1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?

On 05/02/2015 09:38 AM, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?




Since it's nearly 20 years old, I'd get a new one.

Even if you fix it, something else will soon enough give out.


A new (no frills) washer is maybe $430 or so

On Sat, 2 May 2015 07:38:26 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?


Leaks can be seals or corroded housing, if metal. Either replace the
entire pump or, after 20 years, replace the machine. If the parts are
more than $50, probably best to use that towards a new machine. It
won't be long before you have other problems. Average life is about
12 to 15 years so you are doing OK.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 10:18:37 -0500, philo wrote:

On 05/02/2015 09:38 AM, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?




Since it's nearly 20 years old, I'd get a new one.

Even if you fix it, something else will soon enough give out.


A new (no frills) washer is maybe $430 or so


Can't find the link...

- value the appliance reaching useful life ending

- repairs less than 30% of useful remaining life

- or replace it

I could get into Subrogation Law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subrogation

On Sat, 02 May 2015 12:04:54 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 02 May 2015 10:18:37 -0500, philo wrote:

On 05/02/2015 09:38 AM, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?




Since it's nearly 20 years old, I'd get a new one.

Even if you fix it, something else will soon enough give out.


A new (no frills) washer is maybe $430 or so


Can't find the link...

- value the appliance reaching useful life ending

- repairs less than 30% of useful remaining life

- or replace it

But I thought I read here that the new ones have even lower life span.

So it means replacing something that repairable with something that will
break in 5 years, from what I read on ahr.

I could get into Subrogation Law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subrogation

On 5/2/15 10:38 AM, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing
machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth
the effort and I should just replace it?


In 2003, I discovered that my old washer was leaking. I decided it
wasn't worth fixing. At the same time, a relative found that her Kenmore
Model 110 wouldn't drain. She thought it wasn't worth fixing.

She offered it to me. Online, I saw that the pump would be easy to
replace and fairly cheap. I said, "Yes please." When the washer
arrived, I discovered it wasn't the pump but the motor coupler. I
bought one online for $8. The whole thing was so quick that I got it
running without a trip to a laundromat.

If I wash fleece, I have to brush the lint off afterwards. I guess the
self-cleaning lint filter doesn't work right. Otherwise, I've had no
trouble. I seem to have grown fabulously wealthy from the water savings.

Years ago, I spent $1.50 for a 1-ounce tube of plumber's grease. It
won't react with seals or melt from hot water. If I were you, I might
try that on the pump seals. I'd drill depressions in pieces of 2x4 so I
could put them under the feet of the washer to raise it off the floor,
and it wouldn't vibrate off. That way, I could slide a tray under the
washer to monitor for leaks. If it kept leaking badly and the rest of
the washer seemed okay, I'd buy a pump. For my machine, a pump would
cost under $30.

On Sat, 02 May 2015 15:12:39 -0400, micky
wrote:

But I thought I read here that the new ones have even lower life span.

I can't comment on what you thought and words of reading/.

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 7:38:29 AM UTC-7, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What
was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and
I should just replace it?


I've replaced them in Whirlpool-made belt drive and direct drive
models, but it seems the Kenmore 90 series is a different design.
The pump is installed kind of the way it's done with the direct
drive I have, but it's accessed from the bottom, like with the
belt drive model. The job should be fairly simple, and the pump
costs anywhere from $10 - $50. Try to get a genuine Whirlpool
pump. Amazon or eBay may be the cheapest. The pump for our
belt drive had a hard plastic impeller and seized because the
shaft seal failed and allowed water to leak onto the shaft and
corrode it. The pump for our direct drive didn't fail but
just made a funny humming noise. The whole rotating part was
rubber.

Instructions (but no pictures):

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/replace...her-68659.html

You may be able to download a factory manual at ApplianceJunk.com.

wrote in message ...
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?

Get the price P&L from Kenmore to give you the highest cost of repair. They can also tell you how to get access to the pump.

Check the cost of a new pump or rebuild kit at the local appliance parts house and decided what to do.

My washer had a leak and I could not find it. Turned out to be water backing up in the standpipe splashing on the back of the washer and then running underneath.

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 9:38:29 AM UTC-5, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?

Thanks to all for your advice. eBay had the exact pump new for $9 with free shipping but I paid my local appliance parts store an extra $7 to have it today. Replacing the pump was almost trivial; it took longer to get the grease off my hands after lining up the motor shaft than it took to remove the two spring clips and the hoses. I ran two loads of wash today with the cabinet off and the lid switch shorted to verify that there are no more leaks. I've never done that before and found it interesting to observe the process. Wife is pleased, which is always a good thing, and I'm happy not to have to spend $500-$600 on a new washer. At least, not yet.

On 5/4/2015 7:00 PM, wrote:

Thanks to all for your advice. eBay had the exact pump new for $9 with free shipping but I paid my local appliance parts store an extra $7 to have it today. Replacing the pump was almost trivial; it took longer to get the grease off my hands after lining up the motor shaft than it took to remove the two spring clips and the hoses. I ran two loads of wash today with the cabinet off and the lid switch shorted to verify that there are no more leaks. I've never done that before and found it interesting to observe the process. Wife is pleased, which is always a good thing, and I'm happy not to have to spend $500-$600 on a new washer. At least, not yet.



Gotta love a happy ending. Thanks for getting back with the results.

wrote in message ...
On Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 9:38:29 AM UTC-5, wrote:
1996 Kenmore 90 series
Has anyone here repaired a leaking washing machine pump? What was the cause of the leak? Or is it not worth the effort and I should just replace it?

Thanks to all for your advice. eBay had the exact pump new for $9 with free shipping but I paid my local appliance parts store an extra $7 to have it today. Replacing the pump was almost trivial; it took longer to get the grease off my hands after lining up the motor shaft than it took to remove the two spring clips and the hoses. I ran two loads of wash today with the cabinet off and the lid switch shorted to verify that there are no more leaks. I've never done that before and found it interesting to observe the process. Wife is pleased, which is always a good thing, and I'm happy not to have to spend $500-$600 on a new washer. At least, not yet.

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That's great! Congrats!