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Kenmore Front Load Washer Woes

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Posted: Sun Jan 29th, 2006 06:47 pm

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gak
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I have Fridigaire model #FWT449FS0 purchased in 1999 with the same noise problem. Started last week after all these years of trouble free service. If I purchase the bearing kit or the rear drum assembly, will I need a new seal for the drum?

Posted: Sun Jan 29th, 2006 07:55 pm

62^nd Post

ccadwellx
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I bought this part (the rear drum assembly):

http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=154&N=407639

If this is the part you need for your repair it comes with the seal already installed.

Last edited on Mon Jan 30th, 2006 02:12 pm by

Posted: Mon Jan 30th, 2006 12:04 am

63^rd Post

gak
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Thank, I'm leaning toward buying the whole rear drum also, but If I were to only buy the seal and bearing kit would I also have to buy a new seal?

Posted: Mon Jan 30th, 2006 01:27 pm

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DB130
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If you are referring to the seal that goes between the 2 outer plastic tub halves, it's probably a good idea to replace it while you have the tub halves apart.

Posted: Mon Jan 30th, 2006 05:07 pm

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gak
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Thank, that's the seal I was refering to.

Posted: Sun Feb 5th, 2006 06:39 pm

66^th Post

gak
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I took apart the washer apart, and when I removed the rear drum I saw one of the spiders was broken. Maybe that explains why the loud noise came so suddenly. I riveted a stainless steel sheet metal plate across the break to see if it would work. After 6 loads of wash the loud noise started again at final spin. My guess would be that the patch broke. My question would be, are the new drum and spider any better the old ones that keep breaking? I don't want to throw good money after bad and maybe a new washer would be a better choice.

Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2006 06:40 pm

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Russ
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Most likely a cracked support bracket on the SS drum. When I hear all the stories on this, I wonder why a class-action lawsuit has not been taken. A defective design.

Anyone who agrees send a reply. We should all be reimbursed

Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2006 06:47 pm

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Russ
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Russ wrote: Most likely a cracked support bracket on the SS drum. When I hear all the stories on this, I wonder why a class-action lawsuit has not been taken. A defective design.

Anyone who agrees send a reply. We should all be reimbursed . Also wonder if this part has been up-graded. If not, I am done with Sears.

Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2006 07:11 pm

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gak
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I just replace the drum and ran the first couple loads, and it appears to be work fine.

The spider (the arms that connect the drum to the shaft) are made out of zinc die cast. While zinc is non rusting it does corrode over time and it is brittle material without a lot of strength. A redesign is needed, using better materials or changing the structural shape to stiffen it. At this point I am hoping for 5 years before I replace the machine.

Posted: Sun Feb 12th, 2006 11:01 pm

70^th Post

Russ
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Same here .... hoping to get a few years on it.... will not buy another Kenmore

Posted: Mon Feb 13th, 2006 11:23 pm

71^st Post

amajamar
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Budget Appliance Repair wrote: Binki, The part# is in the post just above mine.

Here it is again: 134453200 and RepairClinc can get it for you
CLICK HERE to order

It doesn't show a picture but it is the complete assembled outer tub with inner stainless steel spin basket with all new parts for only $218.40 instead of $250.90 for just the back tub half with bearings and seals.

The problem with just ordering the bearings is once you get it apart you might find that the tub shaft may be rusted badly from leaking for a long time and also who knows how bad the tub spider is at this point, seems to be quite a few of this breaking also.

The complete tub assembly would most diffinitely the easiest way for a novice and then you would have an almost new machine.Can someone check this link and tell me if it is still valid? The link has a different part number and price.Thanks in advance!amajamar

Posted: Mon Feb 13th, 2006 11:41 pm

72^nd Post

Samurai Appliance Repair Man
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It's still valid. The difference in part numbers is simply the difference between the manufacturer's part number and RepairClinic's internal part number. Same-o, same-o, GI.

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Posted: Wed Feb 22nd, 2006 10:40 pm

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slammed
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hello everyone, I just found this site. I'm so glad you guys are here, I want to thankyou for the time you have spent on this problem. I have a frigidaire FWT445GES2. it has started making a nosie like the bearings are going out. I really want to buy a entire assembly. but when I called repair.com and they said I had to order all the parts seperatly. I'm not wasting allot of money on this machine. I don't think the spider arms are broken, but from the looks of it, its only a matter of time. I called sears about this problem and they were down right mean! I'm am finished with sears. sorry I had to vent alittle.

Posted: Thu Feb 23rd, 2006 03:39 am

74^th Post

gak
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If its just the bearings, replacing the bearings and seal or the rear assembly might be worth it. If I knew I would also have had to replace the drum I think I would have bought a new machine. Good luck with your machine

Posted: Thu Feb 23rd, 2006 02:56 pm

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slammed
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Thx, I found the parts at a local parts store here in town and the drum and the bearing case thingy with seal cost $330. other than this bearing noise its been a geat machine. my wife loves it. I hope I can get a few more years out of it. maybe by that time there will be a better design on the market. Yeah right! thanks again-Randy

Posted: Fri Mar 17th, 2006 07:15 am

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CStrick
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Hi kdog

Found you and your advice too late

I have a Frigidaire front loader FWT645RHS1 manufactured 04/00. The s/s inner drum has dropped to the bottom of the outer drum. Machine was on overnight and load just seemed a bit wet. moving the drum by hand was hard and it was scraping on the bottom of the outer drum. It's still connected to the shaft and the drive pulley is nice and tight and moves but there is a lot of brown fudge around it.

Will the whole drum assembley available from Sears work for me?

Should I anticipate that the motor will be allright?

Is there any reason to believe that the new part(s) are any better than the original?

Thanks in advance

Craig

Attachment: 16-03-2006 2-02-53 PM_0008.jpg (Downloaded 58 times)

Posted: Wed Apr 5th, 2006 04:09 am

77^th Post

CStrick
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Yep the wooshing got rea loud for me too. Then the s/s drum dropped into the bottom of the outer drum.... dead as a dodo. Used 3 or 4 times a month, the Frigidaire front loader is 5-6yr old. Thanks Electrolux Corporation for a fine piece of work!!

Posted: Wed Apr 5th, 2006 07:02 am

78^th Post

kdog
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yes, the part number i quoted previously(on page 1 of this thread) is valid and is all the rage here in canada- if you can't order it through this website you can order it from sears.ca is alot of work,but a reasonable cost and complete preassembled unit ready to install- you might want to consider replacing the shocks and the small plastic sleeves on the upper springs at the same time.

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Posted: Thu May 18th, 2006 09:36 pm

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brent
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Hello, my bumming friend. Fear not, for our esteemed, and sometimes reamed, leader, Samurai Appliance Repair Man, has posted a detailed procedure for replacing the boot in this thread.

I read this post but there must be someway to replace the boot will it is still on the front panel

Posted: Fri May 19th, 2006 12:06 am

80^th Post

CStrick
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Well after much frustratioin and research I went to the local authorised repair shop and opted to have them do the work. First, my particular machine came with a "lifetime" warranty on the stainless drum which only applied if I used their services. Second, the price of a new rear outer drum was reduced to C$84.40. Labour was the killer, C$250, quoted in advance. I was told they would preassemble the parts before coming to my home.

What is interesting is that there were two techs working on it and they arrived with a complete, fully assembled tub assembly. I did not pay for a new front outer tub.

I had already moved the machine out from it's normal position and taken off the top and rear panels.It took them a bit over an hour to re/re the whole thing, connect up the machine and test for leaks. I learned that mine was their first repair its type.

The grand total with taxes was $363.72 in Canuck Bucks. :shock:

After reading the warranty info I later found in my file, I may have a claim for at least the cost of the rear half outer tub. I have yet to follow up on that. The firm is Totem Applainces, Burnaby BC and yes I would call them again any time. Labour is warranteed for 30 days, parts for one year.

When I was in Totem's parts department I learned that Sears Canada is the only source for the complete tub replacement as a single part at C$149. Totem cannot order that part from Electrolux.

I am still angry that the most important part in this front loader, its tank and wash drum, are so prone to premature failure. I can't see any qualified engineer signing off on such a design. What I can see is some MBA exec deciding to make it cheaper and getting his bonus for the idea.

This turned out as well as it did because of the backgound info I found here! Congrats to all the Gurus!!!

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