Kenmore washer motor problem

Have a 1999 Kenmore 110.28912791 direct drive washing machine (Whirlpool manufactured it). Would not agitate (motor hum only) or spin (loud clickety noise). I disconnected the reversing motor from pump and transmission. Noise coming from distorted motor coupler-needs to be replaced. I then bypassed the lid switch and tested the motor. When set to spin, motor shaft turned freely. When set to agitate, motor only hums.

Repair Clinic says motor can be working in one direction and not in the other. They say motor needs to be replaced. Before I spend $175 or so, does any other cheaper remedy suggest itself to anyone? If not, should I spend money on this repair or buy new?

Thanks for any help.

 

Will it work in delicate? Problem could very well be the motor but could also be a bad timer ($$) . Verify motor capacitor is good, too. Also wiggle the connector to the motor and check for any arcing while in agitate mode with power applied. Scott

 

Thanks for your suggestions. Motor hums in other wash (agitate) settings as well as in norml wash. Does this rule out timer? Jiggling wire connection did not seem to have any consequence. Read capacitor with digital vometer set for ohms-got a low reading which steadily rose to 150K. I think that means capacitor is ok?? What would you conclude from these data? Once again, thanks for your help.

 

It doesn't rule out the timer. If the low and high agitation speeds don't work you would have to conclude for the motor to be bad that the low and high run windings are both bad. Not usually the case. You need to check if you're getting 120v down to the run winding.

 

Scoash
Thanks again for your comments and suggestions. How do I test the run winding for 120 v?

 

You'd need a voltmeter and check the schematic diagram to see which wire it is. Your motor has a start winding that helps the motor get started, then when it starts it cuts out of the cicuit through the centrifugal switch on the motor. Then there are run windings, 2 or 3, that are powered up at the same time as the start winding (only one at a time, depending on the speed selected), but once started they aren't cut out of the circuit. So if the washer spins it means the start winding is ok and at least one of the run windings.