Whirlpool Senseon (Calypso) Dryer - What cracked my drum and is it repairable?

[ovrphil]

WP GEW9868KQ0 DRYER $0.76 Teardown (Photos)

Somehow that subject is still uninteresting, but the task of cleaning this wasn't boring. I cut myself a few times, before I finally woke up to using gloves - the sight of blood kind of woke me up a few times. The DIY video was great and pretty much was exact to a "T".

Before talking about photos shown...question: Is it the front and rear door panel seasl that keeps the lint from exiting into the cavity? I'm wondering how so much lint/dust was inside this dryer? I'm seeing only those seals compromised and that's why it was full of lint, collar tabs, coins( $0.76 worth), and don't want to know what else!

I have a nearly NO room at all to move, so kneeling and laying flat on my stomach was common. Feeling my age today, guys!

FIRST SEQUENCE: REMOVED TOP PANEL USING SCREW DRIVER ON EACH SIDE AND FLIP BACK.
Removed three connectors, used compressed air and cleaned with damp cloth.

 

[ovrphil]

WP GEW9868KQ0 DRYER - PHOTO set 2

Removed the lower panel, blower mower cover, and top panel (following video instructions), belt, and removed the drum (good looking felt seals!), but check out the abundance of dirt/lint and the $0.76(actually found another penny later)reward.

 

[ovrphil]

WP GEW9868KQ0 DRYER - PHOTO set 3

Who says repair work doesn't pay? $0.76 richer. (Gong)

I found a 6-page, in perfect condition Troubleshooting Guide tucked in the back of the control panel...scanned a page there.

When I remove sheet metal screws, I usually toss in a pile and use as needed. But as I worked this first tear-down, I made a sketch of the part and put the screws as they appear, instead, til I reassemble.

Blower wheel/fan was clean, but I don't know how to remove to clean it any further; seal looked looked. I know, I should replace it, right?

MOST IMPORTANT - The panel door Seal between the front bulkhead is kaPUTZ! It's $30 plus delivery from Searspartsdirect or Appliancepartspros, and I've asked if there's an alternative that's less costly. I know this is a special seal, fire resistant. So thanks if there's an alternative to paying that much for 48" (2 pieces) of foam seal tape.

I'm guessing that the front panel seal is why there is so much dust, lint, coins, collar tabs, etc. in the lower cavity areas?

Thanks for looking, commenting...and after getting this far, I hope it all works after I put it back together..lol!

 

[ovrphil]

A last note

I'll be tackling the broken tub as soon as I get this cleaned up again. I know the focus was repairing the other identical WP dryer, but I thought this would be good to post anyways as the next comments will be....I either repaired the drum or I didn't...and either way, maybe the thread will help someone, sometime.

Happy Drying!

 

[henene4]

Replacement material

Once again, I'd ask my local hardwear store. Something self sticking, heat (or preferably fire) resistant sealing.

Even if it's not 100% suitable thermanly whise, you still could use it. You tore the machine apart yourself, so if there would be a fire (which is unlikely as you are tacking verry good care of it, but still not impossible) you'd most likely wouldn't get any manufacturer backup anyways.

 

[yogitunes]

simple window weather stripping works perfect as replacements....cost is around a few dollars at Lowes....they come in a variety of densities and widths....

some lint build up and coins can come from around the drum seals, this is normal on just about every dryer...

where the majority of it comes from the 'intake' air, usually what is found surrounding at floor level of the area the machine is located, people who have pets they don't clean up after, you will find loads of fur....

I had one unit from a hair salon....between the long hairs that were sucked in, and the hairsprays, it was like a plastic type web all inside....

when you put that bottom panel back in place, feel underneath, and you find the slot that allows the greatest amount of air into the dryer...

makes you think of the air quality going into the dryer, and across, if not stuck to, your clothing!!!

 

[ovrphil]

YAY!

Henrik - check. I'll try that and Martin's idea both. The stuff they used reminded me so much of...

Mercedes Benz who used a biodegradable wiring harness cover, of all things, on some of their 199-'s vehicles, my 1990 300E (154K)never needed it,but the foam tape on this dryer has dis-integrated.

This foam tape to seal between the front bulkhead and door looks ultra cheap.

At least it didn't come from a hair salon and spiders weren't crawling around. I can imagine a thread...no better not ...but it would be entertaining...."My New Used Dryer" and show the different ranges of clean, dirty, and omg.

Thanks for keeping up with the thread, Henrik and Martin.

Movin' On!

 

[ovrphil]

Update -grease vs. oil for roller lubrication

Live and learn...I just applied some white Lithium grease to the cleaned axle(alcohol cleaned), and the resulting spin was nearly nothing!

Someone surely knew this?

So..as advised, that 30 weight oil or 3 in 1 (couple drops) would be best.

Thanks Glen/Henreik.

 

[yogitunes]

yeah, grease isn't exactly going to allow the rollers to spin somewhat freely by your hand....but when applied pressure from the drum, they will turn with ease...

it will be super quiet, smooth, and wont wear out as fast as oil will....

but its a matter of choice, and what you feel works for you best....

just DON'T use WD-40!!!!

 

[ovrphil]

WD-40

I had that OUT of my mind right from the get-go. Maybe I can give the lithium a chance to dance by the light of the rolling drum.

I'll finish this one tomorrow...cleaned and ready for new foam tape seal.

It's nice if you keep at least one extra washer and dryer in the works, so when repairs are needed, washing isn't held up. You have a train of washers, as do many others around the aw.org world.

 

[ovrphil]

It's alive! ....NEXT victim.

The dryer is up and running again. Other than a door spring evading me for a day(fell on the floor, under the dryer), and some struggle with identifying which wire goes where for the moisture sensors, and a loose metal screw on the back that allowed a rattle (thought it was the rear bulkhead loosening up!)...it's quiet and smooth. This was a good learning experience and the online videos at applianceparts was so helpful. But back when I first bought this unit, I tried to disassemble it intuitively. Wrong idea. I released ONE screw in the back that holds one side of the rear bulkhead that holds the two rollers for the drum. It shifted the bulkhead down and I couldn't get the other screws to go back in, that I removed in some other places. I gave up and just used the dryer as is. Wrong again. It caused the drum to become off center, dropping down. Effectively, the front part of the drum was higher than the back. The moisture sensors never had the clothes hit their surfaces in many cases, and fortunately it didn't cause any damage, once I discovered what happened. So, cleaning it was doubly good.

Now I'll tackle the other unit's broken drum. Thanks again for your help.

 

[yogitunes]

its all good....as you start to go through more, and take a few apart, you will grasp how some units are designed a bit different than others....but in general, the basic stuff is there....

there is a LOT more info today for tearing one down and repairs than what was available back when most of us were younger....heck the internet or youtube didn't exist....that really was trial and error.....

keep us posted on your progress....we too could learn something new along the way....

 

[panthera]

JB Weld Radiator Repair

Would fix it. Welding by a competent shop would, too - and, no, they wouldn't melt the fins or set up weird stress patterns. Goodness, welding has advanced a teeny, tiny bit since the 19th century.

However - this is just another example of what trash Whirlpool is building these days. Something like this should never have happened. Makes me wonder how poorly their washing machine baskets are put together.

 

[ovrphil]

Compared to vintage dryers

That's for sure, Martin!

This WP GEW9868KQ0 must feel like a cheap tin can that a small animal could dent or chew up. Certainly. the panel is delicate that houses the lone board.( In fact, an object drooped from an upper shelf onto the panel and left a very small dent.

The web has become such a resource...younger users have no idea how slow and primitive (yet fun)the web used to be. In 1990, when I started using the WWW, I'm sure aw.org would be just a BBS. MODEMS ruled and the faster rated modems were like GODS along with as much RAM you could afford(4mb was all I could afford, but needed 8mb for my new DEC-Tandy, rebadged 25 mz.,clock-doubled(50mz)Windows3.11/OS2(partioned dual boot)pc "hot rod". 1 mil users were surfing the web back then and if not for BBS groups and tablature data bases, simple text...it was really primitive. So you early appliance hobbyists were roughing it, with no web or litle online resources. I feel lucky, minus all the web ads.
Just from online videos and Q and A's, I discovered moisture sensors and how dryer sheets can coat those sensors or a small load my never interract with those door- mounted sensors, which will not stop the dryer for desired dryness. So those got cleaned with alcohol. I haven't, but should, test those sensors using a fuller load, to enable the sensors to come into more direct contact with the clothes. Reportedly, that's how they optimally work. I hope I replaced the two moisture sensor wires correctly. It hasn't smoked yet! A how-to video instructed, black wire to top sensor and yellow to the bottm one, but thats on a duet...not my WP model. I can't always read a scematic, which was available in the troubleshoot guide(BONUS FIND IN PANEL ENCLOSURE) YES,I marked the tab, but cleaned it off by accident during cleaning. So, though many of you can tear down appliances with your eyes closed, for newbies like me here's an age old advice:take your time. Find online help, ask before you make a mistake, document your path into and out, and keep your tools and parts ororganized. Try to enjoy the process(refreshments!!) and take break if you get frustrated. Anyway..common sense stuff...

Panthera - Right, I see J.B. Weld and another product that looked as good if not better. Quality and durability were around another century,earlier. Considering this dryer is from 2001 and still rolling, I'm glad it doesn't need a drum repair and that it still works!

I'll be posting photos of the damaged dryer drum...and well see how repairing it works out.

[this post was last edited: 11/15/2017-12:17]