How To Repair A Top Load Whirlpool Washing Machine

Pic of Whirlpool WTW4850HW Series Top Load Washer In this edition of the DIY Appliance Repair Series, I will talk over three issues we've seen with this series of Whirlpool tiptop load washer. The three bug are related to each other and caused by I thing. You lot're probably going to hate me when I say this, simply here goes. Overloading is the ONE thing that causes this problem.

In my other posts, I've stressed that overloading is the root crusade of most washer issues. In the case today, it is the ONLY reason why the issues occur. They have aught to do with quality or overuse. The machines will run a very long time if you go along the loads to standard size.

Consider the kind of mechanical forces at play when you're washing a standard size load. Y'all have a basket full of wet dress, and a metal shaft in the center. The sheer weight of the wet clothes batters the shaft and continually pushes on the agitator equally it moves to clean your clothes.

A standard size load is no problem for the washer and will do fine for years with that kind of use. I can say from experience what I'm saying is true, because I own a washer similar to the one pictured here. Information technology's September of 2022, and in January of 2022, that washer is six years old. Closeup of Gear Box

I haven't touched the washer for whatever reason. It is never overloaded and doesn't run into king-size blankets, etc. It runs peachy, isn't noisy, doesn't leak, and shows no signs of slowing down. I've checked the machine several times, and I haven't institute annihilation that needs attention.

My situation isn't unusual. I see machines like this every day. But, I also run into worn out washers wobble and leak, and they are only ii years old. My point is this. Your washer really can practice an excellent job for you, simply y'all take to care for it for what information technology is – a machine. Manufacturers pattern machines for specific functions, and if you push them past their designed-in limits, problems happen.

What Exactly is As well Much Weight?

That's a question I get near every twenty-four hours. With washers today, a hefty dose of common sense applies. Equally a general rule of thumb for every load, a basket that is half-total of clothes is a standard size load for a height load. A front end-load washer is a lilliputian more forgiving. Afterwards loading your apparel, yous should see simply about eight inches of clearance between the top of the handbasket and the top of the load. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please, heed the alert hither. As well much weight causes early problems with your washer. Your washer today is zippo like the washers of fifteen years agone. Not even close.

Noisy and Leaking Greasy H2o

Breakdown of Gearcase, Cam, and Pulley WTW4850HW Series If you always have a racket upshot or sometimes a greasy water leak nether the machine, the offset thing yous want to bank check is the gearcase shaft (#5 in the motion-picture show). If it has fallen, it's probably causing all of your issues.

By falling, I mean that the center shaft of the gearcase comes loose internally and drops down about a quarter-inch. That's enough to ruin the begetting and cause it to showtime leaking oil. If you lot look under the machine (#16 in the movie), y'all tin can run into a circle worn into the baby-sit and an oily mess.

Considering the shaft fell, everything fastened to information technology also dropped. The bulldoze belt pulley at present makes contact with the guard, making a loud noise and wearing a circular hole into the lesser.

Unfortunately, the only fix for this problem is a new gearcase, belt, and cam assembly. I know this sounds like a big job, but the reality is that if you lot're mechanically inclined and have power tools, we can walk you through this repair in about two hours.

Or, you tin opt-out of the repair entirely and replace the washer. Just, is that what DIYers practise? The DIYers I talk to love to salvage money, and this is one of those times when you will save a LOT of money past doing it yourself.

Aye, it's a lot of work, only it is worth the fourth dimension and endeavor. When finished, you'll have a dandy running washer and all the same have money left in your pocket.

Constant Unbalanced Loads and Non Draining

The tertiary and nigh troublesome problem is that the washer gets to the point where it won't drain and spin whatsoever load, regardless of size. This trouble creeps up over time and eventually shows itself all at once.

When the problem starts, you lot notice that one time in a while, the washer won't spin, won't drain, or both. It is intermittent, so information technology doesn't stick out as a problem that needs fixing today. Then, all of sudden, one day, it won't spin, drain, or wash. Why? You lot guessed right this fourth dimension.

Peak load washers today won't let you slide when there are mechanical problems. They stop working and won't budge until you do something. That something is to reach out to Neli. We can diagnose the trouble and have y'all up and running in the shortest time possible!