Whether you own a Kenmore top-loading or front-loader washing machine, the last thing you want is your garments dripping wet at the end of the spin cycle due to spinning issues. But wait a minute, why is your Kenmore top load washer not spinning clothing dry?
Generally, most Kenmore top load washers fail to spin-dry clothes because of spinning issues, excess laundry, poor drainage, wrong type or excess detergents, wrong spin setting, or drum obstruction. Also, consider a malfunctioning drive belt, lid motor coupling, inlet valve, motor control board, and washers.
Once you consider all these possibilities systematically, using washers and detergents in the appropriate cycle, you’ll be able to spin-dry your clothes with the right equipment. But since the repairs are easier said than done, the repairman will walk you through the individual troubleshooters.
So, we’ll look at the problems with washers, what could potentially cause them, and how to fix them DIY. But first, how about we look at how you can run a diagnostic on your Kenmore washer‘s drain pump?
At least, that’ll enable you to pinpoint the exact problem with the drain pump and immediately lead to its fixes.
In a hurry? Then check below quick fixes to a Kenmore washer that doesn’t spin dry clothes.
Quick Fixes to A Kenmore Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Problem Probable Cause Fix 1. Laundry Load Problem Laundry imbalance or excess load Spread your wash laundry in the drum to ensure you don’t overload it 2. Poor Drainage Blocked drain hose, clogged filter, dirty or broken pump, or wrong drain hose height Unblock the drain hose, clean the clogged filter and dirty pump or replace the pump if broken, and keep the washers drain hose height under 8 feet 3. Detergent Problem Wrong detergent type or excess use Use high-efficiency detergent but avoid using too much of it 4. Wrong Spin Setting Wrong cycle or spin speed Match your clothes with the correct spin cycle and speed 5. Drum Obstruction Trapped clothes or foreign objects Remove trapped clothes or foreign objects from the drum 6. Component Malfunctioning Washer belt, lid, motor coupling, water inlet valve, or motor control board Replace the malfunctioning or worn-out washer component How to Run Diagnosis On a Kenmore Washing Machine?
You can run a diagnostic on your Kenmore washing machine by following these steps to answer.
Empty the washer’s drum and close the lid/door
Press the START or control button and then select SPIN or DRAIN
Press the SPIN SPEED button until you choose No spin
Now press PRE-WASH or Rinse Wash four times in under 5 seconds
Wait for the indicators to come on and view the error codes. You can check out what the error code means online.
Why Won’t My Kenmore Washer Spin Dry?
Typically, your Kenmore washer won’t spin dry clothes due to any of these six issues:
1. A Problem with The Laundry Load
Two things could go wrong with your laundry load, causing it not to spin dry. That includes:
Laundry imbalance – And imbalance (out of balance) load won’t spin dry properly. The heaps will most likely hold much water and may drip wet at the end of the spin cycle.
Excess laundry – Too much laundry means improper spinning. And if the load doesn’t spin properly, you’ll likely have it dripping wet at the end of the spin cycle.
Fix
Ensure you re-organize your laundry evenly in the drum and avoid any heaps. However, don’t overload the washer to prevent spinning issues. Preferably, only load the washer three-quarter full.
2. A Problem with The Washer’s Drainage
Good drainage and excellent spinning are two inseparable terms. If the washer drains properly, then it’s likely to spin correctly. But if there’s an issue with your Kenmore washer’s drainage, it won’t spin-dry your clothes.
Overall, here are the things that could be wrong with your washer’s drainage and preventing it from spin-drying.
Blocked drain hose – If the drain hose has kinks/twists or is dirt-clogged, it’ll prevent the washer from draining properly. So, again, you could be dealing with back siphoning which wets your laundry excessively.
Dirty or broken pump – Dirt clogging makes the drain pump ineffective. Similarly, if the drain pump is broken, it cannot pump out the wastewater, so most of it will collect in the tub and end up wetting your clothes.
Wrong drain hose height – The correct washer drain hose height is about 30-96 inches. If the height is above 96 inches, the washer won’t be able to drain correctly.
Fix
Unblock your washer’s drain hose if its dirt is clogged, preferable with a pressure drain cleaner. If the hose is kinked, stretch it out to remove the kinks.
Then clean the drain filter and pump; if the pump is broken, replace it. Additionally, keep the washer drain pipe height under 96 inches.
3. A Problem with The Use of Detergent
Two issues with the laundry detergent could prevent a Kenmore washer from spin-drying. They are:
Too much detergent – Using the laundry detergent in excess creates suds locks that retain water. So, the clothes won’t spin dry, and you’ll have them dripping wet at the end of the spin cycle.
Wrong detergent type – Chances are that your Kenmore washer will have some spinning issues if you use the non-HE (High efficiency) detergent if the manufacturer only recommends HE detergent.
Fix
Use high-efficiency (HE) detergent to avoid over suds if you have an HE Kenmore washer. And while using the detergent, ensure you don’t use too much of it. Again, it prevents over suds formation and suds lock.
4. A Problem with The Spin Setting
It’s more important to adjust the Kenmore washer’s spin setting before running it, depending on your clothes. For example, the washer may fail to spin-dry the clothes if you use a delicate wash setting, slow spin, or no spin on bulky/heavy loads.
Fix
Match your clothes with the laundry type you are washing, don’t use a delicate wash, no spin, or low spin on bulk clothes. Instead, use high-speed and relevant fast-speed cycles.
5. Possible Drum Obstruction
Your Kenmore washer won’t spin dry the clothes if the drum is obstructed. In most cases, the drum is jammed by:
Clothes – If some clothes get trapped in the drum, they’ll prevent the washer from spinning correctly. So, the clothes won’t spin dry.
Foreign objects – Articles like coins, jewelry, broken zips, and loose buttons could fall off your clothes and prevent the washer from spinning well.
Fix
Inspect the washer’s drum to check for possible trapped clothes or foreign objects and remove them.
6. One Major Component Could Be Malfunctioning
Typically, washing machine components malfunction for different reasons. Some do it because they are broken or damaged, and others do it out of natural wear or overuse.
And when it comes to the Kenmore washer, several components are integral for optimum spinning. If one of these components malfunctions, the washer won’t spin-dry your clothes or may fail to turn entirely.
The components include:
Washer belt – If the washer belt is loose or frail, the washer won’t spin properly. It may even fail to turn entirely if the belt is broken, and thus, the clothes won’t spin dry.
Washer lid – The Kenmore washer won’t spin dry the clothes if there’s a problem with the lid. Whether the lid switch is damaged or defective or you haven’t closed the lid door properly, the washer won’t spin-dry the clothes.
Motor coupling – Given that the motor coupling connects the drive motor and the transmission, it’s likely to prevent the washer from correctly spinning if faulty. The motor coupling usually breaks or wears out to protect the transmission and drive motor.
Water inlet valve – If the water inlet valve is faulty, some water will leak into the washer’s tub, and that’s what soaks your clothes wet at the end of the spin cycle.
Motor control board – The motor control board is the dryer’s brain. It instructs the washer’s spin, dry, and wash cycles, which means the washer won’t spin dry if faulty.
Fix
If any of the above components is faulty, it’s recommended to replace it. You, however, have to confirm that the parts are really defective, and you may need to test the continuity of some of them using a multimeter. That includes the inlet valve, washer lid, and motor control board.
Summary
My Kenmore Front Load Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Consider these issues if your Kenmore front-loader won’t spin dry the clothes:
Excess or uneven wash laundry
Incorrect spin speed or cycle
Broken or loose washer belt
Faulty door lock/switch
Clogged drain pump, filter, or hose
Incorrect drain hose positioning (higher than 8 feet)
My Kenmore Top Load Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry?
Kenmore top load washers won’t spin dry clothes due to any of these reasons:
Clothes jamming in the washer’s drum
Faulty lid switch
Excess or out-of-balance laundry
Faulty washer drive belt
Recent power outage
Faulty or dirt-clogged drain pump
Wrong cycle or spin setting
My Kenmore Elite Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Check out any of these issues if your Kenmore Elite washer is not spinning the clothes dry:
Broken or loose washer belt
Faulty drive motor
Malfunctioning door lock
Out of balance or excess laundry
Faulty pump or clogged drain hose
Extra use of detergent or the wrong detergent types
My Kenmore 80 Series Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
If you have a Kenmore 80 series washer, here are possible explanations as to why it won’t spin dry clothes:
Uneven or excessive wash laundry
Faulty lid switch
Incorrect spin speed or cycle
Bad motor coupling
Poor drainage due to a blocked hose, faulty pump, or dirty filter
Use of excess detergent
My Kenmore Series 500 Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Kenmore series 500 washers fail to spin dry clothes due to these reasons:
Blocked drain hose or filter
Faulty lid switch which stops the washer from running optimally
Bad motor coupling
Slow spin or wrong spin cycle
Faulty water inlet valve
Laundry imbalance (out of balance) or overload
Should the timer be replaced?
Based on the information provided, it is likely that the timer needs to be replaced in this situation. The symptoms described, with the motor still running but not spinning the tub, suggest a problem with the timer rather than the motor coupling or clutch. Worn out contacts in that section of the timer are a common issue with this style of timer. To address this problem, it is recommended to replace the timer with the specific model suitable for your appliance, which in this case is the Timer WP661649.
What does the motor do after agitation in the rinse cycle?
During the rinse cycle, after the agitation process is complete, the motor engages the water pump to drain out the water from the drum. As the water is being drained, the motor and water pump continue to operate without any changes in their sounds. This continues for approximately one to three minutes, until suddenly the machine comes to an abrupt stop, accompanied by a slight jerk of the tub, equivalent to about 1/8 of a turn. At this point, the command dial reaches the ‘OFF’ position, indicating the end of any further activity. It is important to note that during this stage, no spinning occurs, and the machine remains inactive after the completion of the draining process.
How can the issue be tested further?
How can the washer lid be tested for functionality?
Excerpt_Theirs does not mention specific instructions for testing the washer lid. However, you can visually inspect the lid for any visible damage or misalignment. Additionally, you can try pressing down on the lid firmly to see if it engages the lid switch and triggers the tub to start spinning. If the lid appears to be intact and pressing down on it does not start the tub, there may be a problem with the lid switch or another component that requires further troubleshooting or professional assistance.How can the inlet valve be tested for functionality?
Unfortunately, Excerpt_Theirs does not provide specific instructions for testing the inlet valve. It is recommended to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions or seek professional assistance to properly test the inlet valve for functionality.How can the connection between the lid switch and the motor be tested?
To test the connection between the lid switch and the motor, you can follow these steps: After the water drains, remove the screwdriver from the lid switch to pause the motor. Then, put the screwdriver back on the lid switch button and observe if the tub starts spinning. If the tub does not spin, it suggests a potential issue with the connection between the lid switch and the motor.How can the lid switch be tested for functionality?
One way to test the lid switch is by using a screwdriver. Remove the screwdriver from the lid switch to pause the motor. Then, put the screwdriver back on the lid switch button and observe if the tub starts spinning. If the tub does not spin, it could indicate a faulty lid switch.How can the motor be tested for functionality?
To test the motor, you can use a screwdriver on the lid switch. After the water drains, remove the screwdriver from the lid switch to pause the motor. Then, put the screwdriver back on the lid switch button and see if the tub starts spinning. If it does, it indicates that the motor is functioning properly.To further investigate the issue, it is essential to verify if any of the components mentioned earlier are indeed faulty. In order to confirm this, it is recommended to perform a continuity test using a multimeter. This will help determine the status of the inlet valve, washer lid, and motor control board.
To provide a more practical approach, you can also try the following step: once the water has drained, remove the screwdriver from the lid switch. This action will pause the motor momentarily. Then, carefully place the screwdriver back on the lid switch button and observe if the tub starts spinning. This method specifically targets the motor and the lid switch, which are potential culprits behind the issue.
Remember, it is crucial to exercise caution while performing any tests or repairs on your washing machine. If any of the components mentioned above are found to be defective, it is recommended to replace them to restore the proper functionality of your appliance.
Closing Remarks
Generally, it’s worth checking the laundry, drainage, spin cycle or speed, and components such as the washer belt, lid, motor coupling, water inlet valve, and motor control board for the fault when your Kenmore washer not spinning clothes dry.
Other probable checks include wrong detergent type or detergent amount and drum obstruction.
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