GE Washing Machine Not Agitating/Not Spinning Out Water?

I have a GE washing machine Model WPSR3120W0WW which was not spinning out water. If I cranked the timer switch around a few times and back to its setting; it would agitate, spin out, etc. I suspected the timer, so I ordered and installed a new timer part# WH12X10051. I started a load, and the machine filled, agitated correctly and entered the spin out cycle. The pump began to evacuate water, but the motor did not spin the load as if the lid was opened. I tested the lid switch and even jumpered it to make sure that power was getting to the motor.

Thinking I might've just replaced a perfectly good part, I opened the old switch and found black carbon deposits with (4) contacts pitted like old automobile points. I cleaned these contacts, removed the new switch and replaced it with the old one. As I turned the switch slowly through the cycles, a poof of smoke came from the back of the temperature control board and I immediately unplugged the washer. I then found that I fried a trace right off of the PCB. Now the washer would only dump hot water into the tub, so I knew the board was damaged. Since the trace was completely gone, I soldered a jumper wire to replace the missing trace, and temperature returned as normal. I immediately removed the rebuilt switch and put the new timer back in.

I started a load again and now the motor would not agitate or spin at all. I disconnected the harness from the drive motor and cleaned the contacts and plugs with a fine wire brush, until they were shiny. I reconnected the harness, but the motor would not spin. I found that I could spin the motor easily by hand, so I don't believe the transmission is binding. I also noticed that when I start and stop the washer, during what should be the spin cycle, the lights in the basement dim a bit. So I believe the motor is drawing amps to spin but cannot. Now I don't know if I've smoked an internal capacitor which is keeping this motor from starting, or burned some windings since the motor doesn't move at all. The motor doesn't smell burnt so it may be an easy fix. After spending $68 for the timer, buying a motor part#5KH61KW2516FS at $192 may just be enough to send me shopping for a new machine. Any ideas and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks, Ray

RayG
December 2006