[Roger Trzebiatowski]

I have a Whirlpool LA7800XP washer which fill normally, but when the unit starts to aggitate the drain pump starts to drain at the same time, when the water level gets low, it stops refills the continues and repeats the entire process. I inspected the timer controller assembly (660992) and discovered a burnt set of contacts inside. I placed an order with Applinacepartspros.com last night, but am wondering if there is anything additional which could cause this problem?

[sidfink43]

That seems like the likely problem, particularly with the burnt contacts. Let us know how it works out.

[Roger Trzebiatowski]

I received the part this morning and installed it, but the draining while aggitating is still occurring. For some reason the drain starts as soon as aggittation begins. It aggitates until the water level drops, then stops, refills, continues aggitating again while draining, and keeps repeating this cycle until the time period has run out.
Obviously this uses 10 to 20 times more water then need be.

[applianceman]

I don’t know a whole lot about this washer but your water pump has a lever that when tripped it pumps out. This lever is connected to what they call a wig-wag. The wig-wag is just two arms that push and pull continuously then when it is time to change cycles the solenoids on top will engage allowing the arms to trip the water pump.

If the lever on the water pump isn’t getting tripped the wig-wag may be your problem. If the lever is getting tripped but you are still having this problem the water pump may be your problem. Hope this helps!

You may be able to manually tripp the lever on the pump to see if the water stops pumping out.

Clothes Washer Repair Guide

[Roger Trzebiatowski]

Applianceman, I think you may be onto something here. I checked the wigwag solenoids, they both read roughly 0.5 ohms, so should be intact. I did order a replacement anyways, How do the arms work, are they moved forward and backward by the pump or what? the solenoid plungers were somewhat sticky from dust and grim, I cleaned them, sprayed a little WD-40 on them, reassembled. but the problem still exists. I am guessing the arms are supposed to move forward and backward by the drive unit?
Is there supposed to be certain positions which turn the pump on and off?
could some debris internally cause it to stay open or engaged?
Thank you for your assistance so far.

[Roger Trzebiatowski]

I dropped the pump off, took a look inside, found a rubber flat plug wedged crossways on the inlet portion of the pump. But this would not have caused the issues. The rods however which moves forward and backward from the wigwag to the pump actuator level on the pump seem to be rather stiff. I am guessing something between the drive mechanism which moves that arm forward and backward needs lubrication or is damaged. I will take a closer look at it in the morning.

[richappy]

If you take out the stuff jaming the pump, this will solve your problem.

[Roger Trzebiatowski]

No the rubber washer was in the inlet pipe to the pump. THe problem is the pump drains while aggitating, not that it won't pump. It was not jamming, it was simple wedged diagnally, restricting or slowing the flow perhaps.

[applianceman]

There is a flap in the pump that when the lever is flipped one way the flap blocks water from being pumped out. When the lever is the other way the flap doesn’t block water and the water is pumped out. If the flap isn’t blocking the hole when the lever is in either position the pump is bad. This would cause it to pump when in a wash cycle like yours is doing. Note some of the pumps don’t have a rubber flap they just had a diverter but since you said you see a rubber washer I assume you have the one with the rubber flap.

The arms should be stiff as you describe.

As is said I don’t know a lot about this washer (mainly because of the age) maybe a Whirlpool tech can tell you more. I hope this helps!!

[Roger Trzebiatowski]

I took a second look at the washer, it was the rubber flapper from inside the pump. I went to a local appliance store, luckily they had a pump in stock for someone who never picked it up. I purchased it, installed it, and that corrected the problem, it was a missing flapper inside the pump.
so far everything works as it is supposed to. for your information the LA7800Xp is a top loader Whirlpool Imperial Seventy super Heavy duty about 20 years old.
It still looks great and ran great, but I am sure a new high efficiency unit is in the future.

Thank you applianceman, I appreciate the short lesson in operational sequence, the problem should be solved