Kenmore 500 - Water Leak Damaging Shift Actuator Repeatedly

[aj-500]

My Kenmore Series 500 washer (Model 110.25132411) has an internal water leak that repeatedly damages the shift actuator approximately every two weeks.

Any insight as to what to check on the water that is damaging the shift actuator?

Thank you!

 

A little bit more info below:

The washer had a malfunctioning shift actuator. I installed a new one, and in about two weeks time it failed again. I installed yet another one, and it failed again. At this point, I checked the third failed shift actuator, and realized it had remnants of water. This leads me to believe that the washer is leaking water somewhere and this makes it way to the shift actuator and damages it.

There is no water visible on the floor underneath the washer appliance.

This the washer is leaking water, and it shouldn't. And the washer is damaging the shift actuator and it shouldn't.

It is of note that when I install a new shift actuator, the washer works properly for about 1 week... until it gets damaged with water again.

[citizenX]

Probably a leaking tub seal. Could also be a crack in bottom of the plastic outer tub but more usually probably a tub seal. If it is just the tub seal, I believe on that unit the seal is not available as a separate part and you have to get the entire gearcase. 

[aj-500]

@citizenXthank you!   I just ordered the gear case!  Amazingly, Searspartsdirect.com had cheaper price on the original one than amazon.

 

I'll update once it arrives and I install it.

I thought of buying a new washer machine with this week's black friday sales, yet... I can't accept a fully functional machine that I "throw away" because I couldn't fix it.

 

Thanks again @citizenX

[citizenX]

I understand! Don't know if you're familiar with it, but there is a bolt under the cap on the washplate you have to take out to remove the washplate. In a perfect world, the washplate will then just lift straight up off the gearcase shaft. In the real world however, it will be stuck and will require a LOT of work and cussing to remove it. Under the washplate is a plastic driveblock held in place by a plastic u-shaped retainer clip. slide that clip out and the driveblock should lift up and off.

Of course you'll be pulling the inner basket all the way out to replace the gearcase, but once you get that far, inspect the splines in the plastic hub drive block. If the splines are worn, you may want to replace that drive block. There is also an upgrade kit available that replaces the plastic drive hub with a more reliable metal one. That metal hub kit is part number W10324651. Here is a video showing more about it: 

 

Good luck! 

Edited November 24, 2024 by citizenX