Changing goals and speed

[AClark]

Nothing new going on with the creatures, I did get the washer fixed after a flood of dirty stagnant wash water, 2 hours with multiple applications of the f-word, and every knuckle on my hand busted and a cut on my arm. For whatever reason, I couldn't get a bolt off to take the front off the washer (samsung front loader) so I did the pump from the back. It is not made to have the pump removed from the back, however, it is possible with long skinny arms.
Of course, I own 4 ratchets, in all 3 standard sizes - and only had 1/4 inch drive sockets and couldn't find that ratchet - thousands of dollars worth of tools and held up by missing one 1/4 drive ratchet - oh, and could the bolt have been standard? NOOO has to be metric 13, just enough where a 1/2 inch slips. It made things interesting. However, the sweet reward was turning on the washer and listening to the water flow out of it, and being able to have clean sheets and clothes again. My husband has been at work since Monday and hasn't been home, and I was on day 6 of not doing laundry. I do everyones laundry on separate days to lessen the workload, but now it's piled up. Maybe I'll catch up today.
I figure that 1/4 inch drive ratchet is probably in my old truck, where I took the dash apart and never put it back together. I've been chasing an electrical demon and thought it was behind the dash - nope! So I left it off so I can clean really good behind the instrument panel and put in a stereo. Someone actually stole the stock stereo out of it. Now why is that hilarious to me? Because it was a standard tape deck and AM/FM. They spent all that time to rip off an obsolete piece of junk. They also did a very nice job of not tearing up my dash at all, and unplugged everything rather than rip and cut. I figure they saved me some time taking it out myself.

We have about 2 weeks until I figure one of my does is due. I tried palpating her but you know what? I can't tell anything from feeling around. Whatever, I'll put a box in and if she has babies awesome, if not, we'll try again. The other two should be due about a week after her, 2 days apart, if they are going to anyway. So I still have that 3rd box to build.

 

[Latestarter]

Way to go... push on through despite the obstacles!

 

[Baymule]

Fixing appliances! Go girl!!

 

[Latestarter]

I've heard folks talk about plugged up "lint traps" in washers. I remember the old central post agitator washers had a "sieve basket" that sat on top of the central post. The water was cycled up and back into the washer tub through that basket and there was always a lint ball in there at the end of the spin cycle. I now have a front load washer and have no idea where the lint trap is, if it exists, or how to get to it to clean it even if it needed cleaning/emptying... Since it's staying here for the new owner(s), I guess I no longer have to worry about it

 

[babsbag]

Seems like we used to put extra washers in the 2 liter bottles for water...that was 30 years ago so who knows what has changed.

 

[AClark]

@Latestarter Oh God, yes front loaders have a lint trap. What brand washer is it? Whirlpools are on the bottom under the drum, you have to take the front plate off - it's a pain. My Samsung has a door to access the lint trap. They also catch spare change, nutsa nd bolts, and anything else that was in your pocket.
They need to be cleaned out about every 2 months, as they clog with lint, critter hair, hay, everything. At some point if you never clean them out, you'll get a No Drain error (ND on Samsung, other codes for others) and you'll have to. It also burns out the drain pump. The lint trap is on the drain pump put a bucket under that thing before you pull it and hold your nose. Nobody is prepared for the smell that comes out of front loading washers, lol.

All that's just good to know if you have another front loader in the future - Samsung and LG make the better washers IMO, and they have easier access to the trap, it doesnt' require anything other than open the door and spin the trap off, whereas some other models require disassembly. I am not an appliance mechanic (I prefer diesel or old gas trucks!) but when you do 15 loads of laundry a week, and it's been sitting dead for 6 days, you become one!

 

[Baymule]

I never knew that. I have a front loader Samsung and just got up to go look at it. It has a little door down by the floor so I guess that is where I am supposed to clean it out. I've had it for 1 1/2 years..... Sounds like it's gonna be a fun task.

 

[Bruce]

Hey Joe, thanks for moving to Texas and posting about it so @AClark could tell me about the lint trap in my washer!

I imagine there is something about it in the owner's manual and if it got clogged up enough to throw a code I would dig it out but, no need now. I have a 5 Y/O Whirlpool Duet. Fortunately mine is a model that has the access panel below the door. Found a video from a lady that had the same brand, no access panel and she took off a WHOLE lot of the metal around the washer (not all of it was necessary she found out) but a SERIOUS PITA. I swear these things are made to ensure the "Maytag Repair Man" stays in business.

Found a video for mine (after I did it of course):

The part where he pulls the strainer and pump out a bit and puts it back in is kind of dark so here is some of detail. The red rubber tab holds the front of the strainer down. There are 2 black rubber "supports" one on either side if the strainer body an inch or 2 back. There are tabs on the front of them but you don't need to mess with that. There are "keyway" slots in the washer sheet metal. If you pull the whole strainer body forward about 3/4" you can pull the rubber parts up and out of the sheet metal. Probably tight the first time. Then you can pull the entire thing forward enough to get the front of it over a bucket (or if you don't have the way WAY overpriced drawers, get something shallow like a cookie sheet with sides) so the water doesn't go into the drawer. Mine wasn't too bad, 1 small screw, 2 small balls of Hershey's Kiss foil (safely blaming the spouse for those) and a bit of gunk. Stunk though, just like a sink drain that should have been cleaned a month ago.

For all you front loader owners out there, find a video for YOUR washer on YouTube, or check the owner's manual in case it actually tells you how to do this. Seems like yet another appliance thing that should be checked regularly but isn't because it is anywhere from "not a big deal (some have access doors), to a slight PITA like mine to a HUGE PITA like the model in the first video I found.

Thanks @AClark

 

[Bruce]

I never knew that. I have a front loader Samsung and just got up to go look at it. It has a little door down by the floor so I guess that is where I am supposed to clean it out. I've had it for 1 1/2 years..... Sounds like it's gonna be a fun task.

See if you can pull the body forward like mine. If not figure out some way to catch and funnel the water outside the washer when you pull the strainer. Yours will likely be fairly easy since there are no torx screws to remove to get a panel off for access, just flip open the door. Mine are torx/hex combo so I could use a ratchet to remove them since my "indoor tool kit" has no torx driver.

 

[babsbag]

I have a Samsung front loader, and for the record, I hate ALL front loaders and washers without agitators. However, I digress. My lint trap seldom has anything in it, but the cold water supply line has a filter on it (hot might too) and it gets clogged and when that happens the bleach and fabric softener dispensers don't empty all of the way. It is time to clean mine again; about every 6 months.

My next appliance to repair is the igniter on my gas stove.