I Fixed The Washing Machine -- And I Have Some Things To Tell You

Ok, we have a Kenmore washer and it started making the most horrible griding noise ever.  Of course, that's when I think, "Oh crap, here we go having to buy a new washer.  Now is NOT the time."

Well, as luck would have it, a Google search of "My washer is making a grinding noise" yielded instructions on how to replace the "motor coupling" which is designed to fail so your motor and transmission (yes, a washer has a transmission.  I was shocked too) are not destroyed by a malfunction.

Well, it was a wonderful opus on how to take off the cabinet (the metal that is around the bowl) and all of that.  When I was confused by the lack of ways to take off the console I started poking around until I found an unwilling store manager who didn't want me to call the corporate office on her.  She had a technician call me (he was the only nice person I talked to all day) and he said, "Oh, don't take the cabinet off."

Sweet!

So, without further ado, the easy way to fix the motor coupling on your Kenmore (and many other kinds of washers including Whirlpool.)  (There's the coupling right there.)

1. Unplug the washer.  Please.
2. Pull it out from the wall and tip it back.  You want to lean it against the wall so much that it won't fall on you.  For everyone this is different, but you just need to feel like you can stick your head under the washer and it won't fall down.  Believe me, this is preferable to taking off the whole cabinet and dealing with all of that.  When a tech tells you that adds half an hour to his job that means it's going to take you AT LEAST an hour.  That's bad.
3. When you tip the washer back you'll see everything.  There's a water pump (it's attached to the side of the motor, the motor, and the bowl.  That's pretty much it.
4. There are two metal clamps that hold the water pump to the motor.  They have been annealed on the ends.  Just push up the annealed end and it should pop off.  Pop off both springs and gently pull the pump away from the motor.  DO NOT REMOVE ANY HOSES.  It's not worth it.  Just kind of push it to the side.  It won't go too far, but it'll be fine.
5. Now you have the motor exposed.  It has a rod sticking out of the side which is what you pulled the water pump off of.  PLEASE TAKE NOTE what direction the rod is pointing.  It's shaped like a flattened oval.  So, it only fits on the water pump one way.  Be sure you know which way this is.  It's very IMPORTANT.  If not, you'll fight to get the motor back on and realize you have the rod turned the wrong direction and you'll have to redo this all over again (like I did.)
6. Remove the electrical connections to the motor.  It's just one set of them that are altogether.  It's no different that the 17 pin connections for old printers.  Just slide it off gently.  There may be other wires, but they don't come off and the wires are usually much longer.  So, don't bother.  Just do the big one. 
7. There are two clamps holding the motor in place.  Each one pops on with an annealed end, but is also screwed on.  In my case I needed a 1/4 inch socket.  Just gently remove the top on first, because it's harder, then pop off the bracket.  
8. Then, place your hand under the motor, because it is HEAVY and will drop, and unscrew the other screw.  Gently let the motor down to the floor.
9. At this point you probably see the broken motor coupling.  Something is cracked or out of place.  Remove all of that and get ready to start over.  If the male ends don't come off the transmission or motor grab a pair of pliers and gently rock them back and forth to get them off.
10. One of the white plastic pieces goes on both the motor and the transmission.  They may not feel like they go on very easily, and that's ok.  Take a larger socket, get it on the wrench, and place the socket on the face of the white piece (NOT the prongs) and gently tap it into place.  Hammering it will break it.
11. Now, you have to put this thing back together.  Were I you, I'd put the black piece (the center piece) on the transmission end so all you're doing it trying to fit the prongs from the motor side (your side) into place. 
12. Ok, this is where you scoot up to the washer.  Pick the motor and gently slide it up to the transmission.  Use your knees/legs to help hold up the motor and you GENTLY slide it into position.  Be gentle, it may take you more than one try.  ALSO remember that you need to have the motor rod turned the right direction so that when you get this done the rod is pointing the right way AND it will fit back into the water pump.  That's a big deal.
13. Once the motor slides back into place (and you'll know because all of the sudden this job felt easy -- just for a moment) hold the motor up with your knees/legs and place the clamps back on.  Remember, take your time.  Get one on and screw it back in, then to the other.  You'll need your knees/legs for leverage because clamping the clamps back on requires more force than you would think.
14. With everything screwed back on on the motor's end, lay back down under the unit and place the water pump back on the motor (very easy) and replace the clamps.  They only go in one place, so you won't get lost.
15. Guess what?  You're done.

That's the easy way.  Please do it for any Kenmore or Whirlpool washer -- I bet it works with others too.  But, in particular, I was working on a Kenmore Elite Model # 110.24972300.  If you don't know your model number it's exposed when you open the lid.

Happy handymanning!

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Wow, It's Been A While

So, I'm still working for genxxl.com and I've been writing all over the place since January. Please come visit us! We always like more traffic! We've got sports, fitness, nutrition, diet, exercise, gossip--the whole nine yards.

I can't believe I haven't been in here since January!

Anyways, Things are really looking up. Work is going well--school is going well--and the Lakers won yet ANOTHER NBA title! What can I say, I'm a sucker for the Lakers!

I think it's been such a crazy year because 2009 had it's own craziness, but that craziness was not nearly as fun as this craziness. There's alot of potential coming to fruition in 2010 and it's a cool thing.

My Band program is growing and expanding--I can finally teach like I need to. Not like I want to--but like I've needed to. It's nuts that I spent so many years doing it without any support and now I've got so much support I don't know what to do with it all.

I'm not even sure what the rest of 2010 will bring, but it's definitely going to be interesting with a new baby coming at the end of September and probably about 200 kids to manage--plus all of my writing duties.

What's happening in your 2010. I'd kinda like to know! :)

Come Visit Me

I'm working pretty hard with my wife Heather over at genxxl.com.

We've got sports, fitness, nutrition, and a pending redesign. Yes, I'm not here, but I am there!

I'm writing as The General and running a feed on Twitter as genxxlgeneral.

I've Been Working, But Not Here

So, I've taken on some freelance writing jobs and I'm officially out of time to write here...yeah, no time at all.  I'll chime in every now and then to keep things updated, but as of now I'd probably be better off if I just got to work.

Please check back in every now and then to see if I have anything new going on.

Peace...

A day without a perdurable is like a day without sunshine

Yeah, I know, sounds weird, but I like the idea.  According to the magic of the internet a perdurable is:  Very durable; lasting; continuing long.  Like a perdurable truth....something that you can teach your kids or, if you teach school, your students.  Something like "Perfect practice makes a perfect performance" or "Anything is possible."  (Personally, I like the Adidas slogan 'Impossible is Nothing', but my kids don't really get abstract advertising yet.)

The perdurable for the day:  John Wooden says "Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."  

My baby has courage.  The FP is 4 we go hiking today and she walked up to 3 different people today who were walking their dogs and said "Can we pet your dog please?" with no trepidation whatsoever.

We've always said our kids were fearless, but this is just the coolest thing...they have little to no fear.  It will serve them well.  

I wish I was fearless, but you know what?  That's what I can wish for my kids to have better than me.

Peace.

Doing More Of My Own Thing

It just so happens that I'm not with a High School Marching Band Staff this fall. I guess the economy has hit even healthy non-profits so I'm out of work at the present time in the whole marching band area. When I got the word I was NOT pleased and not sure what we were going to do. After a week to reflect I've pretty much landed a freelance gig writing on men's fashion, shoes and fragrances, gotten good feedback from other bands about helping them out, and gotten my materials out to a bunch of local schools so I can pick up some more private students.

At the end of the day I felt alot more free. I was reminded a few years ago that I have unique talents that could be harnessed to enrich kids and produce income for my family. The example that was given to me was a lady who held a camp in the woods one each summer for middle and high schools kids and she cleared more than I make in a year in that one week. That's not bad.

So, everything seems to be falling into place. I was telling my Pastor about this and he came out of the blue with this idea for using this campground that's right here in Metro Atlanta. I mean, I have a good idea in hand, I don't need to have hundreds upon hundreds of kids attend to do well for myself on it, it'll be something I love doing, and I don't have to go to the hills of North Cacalack or Tennessee to do it? That's what I'm talking about!

I guess the thing that makes this the easiest is the idea that I have an entire school year to figure this thing out, prep it, promote it, fill it and do it. Even on the smallest scale I could have 10 kids come to my first event, hold it at a church and do quite well for everyone involved. That's promising.

That's doing your own thing. Everyone forgets that even the biggest started small. I guess we're starting real small.

Getting Back in a Groove.

So, we reconciled on one more last hoorah at the Dis in August.  This should be a fun trip where we're going to be exceedingly organized and be able to do everything we want to do.  We found a picnic lunch option at Animal Kingdom, we're taking the kids to Sanaa, Heather's going to have free time at DHS and I'll have free time at Epcot.  Quite perfect I think.

I haven't posted for a while here because I started a sports blog called "The MM Sports Link" 

Plus, I just started a blog for my Bass Clarinet material called "The Bass Clarinet Guru"

Please check out my other stuff as I branch out into the blogging world.

We've got alot going on at home with the summer rolling along and my attempts to expand my musical teaching pursuits.  I'm looking for more private students and multiple teaching jobs with local marching bands.  Needless to say, it's busy around here.

Keep in touch!

Peace.