June 2007

Samurai Appliance Repair Apprenticeships

June 21, 2007 General Appliance Wisdom

Everyday, my inbox is jammed with thousands of emails from hopeful souls all over the world pleading and begging for an apprenticeship opportunity with the Samurai. The reason is obvious: a successful apprenticeship with the Fermented Grand Master of Appliantology and the world’s one and only 33rd-degree black belt in Fixite Do is a sure [...]

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Whirlpool Duet Sport Dryer: Diagnostics and Fault Codes

June 19, 2007 Dryer Repair

The Whirlpool Duet Sport dryer uses an “electronic control system” consisting of a dime-store calculator LCD display, a plastic touch pad, and a cheesy circuit board, all made in a Chinese sweat shop. Begin call for sanity: Dryers are simple, humble machines that do three things: tumble the clothes, get ‘em warm, and move a [...]

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Gas Stove Burners Sparking Like They’re Possessed

June 18, 2007 Oven Repair

Symptoms: Burner ignitors keep sparking after a burner is fired up. The ignitor may also randomly start sparking again later, while you’re cooking. Cure: Clean the gookus and corrosion off the mating metal faces on the burner cap and burner base. For details, grok on this topic in the repair forum.

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How to Keep Your Front Loading Washer Smelling Schweet, Baby, Schweet

June 17, 2007 Washer Repair

A complaint that some new owners of front-loading washers have is that, after a while, the washer starts smelling like moldy socks. In almost every case, with the exception of the known mildew probem with the early model Neptunes, the stench is caused by user error. The Appliantology Masters in the repair forum share some [...]

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Any Good Dishwashers Today?

June 11, 2007 Dishwasher Repair

Lynne wrote: I bought a DD603 (dishwasher) today which is to be delivered July 30. Now having found this website I’m scared to death that I should cancel the order for my Fisher Paykel and get something half the price. Any thoughts? Thanks _______________________________ The above message was sent when you were offline, via your [...]

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Service Manual for the Kenmore Front Loading Washing Machine

June 8, 2007 Washer Repair

Samurai Appliance Repair Man, I have a front-loading Kenmore wash machine that is about six years old. The tub would not drain so I replaced the drain pump, the coin trap, and the drain hose. That solved the drain problem but a week later the water was back on the floor. I looked in the [...]

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How to Replace the Clutch in a Whirlpool Direct-Drive Top Loading Washer

June 8, 2007 Washer Repair

One of our fine Master Appliantologists in the repair forum, Tronicsmasta, posted a spiffy photo guide for replacing the clutch in the Whirlpool-built direct-drive washing machine and it’s just aching for the furtive caress of your bulging eyeballs. Parts you may need when you embark on this repair adventure: – Clutch Assembly – Brake and [...]

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Haiku for Installing a New Compressor in a Refrigerator: A Song of Degrees

June 5, 2007 Haiku

Replace compressor, braze with silver then recharge. One, two, git ‘er done. (More haikus for appliance repair.) Tactical Weapons You’ll Need for This Job Black Max Dual Brass AC Manifold for R-12 & R-134a Standalone Vacuum Gauge Refrigerant Scale MAPP Gas & Propane Self-Lighting Hand Torch Midget tubing Cutter 1/8″ to 5/8″ If you’ve never, [...]

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How to Test the Electrical Components in the Whirlpool Duet Washer

June 4, 2007 Washer Repair

This washer also masquerades under the Kenwhore label but it’s the same machine. One of the nice things about this washing machine is that you can test all the main electrical components right at the Central Control Unit (CCU), conveniently located under the top panel, in back. Looky here: These pages will help you find [...]

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Frigidaire-built Kenmore Front-Loading Washer Won’t Spin

June 3, 2007 Washer Repair

Common problem with this otherwise tragically flawed washer: it will tumble and pump out the water in the tub, but it will not spin. Usually, the problem is the speed control board. However, in accordance with the Ichiban Law of the Prophecy, you should use your meter and do a few tests to prove that [...]

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