Washer question..

[hunterhawk]

Wife put some towels in the washer.. Was running fine for a while then all of a sudden it started making a high pitch whining sound.. And now that sound isn't going away.. Is the motor about to go out? I obviously stopped it. 1 because I figured its probably not a good thing. And 2 it's annoying as heck! But this is great timing with our first kid due in march! Don't have a lot of money so hoping I don't have to buy a new one.. But if that's how it has to be so be it.. Open to thoughts or advice.
thanks, Craig

[two shoes]

During spin cycle or agitated wash? (top loader?)

[SideShow Bob]

Pull the front cover off and grease/lube the bearings, and see if the noise goes away. Or it could be the drive belt, cheap fix.
Kept a washer going like this for 3 years by lubing the bearings every few weeks.

[hunterhawk]

Top loader and agitated wash

[rockhound]

Check the sphitzer valve

[hunterhawk]

What the heck is a sphitzer valve... Off to google/ YouTube

[Ridge]

What the heck is a sphitzer valve... Off to google/ YouTube

It's attached to the Henway.

[fly boy]

Sounds like the motor.

I thought it was my belt slipping, messed with it and the noise went away. next load almost done and noise cam back, then the washer stopped... motor was shot. $1500 new front loader washer and dryer instead of a $70 motor, but mama's happy.

[two shoes]

Pull the front cover off and grease/lube the bearings, and see if the noise goes away. Or it could be the drive belt, cheap fix.
Kept a washer going like this for 3 years by lubing the bearings every few weeks.
You may or may not get access from the front, some older Kenmores you had to go in from the back or the top itself. Grease (if geared) may limp it along until you can get a new/used one. What make/model?

[seagoing3]

Same issue at my house tonight. Wife put a load of towel in and the washer ran for a bit and stopped. I'm beginning to hate this washer. It's a maytag epic z front loader. I may need a washer repair guy tomorrow any suggestions of who to use in the Lakewood golden area?

[Irving]

Speaking of washers, I had a washer issue a while back (again, wife+bed sheets) and a piece actually feel out of my washer. After inspecting it, finding two other identical pieces, and reinstalling it correctly, I still couldn't figure out what the heck the piece is for. Here are some pictures. Any ideas? Top loader, three of these things.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g8NERx_N9Qg/UQX7a0edYKI/AAAAAAAAA6E/GKLQcUbiQbE/s901/washer+1.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PtFDnEtJnmA/UQX7bFo6qdI/AAAAAAAAA6I/LHqOuLRHgH8/s901/washer2.jpg
and installed
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NMZotrSa9MY/UQX7ba4uO6I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/yGmgLy8xMHU/s508/washer3.jpg

[sniper7]

Speaking of washers, I had a washer issue a while back (again, wife+bed sheets) and a piece actually feel out of my washer. After inspecting it, finding two other identical pieces, and reinstalling it correctly, I still couldn't figure out what the heck the piece is for. Here are some pictures. Any ideas? Top loader, three of these things.


and installed


that's a three piece henway.

[Irving]

that's a three piece henway.

I don't think so, because they weren't about 3 pounds each, or even combined.

[BuffCyclist]

I don't know if this matters, but I only wash 1 or 2 towels in a load at a time (they're egyptian cotton towels that suck up a TON of water). If I have more towels to wash than that, I split the load up to two smaller loads.

When I used to rent apartments/houses, the landlords were always buying the cheapest appliances out there. If I tried to wash 3 towels, they soaked up so much water, they would get out of balance, go all crazy, nearly topple the washer, then shut off. At which point I would need to pull out the sopping wet towels, repack them as symmetrically as I could, then start the cycle again. I can imagine that if this happens enough times, it could lead to an early death of the washer.

When my Fiancee and I bought our house, we bought some very nice front loading machines. Since I don't want to replace them anytime soon, I wash everything in smaller loads.

Or am I just thinking about it too hard?

[Gman]

Speaking of washers, I had a washer issue a while back (again, wife+bed sheets) and a piece actually feel out of my washer. After inspecting it, finding two other identical pieces, and reinstalling it correctly, I still couldn't figure out what the heck the piece is for. Here are some pictures. Any ideas? Top loader, three of these things
I believe those are shipping pins that secure the basket and tub during shipping. They fall into the cups when the clips are removed. They're not needed.

"Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State."

[hunterhawk]

It's akenmore.. I will have to go home to get the exact one.. Just a quick look over it didn't look like the front just comes off.. Looks more like the back.. It's full of water so ill either have to bail or something so I can move the dang thing around

[rockhound]

I believe those are shipping pins that secure the basket and tub during shipping. They fall into the cups when the clips are removed. They're not needed.

"Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State."

ha you got it, i beat you to it though, i will have to watch the movie again, i thought he said sphitzer valve, probably just my old mind playing tricks on me..... [ROFL2]

[buffalobo]

Top loader with noise most likely is pump(most are cheap built, even on expensive models) or transmission. Set controls to pump out water(end of wash or spin cycle if dial controls), if it will pump out like normal then problem is most likely trans/drive issue.

Pull out far enough to access back, usually at least an inspection panel that with some gymnastics and flashlight you should be able to see/hear/feel issue.

[Gman]

If it's anything like my old Kenmore (Whirlpool), you removed the screws at the lower outside corners of the control panel and the control panel pivoted up and hung over the back of the washer. There were 2 spring clips under the panel that could be snapped off with a screwdriver and the entire sheet-metal shell slipped up and off allowing full access to the internals.

[kwando]

I don't know if this matters, but I only wash 1 or 2 towels in a load at a time (they're egyptian cotton towels that suck up a TON of water). If I have more towels to wash than that, I split the load up to two smaller loads.

When I used to rent apartments/houses, the landlords were always buying the cheapest appliances out there. If I tried to wash 3 towels, they soaked up so much water, they would get out of balance, go all crazy, nearly topple the washer, then shut off. At which point I would need to pull out the sopping wet towels, repack them as symmetrically as I could, then start the cycle again. I can imagine that if this happens enough times, it could lead to an early death of the washer.

When my Fiancee and I bought our house, we bought some very nice front loading machines. Since I don't want to replace them anytime soon, I wash everything in smaller loads.

Or am I just thinking about it too hard?

Yes!! I have a friend that sells and fixes appliances and most washers break because users OVERLOAD them. Run smaller loads can extend the life of your washer and dryer

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

Speaking of washers, I had a washer issue a while back (again, wife+bed sheets) and a piece actually feel out of my washer. After inspecting it, finding two other identical pieces, and reinstalling it correctly, I still couldn't figure out what the heck the piece is for. Here are some pictures. Any ideas? Top loader, three of these things.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g8NERx_N9Qg/UQX7a0edYKI/AAAAAAAAA6E/GKLQcUbiQbE/s901/washer+1.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PtFDnEtJnmA/UQX7bFo6qdI/AAAAAAAAA6I/LHqOuLRHgH8/s901/washer2.jpg
and installed
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NMZotrSa9MY/UQX7ba4uO6I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/yGmgLy8xMHU/s508/washer3.jpg

that peice is just there from when it was shipped. If you bought it new you may remeber having to pull a tab before use. There is a cotter pin attached to that pin and when you pull the tab that pin drops in the plastic holder to never be used agin. I hope you didnt spend all day trying to figure ot where it goes.

As for the OP if you have a GE or maytag it sound like your bearings are going bad and it is not usaually economical to fix probly around $300-$400 and if you want to try to fix it yourself there are special tools you will need.

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

My family has a appliance store off of I70 and dahlia I can hook you up and they have a one year warranty and its member owned PM me if you are interested. We sell used appliances though