leaking washing machine

[Sion]

so, my wife puts in a load of laundry about an hour ago and starts it up. a couple minutes later she notices a huge puddle of water forming under the machine, shuts off the washer and comes running for me. after pulling the machine out away from the wall in order to clean up the mess, I have determined that the leak is NOT coming from any of the hoses that carry water into or out of the machine (at least in so far as I can see them without removing the back panel. so that leaves the machine itself as the likely culprit.

anyone know anything about washers? the machine is a GE top-loader (no model name or number that I can find ). Im guessing that the seal at the bottom, where the main bearing is, would be the source. Any suggestions as to what else to look for when I tear into it tomorrow?

thanks.

[magnum_xxxl]

First, your going to have to take the back panel off.
Second, find what is leaking.
Third, go to http://www.repairclinic.com/ , they have a great parts "detective", where you give you brand, style, shape of the part, size, etc....

I had a leaking washer a few months ago,
found what was leaking, didn't know what
the hell it was, & by answering the questions
they asked I found on the first try.

Good Luck.

[Sion]

thanx for the tip magnum. I'll check that site out.

[fhqwhgads]

My washer was leaking a few months ago, and I tracked the leak to a cracked discharge hose. I started a thread about this awhile ago... I learned not to remove the discharge hose while the tub has water in it. That's the only advice I have.

Oh, and after you put the washer back together, go to your home improvement store and pick up a pan that fits under your washer. They are made of plastic, and cost only about $20. It will catch any future leaks, as long as they aren't too big.

[todd]

I don't have any advice on how to fix it, but be glad the puddle was only under your machine. The drain pipe that our machine empties into has backed up several times, resultuing in about and inch and a half of water covering a large portion of the unfinished half of my basement. We've had to call the RottoRooter every time I think. The problem is in the pipes somewhere down the line a bit, not in our house.

Sounds like your problem might be with your machine it's self though, not the drain.

[meembo]

I got one of those Time-Life books on how to fix things in your house -- it teaches me just enough to decide if I can fix it myself, or call in the pros. Oftentimes I find I can fix it, and it's simpler and cheaper than I imagined it could be.

[kazoo]

Let's follow where the dihydrogen monoxide goes after the two hoses screw onto the back of the machine, Mmkay?

First is the inlet solenoid-turns hot and/or cold water on and off based upon machine cycle, level selected, and temp selected.
From there, a hose leads up top for tub filling. There is also a smaller hose coming off the side of the tub heading up to the level selector.

Below the tub is a hose leading to Mr. Pump. He is usually bidirectional (hey-that's his business) which means during the wash cycle, he runs in one direction recirculating tub water via a hose heading back up top, which may or may not interconnect with a bleach dispenser. When it is time to pump the tub empty and spin the load, he runs in the opposite direction and pressurizes the discharge line.

While every manufacturer does things differently, these are the basics. Assuming the machine to be newer than the Truman administration, hose failure from rot is unlikely. Look for a clamp which has come undone, a coupling which pulled loose (unbalanced loads cause this), or a pump failure (housing crack, seal failure). The tub-transmission seal is the least likely candidate.

Don't overlook the level setting hose. On my own machine, over time the calibration drifted to the point that a medium became large, and large was washing the basement floor. An adjustment of the level setting diaphragm resolved that issue.

One final advisory-once you've gone this far in machine disassembly and troubleshooting, check the belt(s)-and I don't mean on yer pants, sport. You'll be quite pissed if the machine drops a belt next month and you get to take it all apart. Again.

May the Schwartz be with you!

[Sion]

kazoo, thats a shitload of useful information. thanks.

turns out, however, that it was the tub to transmission boot. fortunately it didnt tear, but rather one of the clamps came free, I suspect due to repeated unbalanced loads. (I'll have to mention that to the wife, so that we dont have a repeat of the flooding.) In any case, I merely have to reinstall the boot.

The hard part is going to be the bolt that I broke. There are three bolts that secure the clothing tub to the transmission shaft. One of these snapped during disassembly. So, Im gonna have to drill it out, then either run a thread-chaser through it (or even retap it, lets hope not, I hate tapping) and install a new bolt.

thanks for the help one and all. I sure appreciate it.

[kazoo]

Perhaps an option to drilling and retapping: use a Dremel tool with a thin reinforced cutoff wheel to cut a flat slot into the remaining portion of the broken bolt. Turn out the broken piece with a screwdriver.

Funny washer repair story: a buddy of mine called about his machine, as it was screeching making stink and not turning the tub. We both agreed it was probably a belt(s) so I picked up replacements at the appliance store and stopped at his condo. (Background note: he's been married for a few years and his wife is an ultra shy person). New belts installed, and the belts start to screech immediately in spin-still no tub motion. My buddy is worrying about the cost of this whole deal to his wife, and then I see it. A piece of cloth is stuck in between the inner and outer tubs. I grab it with a pliers and move the inner tub back and forth until it's free. Turns out to be a lacy pair of ladies panties which now look like they were attacked by a rabid badger. I walk into the living room, hold them up and remark, "It's nice to see there's still passion in your relationship." She turns redder than the undies, and he's laughing his ass off.

[Sion]

Originally posted by kazoo
Perhaps an option to drilling and retapping: use a Dremel tool with a thin reinforced cutoff wheel to cut a flat slot into the remaining portion of the broken bolt. Turn out the broken piece with a screwdriver.

that might work if the bolt hadnt broke off flush with the flange into which it is screwed. no, this sucker is gonna have to be drilled out, by hand and THAT is gonna suck.