Kenmore Trash Compactor 665.1473 Reaches Bottom and Won't Stop

[khaberst]

I have a Kenmore Trash Compactor, but they all seem to be the exact same parts. When the trash compactor is in the down cycle it works fine but will not return UP and continue to try and compact down resulting in grinding gears and the gears being destroyed. I've gone through two sets of gears and even replaced the motor thinking it was the centrifugal switch that was broken and not engaging to make the compactor return up. If I kill power to the unit (unplug) and then plug it back in it will return to the top position. Which part would be causing this behavior? Should I replace the directional switch next? 

[khaberst]

Update: I just tested the continuity of the directional switch and all seems to be fine with it... I'm at a complete loss on why this thing won't stop running in the down position and return up. 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Pretty much got to be something to do with the limit switches - the way the motor works is like a washer motor that will run in either direction depending on the polarity of the start windings in regards to the run windings.

The limit switches change the polarity and it works on the principle that when the motor has compacted the trash as much as it can/reaches bottom stroke the motor will stall which lets the motor/centrifugal switch go back to a closed/start position and then restarts in the opposite direction thus raising the ram.

[khaberst]

Yeah I've replaced the entire motor already which would be the centrifugal/limit switch is integrated into right? The directional switch with the long arm the ram hits all tested fine all my multimeter for continuity. I think it may be a set of cheap gears I was using off amazon. I got whirlpool OEM coming today that I hope will work. I ran the unit on it's side so I could see what the gears were doing, when it reaches bottom the motor gear (the small one) begins to free spin and grinds the big gear without moving it, so I don't think they are engaging with each other enough. 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

18 hours ago, khaberst said:

Yeah I've replaced the entire motor already which would be the centrifugal/limit switch is integrated

The centrifugal/motor switch is integrated into the motor - it remove the start windings from the circuit when the motor is up to full speed.

The limit switches are for the travel of the ram - It's been a long time since I've worked on a trash compactor.  If I remember correctly there are usually two limit switches, an upper and a lower.  The lower would only come into play if there is no trash to be compacted and the ram goes all the way to the bottom.  I could be wrong on the lower.

If the ram gets to the bottom and the main big gear stops turning and the small gear is still turning then the motor won't stall and either something is stripped out on the gearing or you didn't secure the small gear to the motor correctly and when it get to the full down position it can't stall the motor.

[khaberst]

Well turns out buying the cheaper $45 drive gears off amazon is not a good idea. They were the problem, as the gears teeth did not tightly align and when there was resistance they instantly grind and strip, so the motor never feels enough resistance to reverse. I purchased the $80 Whirlpool OEM gears and instantly when installing them they were a tight fit with ZERO play. Works great... Now I guess I have a spare motor if this one ever goes out... Lesson learned, spent over $280 in parts trying to be cheap.