FIXED Need Help! Kenmore 80 Series top-loader won't spin in rinse cycle.

[BassTone5]

Model Number

110.23832100

Hello, all!


I’m very new here, so please redirect me if I’m posting in the wrong place.


I have a Kenmore 80 Series top-loading washer built around 2002 as I’ve gleaned from the “M” in the second place of the serial number, based on an online search. Bought it used, six years ago and have not had a problem until recently. Had the lid switch replaced by a professional about 8 months back for a jaw dropping $113 for a sub-$10 part, so I’m hoping to fix this myself. I’m mechanically inclined and have plenty of tools, so I hope it’s within reasonable reach of my skills. Do advise accordingly after reading on.

OK, so my wife has been noting that the washer goes through the full washing cycle properly - as far as she can tell - but things go wrong in the rinse. What she has witnessed on many occasions as of late, is that once the Rinse cycle engages it fills with clean water just fine, agitates as it should, drains as it should, but DOES NOT spin out - YET, the command dial continues to the full “OFF” position. When this happens, she manually turns the command dial to the “2nd Rinse” cycle somewhere in between “Rinse” and “Spin” to try and get the washer to spin. This band-aid fix works most times, but not always. When it doesn’t, she turns the command dial all the way around back to the mid point of the “2nd Rinse” and tries again.

Things to consider here:
1. Lighter loads are less likely to see this problem occur, but do not prevent it.
2. Larger loads increase the likelihood of the problem, but don’t ensure that it will occur.
3. “Permanent Press” setting is more likely to see the problem occur, but doesn’t ensure it.
4. “Ultra Clean” setting is less likely to see the problem, but does not prevent it.
5. When problem occurs, the motor quits running completely after agitation in the Rinse cycle. The only other sound heard is the a click from the command dial as it works its way around to the "OFF" position.


My research points me in the direction of the drive coupling or possibly the clutch, by I'm nowhere near certain of anything here. I don’t want to proceed with buying parts when I’m not 100% on the cause of the problem. Any help or advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated!


Many thanks!
-John

 

[Jake]

Hi John,

5. When problem occurs, the motor quits running completely after agitation in the Rinse cycle. The only other sound heard is the a click from the command dial as it works its way around to the "OFF" position.

If it was the motor coupling or clutch, the motor would still be running, but not spinning the tub.

That sounds like a timer issue to me, worn out contacts in that section of the timer. That's a common problem with that style timer.

Here's the timer for your model you can order here:

Timer WP661649


Jake

 

[BassTone5]

[
Jake, thank you sir for your prompt reply.

Apparently I have an amendment to make regarding my post and specifically regarding the part of it that you quoted. I touched base with my wife, the primary user of the washer, and that point about the motor stopping and making no sound or movement after the agitation of the Rinse cycle was the one area she wasn't so sure about. So, I decided to try it myself.

I just did a large load (bed linens and blankets) on the Permanent Press setting as it seems to be the setting where the problem occurs most often, and proceded as usual. I put a flat head screw driver in the hole for the lid-switch and watched the whole thing unfold while eating my lunch. Fortunately the washer acted up again, so I was able to witness the problem with my full attention.

As the command dial worked it's way around, the washer filled, then agitated even as the marker of the dial had just reached the notch of the graphic on the front panel labeled "Rinse." It filled with water, stopped when done, paused for about 20 seconds or so and began to agitate normally. When the agitation was done, the drum and agitator remained still as the motor began to engage the water pump and the water drained out. The sound of the water pump and motor continued unchanged well after the water had drained out and this went on for about a minute or two, maybe three, and then the machine stopped abruptly giving a sudden jerk of about 1/8 of a turn of the tub. The marker on the command dial had then reached the "OFF" position, and I heard and saw no other activity. No spin occurred, just the water pump and motor going, the jerk, and nothing.

I do apologize for the missinformation posted before regarding this detail. I hope this clarifies things a bit.

Do you still think it's the timer?

Many thanks again for your help, Jake!

 

[Jake]

The sound of the water pump and motor continued unchanged well after the water had drained out and this went on for about a minute or two, maybe three, and then the machine stopped abruptly giving a sudden jerk of about 1/8 of a turn of the tub. The marker on the command dial had then reached the "OFF" position, and I heard and saw no other activity. No spin occurred, just the water pump and motor going, the jerk, and nothing.

After the water drained and the motor was still running in drain cycle, the timer is suppose to pause and stop the motor from running for about a second or two, then the timer restarts the motor, and the tub should then start spinning.

So if you didn't get that motor pause for a second or two, then its still a bad timer.

Try this: After the water drains remove your screwdriver from the lid switch, that will pause the motor, then put your screwdriver back on the lid switch button and see if the tub starts spinning.

Let us know what you find.

Jake

 

[rickgburton]

Yes, I agree with Jake. If you can get it to spin, the timer is probably faulty.

 

[BassTone5]

Thanks, Jake and Rick!

I'll be doing this test you prescribe shortly. If it goes like you suspect it will, I'll be ordering that part. I'll check in when I know more and if I have any problem putting the new timer in. Thank you!!! -John

 

[Jake]

Ok John, sounds good, yes keep us posted.

Jake

 

[BassTone5]

OK, new "spin" on events (pun intended). This time, the machine went into spin mode as it should, but as it starts spinning, cold water comes pouring down as if starting the Rinse cycle! Yes, it was doing this as it was in the final spin! Maybe I'm crazy, but that doesn't seem right to me. Anyway, this water continued to pour for about 1/3 of the final spin cycle. Then the machine stopped as the command dial reached the "OFF" position.

If you still think it's the timer, I'll be ordering right away. Many thanks! - John

 

[Jake]

Its the timer, order it.

Jake

 

[rickgburton]

Yep, I agree with Jake. Sounds like the timer.

 

[BassTone5]

Done! Part is on its way. Many thanks to you both!!! I'll be in touch if I encounter a problem. Best to you all! -John

 

[Jake]

Done! Part is on its way. Many thanks to you both!!! I'll be in touch if I encounter a problem. Best to you all! -John

Sounds good, Also please come back and update us even if you don't encounter a problem, and let us know its fixed.

Jake

 

[BassTone5]

I got the timer very quickly and installed it without a hitch. We gave it a go on the Permanent Press setting, the most troubled setting, and it worked flawlessly! Now we've only done one load, but all things seem positive. I'll let you know if anything seems a miss, but I'm hopeful. Also, you guys have given me enough to go on in this thread and others that should the clutch fail in the future, I will probably know right away what the problem is and be able to take it from there. Parts wear out, but I prefer to fix rather than replace and you gentlemen have been very helpful in aiding my repair job. Thank you!!!

Kind regards!
-John

 

[Jake]

Excellent John, good job, glad to hear that.

Jake