Do you have a front loading washing machine? You might want to take a look..

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good job of DIY. Did you put in a new bearing? I know of many that have had to be replaced. In fact, if you are capable of doing this, you can find broken washers online, repair and flip them.

I still advocate for top load Speed Queen washers. Very sturdy, and my dealers told me they rarely get calls for repairs on them. I hope mine last 20 years like the washers of years back.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a set of Samsung front loading machines. I've been very pleased with them, they do a great job and I've never had an odor issue with the washer. (I leave the door ajar when not in use).

The other day I heard a very load explosion, thought the power transformer blew up. Turns out it was the washer. When I went into the laundry it was shaking pretty bad, thankfully at the end of the spin cycle.

So I called Samsung, they informed me I was 20 days outside of my 5 year extended warranty. Go figure.

They gave me 2 repair shops to contact. I read reviews on both and they were either average or bad. I'm out in the country so I figured they'd send the most junior tech since the good ones work close in so they make more $.

So I decided to fix it myself and started to research.

Long story short, this is a common problem on most front loaders, not just with Samsung.

The bracket that connects the drive to the drum (spider bracket) gets caked with detergent and it causes the Aluminum to fail. Some say galvanic corrosion is the issue.

In the course of my research a few tech's posted on a YouTube video that too much detergent is the cause. They recommended ONE TABLESPOON of detergent. I was filling the dispenser to the max line which is 7 TABLESPOONS!!

I had no idea. Turns out 1 tablespoon is plenty, the clothes come out just as fresh as before. These units don't use much water so they don't need much soap. (I use Persil, I get that from WalMart)

The tech's recommended using the clean tub cycle if you have one. They suggested using a cup of vinegar and setting the washer to the hottest cycle. If you have been overdosing on soap like me, you might want to do this once a week for awhile.

My cost was $235.00 for parts. The bracket, 6 new bolts and the rubber boot that goes between the door and the tub.

I have no doubt the cost for them to repair would have been almost as much as a new unit.

This is the end of the disassembly. For the 1000th time, thanks YouTube!

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This shows the crack in the spider bracket. Had it broken completely, the machine would have disassembled itself. :laughing:

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Closeups of caked on detergent.

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This was under the spider bracket.

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This is after I put the pressure washer on the drum and installed the new bracket.

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All done!

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Excellent job. We have the Kenmore elite series front loader. I have never used powdered detergent in our front loaders. This is our 3rd one. We used to use liquid HE detergent then a few years back, we started using the TIDE pods. I think your problem resulted from excessive detergent AND the use of powders instead of a liquid. Maybe also overloading the machine might have been a contributing factor.
Leave the powders behind from now own and lighten up on the amount used.

 

[teejk]

Did you find that the replacement part was built heavier than the original? That usually indicates that it was a design flaw. I had a relatively new GE front load where one of the drum suspension springs failed. GE failed to cover it under warranty (they said we must have over-loaded it). I helped the repair guy replace it (two person job). The replacement springs were much sturdier than the OEM.

 

[Wakey]

Did you find that the replacement part was built heavier than the original? That usually indicates that it was a design flaw. I had a relatively new GE front load where one of the drum suspension springs failed. GE failed to cover it under warranty (they said we must have over-loaded it). I helped the repair guy replace it (two person job). The replacement springs were much sturdier than the OEM.

The part was pretty much identical.. As for soap, I only used liquid but I also used Purex crystals, I won't be using that any longer.

Good job of DIY. Did you put in a new bearing? I know of many that have had to be replaced. In fact, if you are capable of doing this, you can find broken washers online, repair and flip them.

I still advocate for top load Speed Queen washers. Very sturdy, and my dealers told me they rarely get calls for repairs on them. I hope mine last 20 years like the washers of years back.

I did not, it was recommended by someone but I didn't come across that until the day before the parts arrived. More than anything, I didn't want to go to the Laundromat. :laughing: I did put some grease on them.

 

[Wakey]

There is a certain joy in executing a successful repair. It is not just the money saved, it is much more. There is a sense of pride in the acquisition of new applied knowledge. Good work and a job well done. :thumbsup:

Thanks, I've fixed so many things with the help of the Internet. I'm a technician (low voltage) and I'm fully aware that many today are part swappers. As in, they replace parts until your problem is satisfied (on my coin of course). It's a waste of money, and more importantly my time and I have no patience for the lack of professionalism that is rampant.

 

[dmccarty]

...

The bracket that connects the drive to the drum (spider bracket) gets caked with detergent and it causes the Aluminum to fail. Some say galvanic corrosion is the issue. ...

From the photos, I would guess the problem is not galvanic corrosion but crevice corrosion. Crevice corrosion can happen in Aluminum and Stainless Steel when oxygen is lowered/missing on the metal. Both of these metals need oxygen to prevent corrosion and when the oxygen is missing corrosion can start which is usually in a pit or crevice. It looks like the caked detergent might have caused an oxygen deprived environment so hopefully changing the detergent solves the problem.

Later,
Dan

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought a washer and dryer and fridge and stove from Sears (Kenmore brand) way back in 1981 when I bought my house. They are all still ticking, knock on wood!

Mom's avocado Kenmore Pair still going strong... bought new in 1968...

Did have to replace one dryer belt... under $5 for part and one Wig-Wag...

 

[RSKY]

We had an older repairman come out to work on a dishwasher several times. Got to talking to him about appliances and he said that 75% of his calls on front loading washers were the result of using too much detergent. He also said the mildew and smell problems some people were having were from using liquid detergent and he recommended using only HE powdered and a small amount of that. We changed from liquid to powder and have not had any problems since. His formula for cleaning the machine was to put two cups of powdered DISHWASHING detergent into the tub, fill all the dispensers (soap, bleach, and softener) with white vinegar, and run the machine on the longest, hottest cycle possible. Our new unit has a steam clean cycle but we still use the dishwashing detergent and vinegar while using it.

Most detergents today are formulated to use in cool or cold water.

RSKY

 

[TheGoose]

Great job on the repair. FYI one main reason why they don’t use much detergent is because they don’t use much water.

I have a speed queen. I got rid of the junk that most mfgs produce now.

 

[Mace Canute]

Mom's avocado Kenmore Pair still going strong... bought new in 1968...

Did have to replace one dryer belt... under $5 for part and one Wig-Wag...

Wow! That's a long time! It gives me hope I might not have to ever buy replacements.