F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

[mcguirek]

The following problem developed with my GW701-U smartdrive washer (circa 1993).

During the wash cycle, the agitation action would stop, then give the two test pulses (like at the start), and then continue. Eventually after this repeated many times, the machine would stop and beep continuously with the second-last wash progress light lit. Cycling power, and advancing to rinse allowed the program to complete. I was also aware of a significant clunk every time the agitator changed direction. I cannot recall if that had always been present.

I disassembled the unit to find that the locating tabs on the stator winding (that locate it on the base of the bowl) had all broken off, bar one. This is a pitty, as thought that the stator was meant to be one of the most reliable parts in these machines.

1. Are the broken tabs likely to be the cause of the symptoms described above?
2. Does anyone know where I can pick up a pre-loved stator (MDL: 4256231:1 7)?

Thanks,
Kieron

[mcguirek]

Further details

I forgot to mention that before I disassembled the unit, I observed the stator during the wash cycle (though the little access door in the front). It was slewing back and forth on each change of direction by 1 – 2 cm – hence the clunking.

[Penguin45]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

It’s a motor sensor fault due to the slack on the stator – motor not “parking” or starting at or from the required position.

Stator is p/no 425623.

Member Alexa is down your end of the world and may be able to advise further with regard to parts supply,

Regards,
Penguin45.

[mcguirek]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

Penguin,

Thanks for confirming the problem.

Regards,
Kieron

[mcguirek]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

I am struggling to understand the design of this stator assembly. I thought that is I could glue the locating tabs back on (with Araldyte) and get them to last even a few minutes, then I could confirm that there was nothing else wrong. Unfortunately, with the torque from the motor, they lasted seconds, not minutes.

I am not sure however if this is the real problem. The reason I have my doubts is the two metal plates and 4 screws that hold the stator. One plate has bushings attached which protect the screws from the stator torque. However the holes in the stator through which the bushings protrude are larger than the bushings. This is allowing the slewing. If the slewing is undesirable, why are the holds in the stator so large? Also, why are the plates greased? It seems as though it is designed to allow the slewing.

The next trick I am thinking of trying is packing around the bushings to fill the stator holes and reduce the slewing that way. However, I wonder if that will cause a different problem.

Regards,
Kieron

[alexa]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

You have no option but to replace the stator with a new one which F&P will send you if you phone 1300 650 590.

It is beyond comprehension how this could have occured so I would remove the rotor and spin the bowl to check that the bearings are not damaged/noisy.

Also there should be no rust/water marks on the rotor.

A list of the fault codes would also be advantageous as would a Fax No. or email

[admin]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

I have a lot of secondhand parts for F&P washers

0402737532

[admin]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

My machine has develop exactly the same symptoms. Did you get to find out the real cause of the problem ?
My guess was that the filtering of the powersupply to the CPU controller was starting to deteriorate and that the power surges to the triacs was affecting the logic of the controller. I also noticed that the machine would occasionally step backwards from spin to the rinse cycle.

[alexa]

Anonymous wrote:My machine has develop exactly the same symptoms. Did you get to find out the real cause of the problem ?
My guess was that the filtering of the powersupply to the CPU controller was starting to deteriorate and that the power surges to the triacs was affecting the logic of the controller. I also noticed that the machine would occasionally step backwards from spin to the rinse cycle.

Do you mean you have a broken stator?

An inspection is required to confirm this problem.

Please advise if this is so, else give me your fax or email no. and I’ll send you the diagnostics. When you have a fault code I’ll send you the reasons although these are only indicators.

Re-rinses can be many things so a fault code is required to assess the most likely causes however
if the electronics are faulty they can give you faulty fault codes
(Nah just a bit of Fawlty Towers jokes thrown in Basil).

In other words the fault codes can fail to indicate the true problem (Manuel get up off the floor you idiot)so the end result on re-rinsing can ultimately be a motor module. If you order a new module 99{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} it will be a module reconditioned by F&P so a independants reworked module is usually a cheaper choice though usually with 1/2 the warranty @ 6 months

(P.S. dont mention the war especially Gallipolli, the UK mob are intercepting this transmission)

[admin]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

All is revealed with the wisdom of a Technical manual. The trouble is F&P in their infinite wisdom won’t release it in case I fry myself.
Totally counter productive as I am more likely to fry something prodding around without a manual ! I guess they are trying to look after their agents.
I eventually stumbled on a cached copy of a similar manual in google that allowed me to figure out the problem through the built in diagnostics. The PDF was not available but there is enough info in the html copy to be very helpful.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:6FfK … hing&hl=en

Very satisfying to find an opencircuit plumb-bob switch because of corrosion inside the microswitch. A replacement switch had the machine working again in no time flat – the CPU could do its thing without tripping over a dud switch.
I also learnt how to program the water temperature and to test the pump, solenoids and switches.
The software in the machine is quite intelligent and my opinion of the machine has been lifted again now I understand how to drive the diagnostics. What looks like erratic behaviour is actually the machine alerting the user to a problem. (A dedicated problem led would have been wiser or a sticker on the inside of the lid describing the fault codes and how to get to them !)
If anybody has a PDF version of the Technical manual I would still be most grateful (send a message to:- mike at hs dot com dot au) no spam please.

[Penguin45]

Re: F&P Smartdrive GW701-U problem

What F+P have tried to do is very sensible – the binary coding system can impart far more detailed fault information than the codes we’re stuck with over here. Fair point though – a dedicated fault lamp as well would make people realise that all the lamps are telling them something.

Alexa will no doubt have something to add to this………. 😀

Regards,
Penguin45.

[alexa]

Quote Mickeyding
“All is revealed with the wisdom of a Technical manual. The trouble is F&P in their infinite wisdom won’t release it in case I fry myself.
Totally counter productive as I am more likely to fry something prodding around without a manual ! I guess they are trying to look after their agents.” unquote

Fisher & Paykel, like UKWhitegoods and I, have a duty of care which is forced upon them by Acts of Parliament as well as Common Law. Should you fry yourself, these legislative powers will investigate our involvement and we would be held accountable/responsible should we have indicated to you you how to proceed. Should you never the less proceed against any specific and included disclaimers, and subsequently only fry a part in the machine, then we breath a collective sigh of relief as this only proves that you didn’t understand what you were doing and how close you came to frying yourself. For this reason we will do everything to assist you short of advising you to take a tool to the machine.

UKWhitegood, for which I am not a spokesperson, have specific disclaimers. I specifically advise you not to take a tool to the machine. Many electrical parts used to be cliplocked together. The reason why machines require a tool, and sometimes a specific security type of tool to access the parts is to prove in a court of law that you willingly ventured forth and in fact pursued and secured additional devices in your headlong rush to proceed/succeed in dismantling.

I personally will never leave a machine dissassembled for others to tinker with and will cut the power cord off any machine which is in an unsafe condition

Not supplying you with a Technical Manual or knowledge on how to dismantle and replace parts is not to look after the manufacturer, any agents, no anyones revenue stream, but is solely for legal reasons.

The other reason UKwhitegoods and I won’t release their Manual is because of further Acts of Parliament, specifically the Copyright Act. We have no rights to publish their manuals and would suffer catastrophic financial loss should we do so and are litigated against.

I know of no F&P agents on this website.

Should you have responded to my previous post I would have privately messaged you parts of the manual under “Fair Use” sections of the Copyright Act. These parts of the manual are as a Jpeg file, are of poor quality, and are incomplete in an effort to help you as much as possible without running foul of the law

I, as an individual with a save the planet mindset ,are specifically against the policies of some of the manufacturers and would have done everything in my power to avoid you having to use the Manufacturer, their agent, or any other unneccessary resources (including paying others) in order to repair you machine. I would have also advised you against the economics of specific repairs as I did not have a vested interest in your spending your money. This I believe is one of the very reasons for this website.
“We all like to help you as much as possible within the confines of the law.”

The machine alerts the user to a problem by two methods

1/. A machine fault is displayed by an unusual combination of LEDS in the wash progress LEDS and a continuous beeping sound every second.

2/. A user fault by an unusual combination of LEDS in the programming LEDS and a rippling series of beeps every 6 seconds

These warnings are outlined in your user manual.

In short, we wish we could do more to assist you in the use and care of your machine.

My advice is that you, at a minimum, fit a surge protector device at your power outlet, or more importantly, that you switch the power and water off when not in use.

[Author]

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