwasher, the Whirlpool washer, and a Fridgidare SxS to a used appliance store for another DD Whirlpool that works great. (The other appliances were left behind in the condo). I got a whole kitchen full of nice stuff for $200 from a guy who was getting divorced and didn't want his wife to get them!! Somebody beat me to the washer/drier!