Repairing a [1960s] Westinghouse clothes dryer


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Old 09-22-16, 02:17 AM
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Talking Repairing a [1960s] Westinghouse clothes dryer

Members location is Australia.

Looking for a bit of advice here.
My Westinghouse dryer has just stopped working. When power is applied the motor hums, but does turn. I've just started to troubleshoot, but need a few tips about what might be going wrong.

I've checked the voltage to the motor and it appears ok, it is however 15v less than it is at the outlet. I removed the belt that is connected to the drum and the motor spins freely by hand, however it is not very smooth and sounds like possibly there could be an issue with the bearings.

When I applied power without any load the motor appeared to almost rotate briefly, but then continued to hum as before without turning.

I have attached a wiring diagram - it shows the motor and describes a main and starting winding. I'm no expert, would this type of motor use a capacitor? The mechanical relay in the dryer has been changed to a solid state type, after the original failed.

The motor has three wires connected to it, I assume the third might be a thermal trip, as it goes on to the thermostats in the drum and element.

These are a couple of image of the motor:

​Motor:​ Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Wiring:​ Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Electrical plate:​ ​Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

​Wiring diagram: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Any advice on what I should try next would be appreciated, really keen to keep this old guy going, even it means replacing the motor (:
 

Last edited by ray2047; 09-22-16 at 04:43 AM. Reason: Correct year in title.
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Old 09-22-16, 02:49 AM
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We don't know where you are located because your profile is not complete, so we don't know what voltages you are working with, nor the frequency of that voltage. If the motor is not turning with power applied it is most likely toast and needs either a rebuild or replacement. I did not know electric dryers existed in the 1940's.
 
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Old 09-22-16, 03:34 AM
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Members location is Australia. Thread moved to correct forum.
 
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Old 09-22-16, 03:37 AM
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Seems I got a little confused with its age, looking at a 1960s machine. I am located in Australia, 240v 50Hz power supply. I've updated my profile info (:
 
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Old 09-22-16, 03:45 AM
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A humming motor almost always a bad motor. Do this, Hold or tape door switch closed. Leave door open, Push start button and turn drum with hand. If drum starts you have a bad motor.
 
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Old 09-22-16, 04:03 AM
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I just tried rotating drum in either direction, didn't run, just kept humming :/
 
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Old 09-22-16, 04:05 AM
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Bearings in motor may be frozen but most likely something in blower wheel. Will need to tear down to check.
 
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Old 09-22-16, 04:14 AM
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The drum and motor turn freely by hand, just not when power is applied. If there was a problem with the capacitor / starting winding should that initial turn get it going?
 
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Old 09-22-16, 01:48 PM
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unless old dryer motors had a capacitor I have never seen one in a dryer. Sounds like you need a motor.
 
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Old 09-22-16, 03:28 PM
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OK , thank you. I'll take a look at some replacements!
 
 

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