Home Repair forum - Clothes washer motor issue

Author

Clothes washer motor issue

Bailey

2007-10-13, 1:25 pm

Recently I had a load of laundry just stall after the washer filled. I
can get it to fill, and I can get it to drain; no spinning/agitating
though. There was this awful, chemical smell that came from the washer
when it happened, and I could hear a buzz of operation inside.

This is a Frigidaire FWS800FHS0

I opened it up and made sure that the belt from the motor to the
transmission was intact; it was. I manually turned the transmission at
the belt wheel to test for any catches when operating; spins and
agitates just fine.

So I plugged it in with the front cover off, set it to the gentlest
cycle and smalled load setting and switched it on. Filled just fine,
and when it came time to agitate, I heard the motor hum like normal, the
light in the laundy dimmed a bit (typical), but nothing turned. I
manually moved the transmission, I could hear the motor responding a bit
as I did that. I tested to see where the hum was coming from; the motor
for sure. Eventually the smell came back, and the motor shut down. I
assume both occurrances are the result of the motor overheating.

So the motor seems to be "stuck". Is there a way to "un-stick" it, or
do I have a bum washer motor. And let's face it, the replacement motor
costs 80% of the washer's costs, so this could be a bum washer too.

I leave the floor open to the mechincally minded....

Edwin Pawlowski

2007-10-13, 1:25 pm

"Bailey" <bailey@idontwantspam.org> wrote in message
>
> So I plugged it in with the front cover off, set it to the gentlest cycle
> and smalled load setting and switched it on. Filled just fine, and when
> it came time to agitate, I heard the motor hum like normal, the light in
> the laundy dimmed a bit (typical), but nothing turned. I manually moved
> the transmission, I could hear the motor responding a bit as I did that.
> I tested to see where the hum was coming from; the motor for sure.
> Eventually the smell came back, and the motor shut down. I assume both
> occurrances are the result of the motor overheating.
>
> So the motor seems to be "stuck". Is there a way to "un-stick" it, or do
> I have a bum washer motor. And let's face it, the replacement motor costs
> 80% of the washer's costs, so this could be a bum washer too.

Motor is kicking out on thermal overload. Could be bad bearings in the
motor, or could be something else that does not allow the motor to spin but
the belt would usually slip. Removing the belt would narrow that down.

You can get some diagnostics and cost of parts at www.repairclinic.com

Tony Hwang

2007-10-13, 1:25 pm

Bailey wrote:

> Recently I had a load of laundry just stall after the washer filled. I
> can get it to fill, and I can get it to drain; no spinning/agitating
> though. There was this awful, chemical smell that came from the washer
> when it happened, and I could hear a buzz of operation inside.
> This is a Frigidaire FWS800FHS0
>
> I opened it up and made sure that the belt from the motor to the
> transmission was intact; it was. I manually turned the transmission at
> the belt wheel to test for any catches when operating; spins and
> agitates just fine.
>
> So I plugged it in with the front cover off, set it to the gentlest
> cycle and smalled load setting and switched it on. Filled just fine,
> and when it came time to agitate, I heard the motor hum like normal, the
> light in the laundy dimmed a bit (typical), but nothing turned. I
> manually moved the transmission, I could hear the motor responding a bit
> as I did that. I tested to see where the hum was coming from; the motor
> for sure. Eventually the smell came back, and the motor shut down. I
> assume both occurrances are the result of the motor overheating.
>
> So the motor seems to be "stuck". Is there a way to "un-stick" it, or
> do I have a bum washer motor. And let's face it, the replacement motor
> costs 80% of the washer's costs, so this could be a bum washer too.
>
> I leave the floor open to the mechincally minded....
Hi,
B4 anything else, make and model of the washer? Motor may have burnt out
partially?

Pop`

2007-10-13, 1:25 pm

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "Bailey" <bailey@idontwantspam.org> wrote in message
>

Since it never spun, it's not "kicking out". And it's not mechanically
stalled from the sound of it. The motor's a goner.

Pop`

> Motor is kicking out on thermal overload. Could be bad bearings in the
> motor, or could be something else that does not allow the motor to
> spin but the belt would usually slip. Removing the belt would narrow
> that down.
> You can get some diagnostics and cost of parts at www.repairclinic.com

Edwin Pawlowski

2007-10-13, 5:25 pm

"Tony Hwang" <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote in message
[color=darkred]
> Hi,
> B4 anything else, make and model of the washer? Motor may have burnt out
> partially?

Tony, where you out of coffee this morning?

Jeff Wisnia

2007-10-15, 8:25 pm

Bailey wrote:

> Recently I had a load of laundry just stall after the washer filled. I
> can get it to fill, and I can get it to drain; no spinning/agitating
> though. There was this awful, chemical smell that came from the washer
> when it happened, and I could hear a buzz of operation inside.
> This is a Frigidaire FWS800FHS0
>
> I opened it up and made sure that the belt from the motor to the
> transmission was intact; it was. I manually turned the transmission at
> the belt wheel to test for any catches when operating; spins and
> agitates just fine.
>
> So I plugged it in with the front cover off, set it to the gentlest
> cycle and smalled load setting and switched it on. Filled just fine,
> and when it came time to agitate, I heard the motor hum like normal, the
> light in the laundy dimmed a bit (typical), but nothing turned. I
> manually moved the transmission, I could hear the motor responding a bit
> as I did that. I tested to see where the hum was coming from; the motor
> for sure. Eventually the smell came back, and the motor shut down. I
> assume both occurrances are the result of the motor overheating.
>
> So the motor seems to be "stuck". Is there a way to "un-stick" it, or
> do I have a bum washer motor. And let's face it, the replacement motor
> costs 80% of the washer's costs, so this could be a bum washer too.

You could well be right about the cost of a replacement motor, this
online parts store wants $225.71 for one!

http://tinyurl.com/2rfayq

I agree with the suggestion that you remove the belt, unplug the
electrical cord and see if you can turn the motor pully by hand.

If youcan't, remove the motor and seeif you canlocate why it's "stuck".
Might be just a seized bearing which you could match up at a local
bearing shop.

>
> I leave the floor open to the mechincally minded....

As my tipsy uncle Al used to say, "Don't worry, you can't fall off the
floor."

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

Bailey

2007-10-30, 9:25 pm

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

>"Bailey" <bailey@idontwantspam.org> wrote in message
>
>
>
>Motor is kicking out on thermal overload. Could be bad bearings in the
>motor, or could be something else that does not allow the motor to spin but
>the belt would usually slip. Removing the belt would narrow that down.
>
>You can get some diagnostics and cost of parts at www.repairclinic.com
>
>
>
>

Okay, new development; maybe good, maybe bad. It has been a couple
weeks of my pouring over websites, and doing my laundry at the
laundromat. Yes, one of the first things you suggested was that I take
the belt off, but I have been so sure about the motor being dead, I did
not bother.

Tonight I slid the belt off. I shifted it away so that it wasn't
touching the motor pulley. Time to give it a go.

Washer fills fine, Then same thing, light dims (typical), motor hums.
It's not spinning. I put the handle of my pliers on the pulley and
rolled it. Hums a little louder but nothing. So I do it again. The
next sound I can only describe as sounding like the photon torpedos from
the old Star Trek (choo-WAH). The motor is spinning. I take a small
piece of paper to confirm (I'm not getting my fingers caught!), and it
was moving the paper.

"It was just gunked up!" I foolishly lie to myself. I shut it off,
unplug, slip the belt back on, and go.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I attempt the move the motor pulley manually. The louder humming, but
no spin. Eventually that nasty smell starts again. Is it the belt?
Also, should the two directions of the transmission spin freely? Once
of them requires a bit more push (I'll find out and specify if it really
matters).

JohnnyC

2007-10-31, 9:25 am

Is there a drive coupling on this washer? The smell may be from the
coupling getting burned up. If you move the washer, are there a bunch of
plastic pieces on the floor?
..
I have always done very well with Dave's Repair
http://www.davesrepair.com/index.html
..
Good luck.

"Bailey" <bailey@idontwantspam.org> wrote in message
news:4727e02f$0$32521$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
>
> Okay, new development; maybe good, maybe bad. It has been a couple weeks
> of my pouring over websites, and doing my laundry at the laundromat. Yes,
> one of the first things you suggested was that I take the belt off, but I
> have been so sure about the motor being dead, I did not bother.
>
> Tonight I slid the belt off. I shifted it away so that it wasn't touching
> the motor pulley. Time to give it a go.
>
> Washer fills fine, Then same thing, light dims (typical), motor hums.
> It's not spinning. I put the handle of my pliers on the pulley and rolled
> it. Hums a little louder but nothing. So I do it again. The next sound
> I can only describe as sounding like the photon torpedos from the old Star
> Trek (choo-WAH). The motor is spinning. I take a small piece of paper to
> confirm (I'm not getting my fingers caught!), and it was moving the paper.
>
> "It was just gunked up!" I foolishly lie to myself. I shut it off,
> unplug, slip the belt back on, and go.
>
> HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
>
> I attempt the move the motor pulley manually. The louder humming, but no
> spin. Eventually that nasty smell starts again. Is it the belt? Also,
> should the two directions of the transmission spin freely? Once of them
> requires a bit more push (I'll find out and specify if it really matters).

Bailey

2007-10-31, 9:25 pm

JohnnyC wrote:

>Is there a drive coupling on this washer? The smell may be from the
>coupling getting burned up. If you move the washer, are there a bunch of
>plastic pieces on the floor?
>.
>I have always done very well with Dave's Repair
>http://www.davesrepair.com/index.html
>.
>Good luck.
>
>
>

I'll check that out too.

No coupling. Just a belt that wraps around the pulley at the bottom of
the transmission and the pulley on the motor.

Here are the guts of it if you're curious:
ftp://ftp.electrolux-na.com/ProdInf...er/95336491.pdf

LinkBot