posted
The timer on our washing machine has gone out, and the replacement part with tax & shipping is about $115.
The annoying part is that it's mose likely not the entire timer that's bad, but simply the small motor (1/2 rpm?!) that's part of the complete timer mechanism. I don't think it's entirely shot, because the timer has worked in fits and starts, but it won't stay working.
Is there any way to coax this motor to work? Can I squirt some lubricant into it somewhere or something? There aren't any obvious places on the motor to do this, but can I put WD-40 or some graphite lubricant or something into the very small hole I can find without having a danger of it igniting or exploding or anything when I put it back in the washer? Or am I totally sunk?
Unfortunately, the motor doesn't remove easily from the timer. It's not welded on, but there are metal prongs bent to hold it in, and it's pretty darn snug. I might be able to bend them enough to get the motor out, but I almost assuredly couldn't bend them back in position and have the motor in as tight as it is now.
Thanks in advance, whether anyone is able to help or not.
posted
Does the motor spin easily? You probably can't tell, because it's trying to turn the timer mechanism.
I'd suspect the brushes aren't making good contact with the commutator.
Can you see any part inside the motor, like a commutator? Or does it just look like a metal can? The best way to clean a commutator is with emery cloth, but you have to get inside to do that. Sometimes there are little screw plugs that allow you to remove the brushes and clean it that way. You find those on drills, but I doubt this thing was designed to be serviced.
You could get some electronics cleaner and see if just spraying it inside the motor brings out any gunk. In addition to the commutator, that might clean the bearings as well. I don't know what effect WD-40 would have on the brushes if they get wet, so cleaning the bearings might be a better option anyway. Make sure you let it dry well before you run it again.
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posted
Yeah, it's pretty much a can. If there are any openings, they're on the side that faces the rest of the mechanism -- the side I can't get to. I can see inside and there's a small hole in the middle of the mostly-unreachable side. A WD-40 tube would fit in there, but even the briefest squirt of that junk would undoubtedly be way too much if I can't get in there to wipe away the excess. And I can't tell if the motor is spinning because there's no real way to see it if it's connected to the washing machine -- at least not without tools I don't have.
I think this was specifically designed not to be serviced, just so that I'd have to shell out big bucks for the replacement assembly. (Flargan Schnargan Beeblebrox!)
Since you are going to end up replacing the thing anyway, my advice is to take it apart and have a fun learning experience.
Motors are a pain in the following ways:
1) The motor itself is cheap and pretty much standardized.
2) The housings are NEVER standardized. Or usually not.
So, even if you could do something to the motor to "fix" it, if you damage the housing in any way, you're buying a new one whether you want to or not.
Spraying oil inside a motor is a patently bad idea. In fact, you could patent the idea if it weren't for the fact that I've already beaten you to it.
Sadly, while motors do sometimes need oiling, most are designed never to be oiled. In other words, they wear out and are replaced.
The suspicion that it's the contact between the brushes and the commutator is probably a good one as well. So, really, it's not likely that there's some friction that must be overcome by the application of a drop of oil and the thing will run great afterwards.
Most likely the brushes have fouled in some manner and would need to be cleaned.
So...here's a thought. Buy the new one. Take apart the old one. If you get it working, send the new one back. If you don't (and trust me, you won't) you won't have waited to order it.
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