A good machine with an expensive flaw
Written: Feb 24 '04
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Pros: This machine is easy to operate, compact, and economical with water, detergent, and electricity.
Cons: Don't expect a long, trouble-free life from this machine.
The Bottom Line: Consider carefully the repair cost and risk of owning this otherwise fine machine. The 5-year Master Protection Agreement is a must.
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| slogreg's Full Review: Kenmore 41142 Washer |
This particular Kenmore/Frigidaire machine has several variants, usually small differences in controls and appearance. The basic operating mechanics are the same - which is the problem.
I bought a Kenmore 41142 in November 2001 based on Consumer Reports recommendations and other good opinions. The machine fully lived up to my expectations for 2 years. It is essentially identical to the 43142, 44102, and other Kenmore and Frigidaire (they make Kenmore) front-loaders.
Then the bearings that hold the drum failed. The bearings didn't wear out, but the seal that keeps the wash water away from them leaked. The bearings corroded and failed and the shaft on the wash basket was also ruined. Bearing grease also leaked onto our clothes during some wash cycles.
When the bearings leak, the bearing grease coats the backside of the washing tub and mixes a bit with the detergent used for washing. It forms a film that doesn't wash out and causes a persistent musty smell. If you have cleaned around the door seal and your machine still has this musty smell, it is a good bet that the shaft seal has failed and the bearings will fail in the near future. Unexplained dirty spots or streaks on clothes coming out of the washer also indicate the bearing seal has failed.
Also, your machine should be quiet. If it vibrates a lot and/or is noisy during the spin cycle, the bearings are probably going. Our machine was very quiet and smooth to begin with, but got progressively noisier over time. Don't ignore a machine that is noisy or vibrates a lot. Have Sears fix it or replace it. I have a wood frame house with a crawl space; so don't fall for the "it needs a better foundation to not vibrate" line.
It is quite possible the seal was mis-installed or damaged when the machine was built, and the bearings will still take a while to fail. But that one seal is the only thing protecting those bearings, and it's going to wear out sooner or later on all 41142, 43142, 44102 and similar machines! It's a very poor mechanical design. The seal is virtually impossible to inspect without a complete disassembly of the entire washer. Look in your parts manual that came with the machine.
In order to replace the seal and bearings you have to buy the entire rear shell that encases the tub (about $200, delivered). My machine's wash basket shaft was also so corroded that it needed to be replaced, but again, you can't simply buy the shaft but need to buy the entire basket/shaft assembly. Total for parts is about $450. Combine that with the cost of labor to fix everything, and it can easily be more than the cost of a new machine.
When my machine failed, I went back to Sears to explain the situation, even though the machine was out of warranty. It turns out the wash basket has a limited lifetime warranty, meaning Sears will supply the part but the owner pays for installation. Rather than do that, because installation would have been quite expensive (again, parts and labor would have been more than the washing machine cost new), I opted to have the cost of the basket ($250) credited toward a replacement new front loader, current model 44102. I also got the 5-year Master Protection Agreement ($200) this time, something I have always considered wasted money, because I know that bearing seal is probably going to fail. Now Sears can pay for any repairs, or more likely, pay for an even newer machine in a couple of years. You may have to push a bit to get Sears to cooperate if your machine has failed while recently out of warranty.
In short - this is a fine machine for washing, but with a very bad seal design for protecting the spin bearings. And when the bearings fail, what should be a simple repair will cost you the equivalent of a new machine. The days of the 20-year life washing machine seem to be over, but who would have suspected they would replace them with 2-year (or less) life machines?
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 599.99
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Epinions.com ID:
slogreg
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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