The DRSNews
February
2006
Happy Valentine's Day!
Published by subscription only, by Dave’s Repair
Service
All Rights Reserved
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A Special Welcome to all
my new subscribers!
In this
issue:
1) How to Cure Spin
Vibration in Whirlpool/Kenmore Washers
2) From the 'Cool Websites' Dept
Note: I'm really running low on time this month, so this
issue's going to have to be pretty brief (please keep the applause to a
minimum!)
1) I've had a lot of
questions about this and have been wanting to address it for a while, so here
goes. A bad vibration in spin, even to the point of the machine
'walking', is pretty common with Whirlpool, Kenmore, Kitchenaid, and Roper
direct drive (top-load) washers - one of the very few 'glitches' I see in
them regularly.
The short answer to the question is 'support pads'. The mechanism rides
on 3 plastic pads mounted to the base 'tripod', and when they wear, even a little
bit, the machine will vibrate like crazy in spin, even with no load. Part #
285744 includes all three pads for around $10, and they're not hard to replace. Here's
what they look like:
And here's how to replace them:
Unplug the washer. Remove the 2 Phillips screws that retain the
console. (On some machines, these are hidden under console end caps that
must be pried off. On newer models, they’re on the back of the console).
Rotate the console fwd, then up and back; it will hang back out of the way
if the washer’s away from the wall far enough.
Unplug the white lid switch plug and pry up the 2 large clips that
hold the cabinet to the washer back panel.
Tilt the entire cabinet forward and it’ll unhook from the retainers
on the base. Lift the cabinet off and set aside (not as heavy as it sounds!)
With the cabinet off, you'll see 3 large horizontal springs, one in
each corner of the support 'tripod', and one smaller, vertical one in the
left-rear (counterbalances motor weight).
Unhook all 4 of these springs, lift up on the tub and
mechanism (a helper's handy here), and insert a small piece of '1-by'
(5/8" or 3/4" thick) board between the base and triangular support
plate, one side at a time. This will allow you to access each of the
little plastic brown support pads one at a time.
Use a little lighter fluid to clean the mating surface
of the support plate that these pads ride against before inserting each
new one.
Be careful not to scratch the support plate when
working under it; it must be smooth and contaminate-free to provide the
proper amount of 'snubbing' to the mechanism's movement.
Knock the old pads out, one at a time, by
lightly tapping on their mounting pins from underneath with a hammer. Put each
new pad in place in its mounting holes, carefully remove the wooden 'prop',
then stand up and push down hard on the tub on that corner. You'll hear - and
feel - the new pad snap into its mounting holes.
Repeat this process for each of the other
two pads mounted on the support 'tripod' (do the rear, 'fun' one
last, after you have experience replacing the other two), and your washer will behave
a whole lot better in the spin cycle.
And if you have any trouble finding the support pads
locally, let me know. I keep lots of them in stock, and can get a set to you
fast. You can order them here.
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A grin from the archives:
''The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is
suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three
best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.''
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2) Another Cool
Website: I've been awed by Google Earth, at http://earth.google.com
, but Microsoft has come out with their own version recently, and it's pretty
amazing. Combining satellite imagery and aerial photography, it has to be seen
to be believed. And, unlike Google, there's no software to download. 'Fly'
over and see what your home looks like from the air at "Windows Live
Local": http://local.live.com
***
Thanks again for inviting me into your
inbox! As always, if you have any topics you’d like to see
discussed here or covered in an online article, let me
know and I’ll do my best to oblige. And don't forget
those testimonials! Many thanks if you've already sent
yours in! I'm posting them just as fast as I can!
May God richly bless you and yours,
Dave Harnish
Dave’s Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
http://www.DavesRepair.com
America, Bless God.
2 Chron. 7:14
Copyright 2006 www.DavesRepair.com
This information may be reprinted and distributed freely only in its
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