Washing Machine Squeaks, Burning Rubber Smell

[TromboneAl]

Looks like it's appliance repair time. I'm just about to open up the washing machine. I hope it's just a bad belt.

 

[Bir48die]

I don’t mess with appliances in general. Except my microwave which is part of the oven which is $3,500 to replace the set. Washers and dryers I buy with no hesitation

 

[Texas Proud]

You must have one of those old top loaders!!!


Wish I had one... the 'new' front loader will wrinkle the clothes that the top loader never did...


BTW, DW is now complaining that our front loader is 'old' since it has a problem with a fuzzy robe of DD which weighs 10 lbs or more when full of water... the machine cannot handle the out of balance and make thumping noises...


I have told DW and DD a number of times NOT to put it in the washer and think it can spin it.... without success... DW thinks a 'new' machine would be able to handle it..

 

[TromboneAl]

My biggest repair successes have been with our washer and dryer (both 26 years old).

This may be a false alarm. I had a screwdriver in my pocket when I put my dirty jeans in. Apparently, washing tools is some kind of no-no. And I was washing some rubbery gloves.

My hypothesis is that something got wedged where it shouldn't have and made the belt slip.

Trying again (without the screwdriver or gloves) ...

 

[ERD50]

I don’t mess with appliances in general. ... Washers and dryers I buy with no hesitation

A washer or dryer fix can be cheap & easy. Some history:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/crazy-to-try-to-fix-a-27-yo-wash-machine-67469.html

So I find a belt set on amazon for $15 with shipping. Other than removing those two screws to pull the panel out, no other tools are needed - the belts just slip over the pulleys, the motor is spring-loaded to tension the belts, so that's it.

Like I said, cheap & easy. Easier than shopping for a new washer, and arranging for delivery and installation. And that washer is still doing fine.

-ERD50

 

[Walt34]

A washer or dryer fix can be cheap & easy.

I have to agree, it is sometimes worthwhile to look up the make, model & symptoms. I once almost wrote off a washing machine (knowing zilch about them) but looked it up. Watched a 10 or 15-minute youtube video and fixed it for a total of $12, fifteen minutes, and a screwdriver as the only tool.

That said there have been times when I said "Nope, not gonna get into it that deep" but at least I had an idea of what the cause was and what the bill should be.

 

[Bamaman]

If you must replace, go for Speed Queen. My wife washes all day long, and she loves hers.

 

[Dawg52]

Looks like it's appliance repair time. I'm just about to open up the washing machine. I hope it's just a bad belt.

Anything like this one?

 

[ncbill]

You must have one of those old top loaders!!!


Wish I had one... the 'new' front loader will wrinkle the clothes that the top loader never did...


BTW, DW is now complaining that our front loader is 'old' since it has a problem with a fuzzy robe of DD which weighs 10 lbs or more when full of water... the machine cannot handle the out of balance and make thumping noises...


I have told DW and DD a number of times NOT to put it in the washer and think it can spin it.... without success... DW thinks a 'new' machine would be able to handle it..

We switched over to HE washer & dryer a decade ago...higher capacity meant washing only 1 load each of whites/colors/sheets/towels instead of 2-3.

But since it's just the two of us now if our HE machines break I'll just buy reconditioned old-style machines from the local used appliance store for around ~$200 each, delivered & installed.

 

[tb001]

A washer or dryer fix can be cheap & easy. Some history:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/crazy-to-try-to-fix-a-27-yo-wash-machine-67469.html



Like I said, cheap & easy. Easier than shopping for a new washer, and arranging for delivery and installation. And that washer is still doing fine.

-ERD50

Agreed. I fixed our washer with a $60 part and about an hour of time over the holidays. Cheaper and easier than having a repair person out too! DH called the repairman and it was going to take 4 days before they could get someone out. I checked youtube, was pretty sure I could fix it and amazon had free one day delivery on the part. We had two sick kids at the time so those extra three days of having a functional washer were critical! DH was ready to just buy a new one!

And as of today, our dryer is squealing... The problem with buying a 18 year old house—everything is in life support

 

[Jerry1]

BTW, DW is now complaining that our front loader is 'old' since it has a problem with a fuzzy robe of DD which weighs 10 lbs or more when full of water... the machine cannot handle the out of balance and make thumping noises...


I have told DW and DD a number of times NOT to put it in the washer and think it can spin it.... without success... DW thinks a 'new' machine would be able to handle it..

You need to put it in with some other stuff, like some towels, to counter balance the load. They’ll try to spin and then reverse until they can get the load balanced and then spin away. I can imagine a front loading washer that was bought in the last ten years wouldn’t be able to handle a robe. The first one we bought could spin a full load of towels with no problem.

 

[Bir48die]

So six years ago we sold our house and moved to our "forever" house (until were dragged out). It has "new" front load machines and we were giddy to be of the next generation to save energy. So, the washing machine would sound like a rocket taking off on the spin cycle and we weren't impressed with the dryer. So, to Sears (RIP) and two old style top loaders purchased. So happy

 

[Lakewood90712]

You must have one of those old top loaders!!!


Wish I had one... the 'new' front loader will wrinkle the clothes that the top loader never did...

You can have a washer that is both front loader drum , loaded from the top. Staber. Archaic design, expensive, and bulletproof. The 1st choice of folks living off grid.

Or just buy a SpeedQueen top loader. Semi expensive and semi bulletproof.

 

[samclem]

You can have a washer that is both front loader drum , loaded from the top. Staber. Archaic design, expensive, and bulletproof. The 1st choice of folks living off grid.

Or just buy a SpeedQueen top loader. Semi expensive and semi bulletproof.

Well, since you said it . . . I >may< have mentioned how much we like our Staber washer!


I thought I read that the newer Speed Queens weren't the reliable tanks that they used to be. I hope that's not true.

 

[REWahoo]

I thought I read that the newer Speed Queens weren't the reliable tanks that they used to be. I hope that's not true.

You are probably thinking of this article from last year:

Speed Queen: The Life (and Death) of Internet Commenters’ Favorite Washing Machine

"They don't make 'em like the used to" never rang more true.

 

[Texas Proud]

You need to put it in with some other stuff, like some towels, to counter balance the load. They’ll try to spin and then reverse until they can get the load balanced and then spin away. I can imagine a front loading washer that was bought in the last ten years wouldn’t be able to handle a robe. The first one we bought could spin a full load of towels with no problem.

It has been in with towels with no success... the weight of that one robe is so much more than anything else it will not be balanced...


I took it out the other day when yelling at DW and DD and put it in a garbage can... without us squeezing at all more than a quart of water drained out... we took it to the shower to wring out and I swear that there had to be more than a gallon we were able to wring out... AND it was still heavier than a towel!!! But, the machine was able to handle it at this weight...

 

[ERD50]

It has been in with towels with no success... the weight of that one robe is so much more than anything else it will not be balanced...


I took it out the other day when yelling at DW and DD and put it in a garbage can... without us squeezing at all more than a quart of water drained out... we took it to the shower to wring out and I swear that there had to be more than a gallon we were able to wring out... AND it was still heavier than a towel!!! But, the machine was able to handle it at this weight...

This actually sounds like a washer problem, not the dryer? Maybe the washer spin cycle isn't getting to full speed to get the water out before you put it in the dryer?

I actually did a semi-scientific experiment once or twice, weighing the clothes before the spin cycle, and after, and then doing another spin cycle. The 2nd cycle only marginally reduced the weight, I think the designers got it about right.

-ERD50