Big Bad WasherWoman

Published on November 8, 2005 By HC1240 In Misc

My washing machine broke down last week. It's a relatively new machine, so I doubt that it's anything major... but after doing a week's worth of clothes at the laundromat yesterday (a family of five - not fun), I decided that I didn't want to wait for the repair guy. I figured I'd see if I could handle this myself.

I searched the internet to see if I could get a handle on what exactly is wrong with it. General scouting told me that since it's not spinning, the most likely culprit is the motor coupler. I found several different sets of instructions for replacing it, complete with pictures, and got it pretty much apart, but then couldn't find the right sized wrench to get the motor mount plate off. I had gotten the first part of the coupler off and it wasn't damaged from what I could see. As I was hunting around in the garage for the wrench I needed, the guy showed up to fix it.

As I led him to the basement I said, "I've got it apart... I'll show you."

"WHO'S got it apart?"

"*I* do."

(Repair guy surveys the torn apart washer in the laundryroom.)

"Well I guess you do!! What on earth for?"

"Ummmm... to fix it?? I didn't have the right sized wrench to get the motor mount plate off, so that's as far as I got. I think the drive coupler needs to be replaced."

(Repair guy looks at the first part of drive coupler, that I've taken off.)

"Well, I don't think that's it," he says.

He was kinda ticked that I'd taken it apart, I could tell. Joel knew he would be, I guess. I had him on the phone when the guy showed up and he told me not to let the guy give me a hard time about taking it apart. I asked if he really thought he would... it is MY washer, afterall. He said, "You never know... sometimes they don't like that. But you're right. It's YOUR washer. You can do whatever you like to it, so don't let him give you a hard time." From my perspective, I made his job easier. LOL. Guess that's not how they look at it, though.

Truth be told, Joel was a little put out too when he called and found me in the middle of fixing the machine. I asked him why and he said, "Now all I'm gonna hear about is how MOMMY fixed the washing machine because Joel couldn't do it." ROFL... He says, "How would you like it if I did all the cooking, all the cleaning and all the laundry?" I told him he's welcome to it... anytime! LMBO. He really was ok with it... just wished I'd printed the directions out for HIM when his friend was here to help the other night. I told him I didn't do it then because I assumed D knew what he was doing and I didn't want to insult him by giving him internet instructions.

Men and their egos. Sheesh!

For all you boys out there, thinking I was messing in "men's turf," you'll be happy to know that it WASN'T the drive coupler that was bad. The drive block for the tub was defective. Dang. Sure wish it had been that drive coupler!

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 08, 2005

Men and their egos. Sheesh!

No, but it is something else which you touched on. It is our tools! We know where those wrenches are! We just dont let any one else (including wives!) touch them! Their my preciousssssss!

just john

on Nov 08, 2005

To me it wouldn't have been an ego thing ... if you have the desire and feel like you are armed to solve the problem go ahead. However, if you screw it up and I didn't want to help don't come asking me to fix it. Oops... that's my wife.

I will say in the repairmans defense two things. 1. When I fix things I need to see/hear/taste/feel the problem. When the equipment is torn down that's kinda hard. 2. Fixing things that you didn't take apart can be really difficult. I take things apart methodically. If I feel a part needs to be labeled, presto it has a label. I like to do it my way.

As for you... Way to go. I wish my wife would look to solve some of her own mechanical problems.

Tova7

on Nov 08, 2005

I am just like this when it comes to mechanical things.

In the last twenty years EVERY sweeper I've owned HAD to be taken apart within the first week of buying it. Something always makes me get out the screwdriver and take it down to the bare essentials. You think I'd get a clue and just return them when something isn't right, but no, I take them apart.

Funny thing about it is, I get them to work fine, but I always seem to have a couple extra parts? Hmmmm...and half the time the clicky thing that holds the sweeper up when you are done, stops working, so heh, I have to prop it against a wall.

Trudygolightly

on Nov 08, 2005

Reading this I found myself holding my tummy cause it made me laff so hard! It's sooooo familiar......

way to go for being independant and trying!! Never lose that part of yourself!

The month after my ex left 7 things broke down, one of them was the hot water tank, I almost drowned myself trying to
fix it!

foreverserenity

on Nov 09, 2005

No, but it is something else which you touched on. It is our tools! We know where those wrenches are! We just dont let any one else (including wives!) touch them! Their my preciousssssss!

Ha! Admit it Doc, it's you men and your egos!LOL!

Perhaps the fix it guy wanted to see for himself, who knows!

At least you made it a little easier for him anyway.

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

It is our tools! We know where those wrenches are! We just dont let any one else (including wives!) touch them! Their my preciousssssss!

... so that's it, eh?

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Ha! Admit it Doc, it's you men and your egos!

No! No! No! Its Myyyy Precioussss!

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

Fixing things that you didn't take apart can be really difficult. I take things apart methodically. If I feel a part needs to be labeled, presto it has a label. I like to do it my way.

I don't think I confused it at all for him. The things I took apart were all self explanatory to anyone with half a brain. Three different sets of internet instructions called them all the same thing. If he's worth his salt, he knew exactly what I did.

I hear ya, though. If it were more complex than it was...

As for you... Way to go. I wish my wife would look to solve some of her own mechanical problems.

Thanks! I was pretty darn proud of myself. LOL.

In the last twenty years EVERY sweeper I've owned HAD to be taken apart within the first week of buying it. Something always makes me get out the screwdriver and take it down to the bare essentials. You think I'd get a clue and just return them when something isn't right, but no, I take them apart.

You go, girl!

Funny thing about it is, I get them to work fine, but I always seem to have a couple extra parts? Hmmmm...and half the time the clicky thing that holds the sweeper up when you are done, stops working, so heh, I have to prop it against a wall.

Hey... it works better than it did BEFORE you fixed it, right? LOL

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

way to go for being independant and trying!! Never lose that part of yourself!The month after my ex left 7 things broke down, one of them was the hot water tank, I almost drowned myself trying tofix it!

A kindred spirit... I can tell.

HC1240

on Nov 09, 2005

At least you made it a little easier for him anyway.

That's the way I see it!

Papa

on Nov 17, 2005

HC, If anything goes wrong with my car, please just take it to a mechanic!!!! I can see Joel now carrying baskets of engine parts to the garage and telling them...."My wife thought she knew what was wrong with it!" "Anyway it will be easier for you to fix now that it is all apart"
ROTFLMBO!!!!!!

Dr Guy

on Nov 18, 2005

! That was a great one!

HC1240

on Nov 18, 2005

ROFL... not to worry. I haven't messed with cars since I was in my early twenties and I HAD to. I much prefer taking them to the mechanic.

Thanks again for the use of the vehicle... love you!

HC1240

on Nov 18, 2005

! That was a great one!

Hush, you!

...

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