39 replies to this topic

[yukong]

Greetings.  I'm new to the forum and I need help.  We have a Sears Calypso top loading washer.  Model number listed on the manual is 110.2206*2408.  We got it about 6 years ago.  It has run fine for that entire time up until the past week or so. 

One day last week, my wife was running a load and it stopped during the spin cycle.   It just shut itself off.  It showed the "ob" error code.  I then restarted the washer and it began the cycle again, and it was very very loud.  It was banging loud, and then it shut off again with the "ob" message.  We rearranged the load, and after a few tries, it finally finished the cycle.  But it was very loud.  On one try, while it was spinning and banging loud, I just opened the lid and the tub was just slinging all over the place. 

It did finish another load or two but now it won't finish a cycle at all.  It shut down doing sheets this weekend.  I tried and tried to rearrange the load, but it just wouldn't finish.  It kept throwing the "ob" error and shutting down.  So, I removed all the items from the washer and tried to finish the wash empty.  And still when it got to high speed spin, it would bang around and then throw the "ob" error and shut down. 

When I move the tub around by hand, I hear water sloshing around in the outer tub.  I turned the unit over, and there was water in the outer tub sump.  I removed the pump to see if it was clogged and it wasn't but water ran out of the bottom sump area.  The sump was full, and it appeared there was water above the sump also.  A fair amount ran out when I removed the hoses. 

I am just not sure that it is the pump.  Is there supposed to be any water in the outer tub or sump during the spin cycle? 

Also, the flat pancake pump wheel is hard to turn by hand.  I'm talking about the black plastic one and not the motor itself.  But I'm not sure how easy it is to turn.   Also, the shocks seem a bit weak.  Not sure how firm they should be.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated. 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Is the washer draining?

Make sure you are using "hE" detergent since these things wack out on foam.

You can run it with the covers off. Don't raise the top too much with it running in case it fills or sprays. The switches are to ground the motor for your safety with the panels open. When they are back in place it ungrounds the motor parts. Just don't touch things in there while it's on.

First I would try it in spin with nothing in it to see if it spins smooth. I think you can push "extended spin " then "start" to just drain & spin for you. I had a basket hub rot out on one & the basket wobbled off true. Also the wash plate in the basket is supposed to self level when in spin.

Try it with some clothes in it & see if it will nutate then drain then self level the plate then spin smooth. The base has 4 shock struts & the system hangs from suspension rods. Make sure they are not broken or disconnected. The basket has a liquid filled balance ring. If you shake the tub or open the lid in spin you may hear the liquid in there,meaning it's not cracked. I don't see any off balance swiitches or sensors ,so it looks like off balance detection is done by the motor controller sensing the load strain on the motor.

According to my manual it says "ob = off balance.... If the motor controller detects an unrecoverable off balance condition,the machine controller will shut down & display an "ob" for off balance. The lid switch must be opened at least once before restarting the cycle, if this condition occurs. Opening the lid will allow the customer to view and redistribute the load. Press stop cancel to clear the display." I thought these were to go extinct & now I'm seeing them more? Good luck.

[mark mac]

You probably have something stuck in the sump which is leaving water in the tub throwing it off balance remove the basket   and clean it out

[yukong]

Well, after more testing, I think I can rule out the pump or water in the sump.  I drained the sump and basket.  There may be a small amount of water in the sump, but just a minimal amount. 

I then powered up the washer.  No water connected.  Front panel off.  I tried to finish the last wash cycle.  It had 6 minutes left.  When it got down to about the 4 minute mark when it began the spin, it did fine for a minute or so until it got to the high speed spin.  Then the basket/tub began to sling around a lot.  There was a banging sound, and then after 30 seconds or so, there was a "clunk" sound and the washer stopped. 

What other possible issues could it be?  And, would repairs of those issues be cost effective? 

Thanks

[appl.tech.29501]

There were clothes in the machine when you did that last spin test? If so, try it without the clothes as well.

[yukong]

I'm sorry, I should have said...there were no clothes in the washer.  It was completely empty.  

[appl.tech.29501]

was the bang you reffered to the tub hitting the cabinet?

With the tub centered and looking closely and carefully if you grab the top left and right of the tub and push straight down and let go...does the tub spring up and stop or does it go up and down a couple of times?

[yukong]

When pushing down on the tub, it slowly springs back up and stops.  It doesn't go down but a couple of inches.  But it does come back up with no bouncing up and down.

The "clunk" seems to come from the drive mechanism.  Doesn't sound like it is hitting the cabinet.  However, when it is in the high speed spin before it shuts off, it is banging around quite a bit so I'm not sure.  But my first impression was it was in the drive mechanism.  Like a brake setting or something.   Because it stops spinning almost immediately. 

[yukong]

The tub does seem quite wobbly though.  I don't remember it being able to sling left and right/front and back as it did, but I never rally paid that much attention to it.  Also, I removed one of the shocks and it was pretty easy to pull in and out.  But I don't know how rigid they are supposed to be.

[appl.tech.29501]

about how old is this machine?

[yukong]

6-7 years old. 

[appl.tech.29501]

Have you always used HE detergent? Are you on well water or have hard water?

[yukong]

We have always used HE detergent.  We are on city water.  But the water is hard.

[appl.tech.29501]

With the many problems this particular machine could have to cause this scenario it's really hard to tell you or narrow down the problem without actually being there or the machine being torn down and inspected.

Even though it sounds like the suspension may be the culprit it could also be the metal block that is attached to the bottom of the wash basket..they can break down over time an com apart. Normally when this happens you will have a different fault code.

If you were going to do the repair yourself I'd recommend an inspection of that before I did anything else. You may find that other problems lurk in the near future by doing the inspection.

I am thinking the shocks are the problems though.

[yukong]

I am guessing when we discuss "shocks" we are talking about the two shocks that attach to the bottom of the tub/basket and the front frame support beam?  I took one of them off and was able to pull it in and out fairly easily.  I don't know how tight they are supposed to be.  Also, you can pull it completely apart.   Interesting note... when I first pulled the bottom access plate off I noticed a puddle of what seemed like oil.  Not engine/motor oil, but more like hydrolic oil.  I wasn't sure if it was oil or detergent, but I don't know how detergent could get there.  My first thought was it was from the shocks, but I don't know if there is oil in them or not.

[appl.tech.29501]

No sorry, I was referring to the vertical shock springs.

However,I would try and pinpoint that oil first. Those bottom shocks will come apart as you said, that's normal.

[DADoESTX]

Another possibility related to excess oscillation during spin ... hub broken loose on the basket. Been there, done that. Note that the basket has a "limited lifetime" parts warranty.

[yukong]

OK.  I have frittered around with this some more, and I still am stumped.  I even called out a Sears repair man.  I wasn't home when he came but my wife was, and he didn't even start it up.  He said it might be the pump (which I have effectively ruled out) and he also said it could be the suspension rods.  However, I don't know how to tell if those are bad.  He did not start it up.  In fact, my wife said that he looked and when he saw it was a Calypso, he didn't act like he really wanted to do anything.  Anyway, he didn't charge a service fee, so I guess nothing was lost.  Anyway, I have looked at it some more, and I noticed that the wash plate (I guess that is what it is called) doesn't seem level.  As can be seen in the attached photo, it seems like it is lower on one side than the other, based on the large gap on the top side.  (The Sears guy said the rubber gasket had shrunk in that spot, but that isn't how I see it). 

Could this be related?

[appl.tech.29501]

I've never see one that had a gap like that. can you press the wash plate side to side and make it roll smoothly by hand? No the seal hasn't shrunk...he was blowing smoke at your wife because he didnt wanna be involved in your washer repair.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

That looks like its from a wallered out u-joint. You'll need the u-joint kit==> http://www.repaircli...oint-kit/959506

and maybe the tub nut==> http://www.repaircli...Fastener/905553

and possibly even a new wash plate==> http://www.repaircli...sh-Plate/959483

Invite the neighbors over and have a repair party!