I'm after some advice as to what could be the cause of a problem with my trusty 18-year old Bauknecht WA838 washing machine. (Having replaced the main bearings a few months ago at a cost of 100 quid I'm a bit reluctant to scrap it if a repair is at all possible.)
It has developed a 'stutter' during the wash cycle. By that I mean the drum rotates OK but it sounds as if the power to the motor is being interrupted intermittently. This happens when the drum is rotates clockwise or anticlockwise.
However, once the spin cycle begins the problem goes away. Even when the machine perform some short slowish speed rotations to redistribute the load.
My first thoughts were that the carbon brushes were to blame and I contacted Whirlpool for some replacements. Unfortunately, they were unable to find a part number and wondered if they had ever been available. They suggested I try to find some 'universal' brushes instead. Hmmm.
On closer examination of the motor, it is by no means obvious how one would get at the brushes, and they are not visible from the outside. Could this be some sort of brushless motor ? Someone suggested it might be a Shaded-Pole type, but I thought these were only used in lower power applications.
Another thought as to a possible cause of the problem is the clutch mechanism since this would be more like to slip at the slower speeds than during the spin cycle. Visibly the mechanism looks OK, the pads still have some lining material on them and they seem able to move freely within their hub assembly so there's no obvious reason to suspect them.
Anyone got any ideas as to what is going on here and how I can fix it ?
It has developed a 'stutter' during the wash cycle. By that I mean the drum rotates OK but it sounds as if the power to the motor is being interrupted intermittently. This happens when the drum is rotates clockwise or anticlockwise.
However, once the spin cycle begins the problem goes away. Even when the machine perform some short slowish speed rotations to redistribute the load.
My first thoughts were that the carbon brushes were to blame and I contacted Whirlpool for some replacements. Unfortunately, they were unable to find a part number and wondered if they had ever been available. They suggested I try to find some 'universal' brushes instead. Hmmm.
On closer examination of the motor, it is by no means obvious how one would get at the brushes, and they are not visible from the outside. Could this be some sort of brushless motor ? Someone suggested it might be a Shaded-Pole type, but I thought these were only used in lower power applications.
Another thought as to a possible cause of the problem is the clutch mechanism since this would be more like to slip at the slower speeds than during the spin cycle. Visibly the mechanism looks OK, the pads still have some lining material on them and they seem able to move freely within their hub assembly so there's no obvious reason to suspect them.
Anyone got any ideas as to what is going on here and how I can fix it ?
good luck I understand your reluctance to part with it, but a washing m/c that is 18 years old has done well, time to put it to pasture.
