my washing machine, again

A couple.

a) Some sort of restriction in the flow through the detergent cup. We have an LG that splits the flow when filling, running water through the detergen t cup *and* the drum when filling. If yours is different, make sure that th e flow through the detergent cup from the pump is unrestricted. b) The valve that switches from cup to drum may be sticking such that it do es not permit full flow when in the detergent position.

I try to look for simple mechanical issues before looking to software/elect ronic problems. As you state you have additional valve assemblies, I would suggest you tear one down via destructive demolition and see how it 'goes'. That may give you a clue as to what is going on now.

Good luck with it!

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Whoops! One more thing. Set the level control higher on the initial fill, if that is in any way adjustable. Then there would be less time required for the remaining fill. If this is a timing fault, that might cure it.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Yup, I thought of that. So, I rigged a length of tube to the detergent valve. Same result, about a trickle. Yes, there must be a restriction in the manifold to slow down the flow to these three dispensers, or they'd overflow all over the inside of the machine. But, I have THREE valve units aquired during diagnosing of various faults oveer the years, they all do the same.

The detergent cup is filled through the water supply, not by a pump.

Well, the direct fill valve is all by itself, upstream of the resriction. It is not part of the other valves.

Well, hate to destroy a "good" valve, they are pretty expensive. I am pretty sure that the electronics/relays are turning OFF the power to the direct fill valve, and that it is NOT a problem in the valve/solenoid. The bypass wire I put in seems to be working, so that any time EITHER relay is closed, both valves open. So, it seems to have fixed the main complaint, which was either very long wash cycles or the machine stopping with an error code. I'm fairly tempted to just stop here, as I can't see a downside to letting it run indefinitely like this. My wife does not even USE the detergent cup, or any of the other dispensers, anyway!

Thanks,

Jon

Well, you do have a control on the amount of water used, by selecting different cycles - it has about 10, ranging from small load to sheets/towels. The sheets/towels cycle would get 3 or more LF shutdowns and take some 30 - 45 minutes to fill the basket enough for the washing action to start. It now fills for that cycle in maybe 6 minutes with no shutdowns.

But, I have no way to set the times for different parts of the filling. That's all in the microprocessor. It probably does make that decision based on either the water level sensor or by deciding when the clutch disengages. It has one motor that is directly connected to the agitator in the bottom of the basket. The basket has a spling clutch to the motor shaft, and an air ring on the bottom. When the tub fills to a certain depth, the basket rises and disconnects from the motor, allowing it to agitate. Before the fill/lift/disconnect, it uses the motor to "weigh" the load, via sensing the rotational inertia.

Jon

Hate to say it, but the best solution is to go to a thrift store and get about a 30 old model.

I shall not buy new appliances.

Want more reason for that ? Look up a site called "Made By Monkeys". After reading that for a while you won't want anything new.

Well, this thing uses SO MUCH LESS water than our old machine, that it was immediately clear in our water bills! So, I'm not going back. And, our water is getting quite expensive, especially as we are billed twice for it! Once from the tap, then again for the sewer service.

And, aside from this quibble, it works OK. I ***AM*** going to get this working right, I just have to determine exactly WHAT is failing. By process of elimination, it EVENTUALLY has to become clear.

New theory is I have MULTIPLE problems. Maybe an intermittently bad relay and an intermittent solenoid valve, possibly with a bad connection thrown in, too. I've replaced the valves, again, and the relay, Waiting a few days to see if the trouble recurs.

Jon

I've replaced the valves, again, and the relay, Waiting a few

Well, it's been over a week, the machine is running great. So, problems solved until next time! (Yes, there always seems to be a next time!)

Jon

And if you want, some junk yards and metal recyclers have a we-buy-all-appliances policy. Call today.

No way! I spent SERIOUS money for this thing, and intend to wear it out. I've already replaced the main bearing/seal assembly once, and the drain pump once. Now that some of the kids have moved out, it only runs one shift a day, so ought to last a bit longer before major overhauls.

Jon

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Jon I hate to say it but I have to side with Jurb there. We just recently went through our fifth coffee maker. Each time one of these pieces of shit fails I go down to the basement and get the trusty old GE out of the box. This w as a wedding present in 1977 and in spite of the old lady's complaints abou t how stained it is, etc I've refused to get rid of it. In over 40 years I think I replaced a thermistor in it. Otherwise it's never failed us. (Hey I like the way the old veteran looks on the counter too and I think I've fin ally convinced her that we just went through our last crappy coffee maker).

I can relate similar stories about our refrigerator, toaster oven, and elec tric range.

The washing machine though is another story. It's a Maytag A106. Look it up if you want. It was the 1966 model. A simple helical drive piece of techno logy. My mother gave it to us in 1979 when they moved to Florida. It slid h alfway down a flight of stairs while moving it and continued to work for an other 20 some odd years until it started leaking. I rebuilt it with tub sea ls, bearings, transmissiom reseal etc. It was a big job but was worth every penny. I also replaced the motor with one from the town dump at some point over the years too. There are no electronic sensors and no microprocessor. Just a simple electro mechanical design. And it continues to work. Yes it may use a bit more water as well as electricity than one of the a new piece of shit models out there but perhaps one day my grandchildren will be usin g it. I doubt that you can say the same about anything that is built today.

My dishwasher is a Kenmore and 20 ears old too and also electro mechanical. I just replaced the motor in that last year. Keep your old stuff. because once you get rid of it you've screwed yourself because you can never get it back. Lenny

Voice of Dissent here:

We had an old Maytag at our summer house that ran like a champ - and used 4

0 gallons of water per full cycle. This is water that we have to pump, heat , and then dispose of *on site*. We use propane for heat via a tankless hea ter, so there is excellent efficiency - but.

We found a used LG "energy star" front loading unit that for the equivalent load uses eight (8) gallons of water per cycle, uses 1/3 of the additives (detergent and/or bleach) and is a good deal more quiet. We paid $250 for i t. It runs about 25 loads per year, so that comes to 800 gallons of water s aved in a very fragile environment, not to mention the chemicals not used. That we are on a Class A trout stream makes us perhaps more sensitive than some - but the principle is pretty much the same.

The unit has been in place now for four years. So far, so good and it was u sed.

At home our 8-year old similar LG (and how we came to choose the one at the summer house) runs about 9 loads per week, and has performer flawlessly. W e do the maintenance (clean out the drain valve periodically, run a hot/hot with cleaner about twice a year and so forth. But as to its operation - n o problems so far of any nature. That comes to about 120,000 gallons of wat er saved: 32 x 9 x 52 x 8 = 119,808. Again, not to mention the chemicals not used, the energy saved and so forth. Hot water savings alone are $120/y ear. Electric savings about 1/3 of that, so $160 per year. Assume 0 cost fo r a vintage Maytag, and $1,200 for the LG - We are now +$80 with whatever m ore time we get on the LG. I am not factoring in the water cost, or sewer c ost as they are directly tied together. But, 120,000 gallons is not insigni ficant.

It is entirely possible to purchase well made appliances. And with reasonab le care, they will last relatively indefinitely.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA