Westinghouse WE-6

[iggybu]

 

Help please!  I had read previous posts on here about how insanely difficult it is to get the electromagnet out of the agitator housing.  I read that it is pressed in and pinned but cannot find the pin-points.  Can anyone help me or tell me where they would be? Or anyone have a spare working agitator lying around?  I cannot afford a brand new one and would rather keep the machine all original parts.  This is the only thing keeping me from using it.  Thank you !

[johnieG]

It's "Peened" not "pinned"  it's like setting a rivet. the center axle is peened over around the outer circumference of the stator cores support shaft, it must be ground off with a small hand grinder ( like a Dremel tool)

Question is, what are you planning to do once you remove the stator coil from the upper housing?

[iggybu]

Thank you for the info.  I plan on replacing the cord, putting it back together and using my machine.  It is completely stock except for the glass, paint and light bulb.  The gaskets are even original and in great shape.  So I want to keep this thing how it is and the only thing preventing me from enjoying it is the agitator.

So I pretty much take off the"lip"of the center holding the stator.  Is it the very edge or the whole side I need to grind off?   Thanks very much.

[Creighton]

Regret can't help with your question. Would like to see pic's of it finished if you can.
Thanks!
Creighton

[iggybu]

I will definitely post pics of it

[iggybu]

Got the center brass part off but it still won't budge. What is the trick?  I am trying both sides and nothing is moving. I even tried heat but no effect.

[johnieG]

Like I said in earlier discussions, they weren't really meant to disassembled again, it's an interference/press-fit originally put together on a press, so it is a very snug fit onto to hub of the shaft. still don't know why you are tearing it apart to begin with?   

[iggybu]

The cord broke right at the agitator housing and I need to replace it without spending a lot of money. Unless you know of an easier way to replace the power cord?


(Edited by moderator..."cord" not "Chord"    )

[collecture]

still don't know why you are tearing it apart to begin with?

Have to agree!
Is there no replacement for this motor? I don't own a water bath machine, so I've never researched them.
I have replaced fan motors on most of my air cooled machines. I'd be shocked if any of my friends (or even my wife) could tell if it was original to the machine or not.
How much is my (or your) time worth? That is the way I look at things now. I understand the money crunch and all, but I can usually think of 5-10 things I need to do that I am more efficient at! Spend the money, get some other things done and enjoy a Coke from the working cooler as a reward!

My six cents!

[MoonDawg]

        I agree it is a lot of effort applied to a motor that may not work even with the new power cord.
        Being located inside that wet box is pretty hard on any electrical component.
   
        But since you have come this far you might as well continue the callenge.
 If you have access to an automotive wheel puller, you might try to mount it to the motor casing somehow.

[iggybu]

That may work. Good idea. I will look into that

[tkaz]

You can get a puller from the loaner programs for free from Autozone or Advance if you need one

[MoonDawg]

        Need a used agitator motor? http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/4538521522.html 

[iggybu]

Awesome. Thanks for that but there isn't a phone or email for me to get ahold of them.  I'm only about 1.5 hour drive from there. Found a cavalier on eBay about three hours away but would rather drive less and pay less. Cavalier was $100 or bin for 500 I think

[iggybu]

Well I got ahold of the guy with the motor on CL. The wires are not looking pretty and I feel it would be a waste of time and money do take the drive and hope for the best.

I went to autozone and tried the puller but it was not able to fit between the housing and the motor. 

My next thing to try is to take a dowel and a vice....anyone know which lip in the shaft I need to push out? Is it the smallest one toward the bottom or the lip where the bearing rests on?

[iggybu]

So I picked up a motor off Craigslist. I pulled the agitator off and soldered new chord to it. I hooked it up and the agitator is getting power but not turning. I could hear and feel it. Any ideas or is it burned up?

[Creighton]

Frozen is my bet. Unplug, Tap very lightly with a tack hammer. Work the shaft back and forth until it turns freely. If you can't get the shaft to spin. You are done. Shaft spins by hand but not under power. Done. Some things just don't last forever and were not made to be fixed.
Creighton

[johnieG]

So I picked up a motor off Craigslist. I pulled the agitator off and soldered new chord to it. I hooked it up and the agitator is getting power but not turning. I could hear and feel it. Any ideas or is it burned up?

electrical cord....musical chord? (was the motor humming ?) ...

but seriously, did the shaft rotate freely beford you tried to power it up?

[iggybu]

It spins freely by hand. But when plugged in, yes musical chord.  Is there a capacitor or something I can replace?

[kbareit]

Iggybu, I don't know a lot about the agitator motors but I have a motor from an ice machine that was in service for 6 months before the customer dropped it and broke the pump housing trying to clean it. the motor runs and I'm sure can be modified to work for your machine. If you want it shoot me a PM and we'll go from there.

[johnieG]

It spins freely by hand. But when plugged in, yes musical chord.  Is there a capacitor or something I can replace?

Some earlier versions of the water circulation motor had three-wires & one went to a run capacitor down next to the compressor area, these were a permanent "split-phase" type motors, yours doesn't sound like it is (or was) since your re-soldered it with only two electrical leads/wires, sounds like the prior post has a solution for you provided you can adapt your impeller to the shaft, Funtronics or Sodajerkwerks may have a replacement impeller that would work.

If you had an ohm meter you'd be able to measure the resistance across the wiring leads & see if it's an open winding.

[iggybu]

Mine did had the three wires.  I replace the wires exactly how I found them originally so I don't screw anything up.   

[johnieG]

Mine did had the three wires.  I replace the wires exactly how I found them originally so I don't screw anything up.   

 

basically you cant verify the motors windings are good without an ohm-meter or some sort continuity tester.

[iggybu]

Ill check tomorrow to see if I have one.  Thanks for the info.

[iggybu]

So my machine is finally working!  Thank you for all the help!   


Now, I have had it plugged in for an hour or so and the water isn't getting colder....think the freon finally went away. Anyone know how to fill it?

Thanks