Dramatic title, isn't it? Sounds like something gory, no? Fortunately, not.
After doing some work work and some personal paper work, I went to install the resistor (part number 279872) that Robby had hypothesized was causing our Kenmore 70 Series clothes dryer not to work. The symptom was that nothing would happen when you pressed the "push to start" button. Per the enclosed instructions, I cut the wires on both sides of the old resistor - which was blackened and nasty looking - and installed the new resistor. Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem.
After doing a few Google searches, I found a few pages that suggested that the problem might be with the "push to start" switch, or the thermal fuse (part number 3392519). I used an ohm meter to check the switch, and even though it didn't ohm out exactly as I would have expected, that didn't seem to me to be the problem. When I checked the thermal fuse with the ohm meter, it showed infinite resistance, which led me to believe the fuse was in fact blown. I shorted the leads from each side of the fuse together, pressed the start button and behold, the dryer started! This led me to believe that the thermal fuse was in fact blown, and that installing a new one would fix the dryer. Jeanie called the local Sears store and as expected they didn't have the part, but they referred us to the parts center in Jacksonville which did have the part and was willing to put one on hold for us.
Even though getting the dryer operational was a high priority, getting my hair cut was a higher priority given that I have a client meeting next week, and I was looking shaggy.
So, I headed off to the island to get my hair cut. I went to the same place I've gotten my hair cut at since we moved here, but the guy who cuts my hair has cut back to only working Tuesday through Friday. I didn't want to take the chance of having to head off again without getting a trim, so Michelle cut my hair. She did an okay job - not as good as Kevin, but I've pretty much got the drill down, so I was able to guide her... clipper the sides with a number three guard, then blend up and onto the top, be careful not to get too short at the crown so my thinning spot doesn't get too obvious, then use a thinning shear right down the middle of the top to knock down that Klingon ridge.
Next, I went to donate blood. The Blood Alliance had been nice enough to call yesterday to inform us that they would be in town today. Unfortunately, the first tech who stuck me gave me the worst stick I have ever had. It hurt quite a bit, and the bag wouldn't fill - even after another tech tried to adjust the needle - and hurt me more in the process. I agreed to let them try the other arm, which worked out fine. Good stick, quick fill of the bag.
I stopped by home to pick up Jeanie and we headed off to our friends at the Sears Home Central Parts and Repair Center, 3555-1 St. Johns Bluff, Jacksonville, FL 32246 (904) 998-6597. The part was waiting for us as promised.
Since we were in the general area, and I hadn't seen Mom in a while, we stopped by to visit for an hour or so. Mom was quite sweet and was doing okay physically, so it was a pleasant visit.
We then headed home and I replaced the thermal fuse. I found the following web sites particularly helpful in diagnosing and resolving the issue: http://applianceguru.com/forum2/1505.html and http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/showthread.php?t=5517 and http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/showthread.php?t=2527 which led to http://www.applianceaid.com/dryers.html
Jeanie was probably right in her observation that when you add the cost of the resistor, the shipping cost for it, the cost of the thermal fuse, gas to drive to/from Jacksonville and the money that she had to spend over three or four weeks to drive to the laundry mat and to pay for the use of their dryers, it probably would have been cheaper just to have called Sears and had them send over a technician to diagnose and fix the problem. Oh well. There was great value in giving me the opportunity to actually be able to feel like I was able to be given a challenge, identify the issue, and successfully effect resolution. Something severely lacking at work lately...
Speaking of work, as an interesting aside, as of today, I have had only one full day off in the last 56 days and have worked an average of 75 hours each week. And that includes the week that I traveled to the Mayo clinic for evaluation of my schwannoma.
While on the one hand, I am quite grateful that I have a job, and one that pays well at that, and that doesn't involve extreme physical danger, discomfort or having to do something really disgusting. One the other, it seems like there has to be a better way...
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Posted by David at June 22, 2008 03:14 PM