Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Thursday, September 09, 2004

If you have a Whirlpool or Kenmore washer and post a question about it in The Appliantology Group or call me on the Toll-free Appliance Repair Hotline about a problem with it, the first thing I'm going want to know is whether it's a belt-drive or direct-drive machine. You don't have to tear it apart to find out, nor do you need a degree in mechanical engineering. You just need to feast your keen Vulcan squinties on these pictures below and compare with your washer. Hare Krishna!

Belt-Drive Washer

Direct-Drive Washer

To learn more about your washer or to order parts, click here.

1 Comments:

Your rear view comparison of a belt-drive washer vs. direct drive does not apply with my washer.

I have a Kenmore 417.40042990 front loader (stackable). The water inlet is on the right-hand side (looking from rear) and there is no access panel. I removed the top of the washer and noticed that my motor is belt-coupled to the tumbler.

The washer would not work at all so I took the pump off and found a plastic dental floss pick in the impeller. I removed the obstruction and replaced the pump.

The washer worked fine for about a day. Now it won't agitate or spin but the pump seems to work. From reading your forum, I was convinced it must be the motor coupler until I discovered that it is belt driven. The belt looks good and feels okay. I'm not sure what the problem could be.

By  Dan, at June 05, 2007 9:14 AM  

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