My old Kenmore portable washer does not spin in the wash cycle. If I keep the safety switch locked down, when it comes to time of spinning, and I start to spin the tub by hand it starts to work. After a couple of washes it will do it automatically, but only with the switch held down.
What is wrong? It can not be switch and the belt is not broken. I need to know if I should just buy another portable washer. Thank you.
By Bronxboy from Mesa, AZ
In my machine, there is a plastic pin under the machine lid that forces the switch down in the spin cycle when the lid is closed. That pin has probably broken. You can get the replacement part online, probably. When it happened to me the machine was still under warranty so I was able to have it fixed for free.
The pic is of the lid, about to be closed, with the pin directly over the switch hole.
If the safety pin is working, and it sounds like it is, you probably need a new belt for the drum. The fact that the tub spins once you start it means the belt is still there, but may not be tight enough to generate the friction necessary to start the spinning process.
Take the back off the washer, and you should see the belt at the bottom of the tub. You can probably even get the Kenmore manual from their website if you need more help.
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I have an 8 year old Kenmore washing machine. It will not spin after a wash cycle, on it's own. Every now and then it will. However, if I turn it to the spin cycle, it will spin out just fine. I have replaced the transmission and that wasn't the problem. Now what?
Most washing machines built in the last 15 years are direct drive, so they do not have belts. When it stops spinning it usually is the coupler between the motor and the water pump!
My Maytag washing machine, model#sav405daww, doesn't spin on any wash cycle. The pulley on the motor turns and the belt is intact. All of the other cycles work including agitate.
