[Shop-talk] Fix or replace washer?

[Peter J. Thomas]

On 8/3/2013 1:53 PM, David Scheidt wrote:
> Weve got a 15 or so old ge washing machine. I believe the timer has failed.
> The motor runs if I jumper it. My question is it worth fixing. Timer is $100
> or &150, depending on source and wait time. It's a plastic tub machine, not
> quite bottom of line, but close.

At 15 years, the timer was probably just the first part to go. Motor or 
transmission is next.  The springs for self balance are probably 
stretched by now.  Aging rubber hoses and deteriorating plastic parts 
(exposed to ozone created by the motor) which could ruin other things if 
they leak.

I'm a fan of fix it.  I replaced a transmission after 5 years and got 
another 5 years out of it.  But if you factor the time plus another 
major part and trips to the laundry mat (which ain't cheap) you starting 
to approach the cost of a newer better machine.