problems with washer... :(

StuntDriver06 · 10-02-2006, 03:04 PM

when my washer goes to spin cycle, you can hear the motor running but it doesn't spun, you can lift the lid wait for the click then close the lid again and viola! it spins... i thought it was a slipping belt so i went to a local appliance repair shop (when i lived near it) to purchase a belt... i had the model number make and even serial number of the washer (i just knew id have all the info and be prepared) they guy at the shop then tells me that my washer doesnt have a belt (doh) but it has a type of gearbox with some type of device that slips over to engage the gearbox to the motor and they get worn out like belts used to... i can see the peice he is talking about, so do i just start tearing into this thing looking for something wrong or is there some way of checking this thing, can i run the washer (with no water obviously) on its side? the guy also mentioned that the slip mechanism may need to be lubed.... this wouldnt normally bother me ( i dont do laundry wife does lol) but now she says it takes 2 or 3 lid lifts for it to spin.... inputs? suggestions? anything? i dont want to buy a washer... i know that this thing can be fixed cheaper than a new one.... any help is greatly apprecieated. thanks in advance

37L1 · 10-02-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntDriver06

when my washer goes to spin cycle, you can hear the motor running but it doesn't spun, you can lift the lid wait for the click then close the lid again and viola! it spins... i thought it was a slipping belt so i went to a local appliance repair shop (when i lived near it) to purchase a belt... i had the model number make and even serial number of the washer (i just knew id have all the info and be prepared) they guy at the shop then tells me that my washer doesnt have a belt (doh) but it has a type of gearbox with some type of device that slips over to engage the gearbox to the motor and they get worn out like belts used to... i can see the peice he is talking about, so do i just start tearing into this thing looking for something wrong or is there some way of checking this thing, can i run the washer (with no water obviously) on its side? the guy also mentioned that the slip mechanism may need to be lubed.... this wouldnt normally bother me ( i dont do laundry wife does lol) but now she says it takes 2 or 3 lid lifts for it to spin.... inputs? suggestions? anything? i dont want to buy a washer... i know that this thing can be fixed cheaper than a new one.... any help is greatly apprecieated. thanks in advance

Same thing happened to mine just before we moved. It's the gear box and they aren't cheap. It was better for my situation to buy a new washer then to wait for the part and put it in and would cost too much if I couldn't do it myself. Lucky for me, there was a sale on washers so it didn't cost too much more then the part and a lot less hassle.

I wish you luck.

StuntDriver06 · 10-02-2006, 03:21 PM

gearbox really? wow.. i mean it spins fine sometimes and others not...

37L1 · 10-02-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntDriver06

gearbox really? wow.. i mean it spins fine sometimes and others not...

That's the first sign before it won't spin at all and that's coming soon.

Papa_D · 10-02-2006, 03:27 PM

Time to vist the scratch and dent store.

RB's Titan · 10-02-2006, 03:43 PM

I actaully had a similiar issue that was relted the the rollers onteh sides of the drum. Basically everytime I closed the lid and it treid to stratup it woudl get of line and shut down. Likely not the same problem as you. But it was cheaper to fix it myself. I just replaced them and viola all is good. $55.00

Once I rebuild my entire dryer: motor, coil, bearing, belt etc. and it cost me $250 for parts. Two years later after getting married my said it looks like crap and wanted a new set. Go figure. So we went to the SEARS scratch and dent and got a set of Kenmore Elite HE3's and these while expensive are awesome machines....Yes I HAVE used them....

StuntDriver06 · 10-02-2006, 04:41 PM

its the gearbox neutral mechanism causing all my troubles, just took it apart....

142$ for a new gearbox.... thanks for your help guys...

knew i could count on my fellow titan talk members... maybe ill just get a new washer...?

stlblues · 10-02-2006, 08:52 PM

I like my wifes LG, no gear box or belts, direct drive.

StuntDriver06 · 10-03-2006, 01:26 PM

direct drive still has a gearbox.... unless its something very new that i didnt find on the internet last night..

VShortt · 10-03-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlblues

I like my wifes LG, no gear box or belts, direct drive.

Although an awesome brand, direct drive units are not always the best route because the motor is mounted to the agitator and can take a real beating when a load isn't balanced.

StuntDriver06 · 10-03-2006, 06:48 PM

well i just bought a new washer...and this one does the same thing, no spin unless i lift the lid after it agitates, turns out this one is supposed to though, (neutral drain as opposed to spin drain).. though one other thing that baffles me... with no clothes or water in the tub or with clothes, or with just water, this thing is so out of balance it just about turns itself around????? dont know what is going on... somebody better come and fix this thing, the hamper is getting full....

37L1 · 10-03-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntDriver06

well i just bought a new washer...and this one does the same thing, no spin unless i lift the lid after it agitates, turns out this one is supposed to though, (neutral drain as opposed to spin drain).. though one other thing that baffles me... with no clothes or water in the tub or with clothes, or with just water, this thing is so out of balance it just about turns itself around????? dont know what is going on... somebody better come and fix this thing, the hamper is getting full....

did you level the machine?

stlblues · 10-04-2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntDriver06

direct drive still has a gearbox.... unless its something very new that i didnt find on the internet last night..

The drum is the motor, It uses magnets on the drum itself to turn it, and generate some of its own power on spin down. You can spin the drum with the unit unpluged and it will generate enough electricity to operate the control panel lights and display. Its supposed to be an LG thing right now. All I can tell you is both the electric bill and water bill had very noticable drops after using the units. The washer spins at 1200rpm so half the cloths come out virtually dry. Being a contractor, I change clothes 2-3 times a day and with two kids who play every sport imaginable, especially hockey, they generate tons of laundry so the units get a workout and have performed flawlessly on top of saving about $18 a month on utilities.

StuntDriver06 · 10-04-2006, 03:45 PM

cool.... by the way i fixed the new washer... had to take out the shipping clips that hold drum in place

NoDakota · 10-05-2006, 12:15 PM

LOL, don't feel too bad about that, StuntDriver. I had a washer that I bought in a used appliance place that used to go through belts about every 6 months. It was a real battle to take the damn thing apart and change the belt as the motor had to be almost completely removed.

When we moved into our first house it had an old washer that seemed to work just fine, until about a year later when the belt went. After the experiences with the other washer, I called a repairman to do the job.

He showed up, pulled the washer out, tilted it back and swapped belts in about 30 seconds. It turns out this washer had a simple spring tension pulley system for changing the belt. D'oh!