Hi,

'whirring' sound while washer's running: if your machine is a
direct drive, this is often caused by something caught in the pump,
and in about 50% of the cases I see, it can be removed pretty
easily. Motor and tranny problems are pretty rare on these. The
coupler (has replaced the belt) can make this type of noise, but
it usualy happens in both ag and spin.

One of the most common pieces of pump debris, amazingly, is
a stray bra underwire. These work their way through the basket
holes and down the tub outlet hose, into the pump.

I could be a lot more helpful if I had your model number, but
getting to a direct drive's pump's pretty easy.

Here are instructions for replacing the pump; they'll help you access
it, step by step:
http://www.DavesRepair.com/DIYhelp/DIY3363394.htm

Pull the pump off the motor (snap off two clips, leave the hoses
attached) and run the machine while holding it out of the way
(bypass the lid switch plug with a piece of wire or alligator clip
jumper). If it runs quietly with the pump off the motor, first hold
a shop-vac hose to the drain hose end and run it for about 30
seconds to clear the water from the tank, pump, and hoses. Then
pull the hoses off the pump and look into the pump ports. You'll
usually the debris, and it can often be removed with a long-nose
pliers or hemostat.

Don't continue to run it while it's making this noise, though.
Depending on the type of debris, it'll wear a circular hole right through
the pump, usually on the front side, and then you'll def. have to replace
the pump (but they're not too expensive...), and all that water won't
do your floor any favors, either.

If it's a direct drive, don't be in a hurry to replace it. 'Best washer on
the market for the money right now...

Hope that's of some help.

God bless,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
New Albany, PA
www.DavesRepair.com

570-363-2404

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Acts 4:12

wrote in message
oups.com...
We have a Kenmore washing machine that recently developed a problem.
The load was out of balance a bit, and instead of shutting down (isn't
that how it's supposed to work?) it started banging violently and I had
to run in there and open the lid to stop it.. since then, it's worked
ok, but has developed a unhealthy whirring sound whenever it's
spinning. The agitation works ok (and sounds normal), and it still
spins.. but it sounds like the motor is really struggling and something
in there is not matching up properly, kind of like a pair of gears that
aren't aligned right or something. I don't know a damn thing about
washing machines, so am at a loss on what to look for. I gather this
machine is direct drive and that there aren't any belts to worry about.


Basically, I'm wondering if this is a motor/transmission issue, and
if it's worth digging into at this point... if the repair bill is
likely to be high, I'll just retire it and pick up a new one.

THanks!