Fixitnow.com Samurai Appliance Repair Man

Fixitnow.com Reloaded: Your Favorite Appliance Repair Weapon of Mass Instruction Now Goes to Eleven

2010-03-09T14:43:49Z

That’s right, my friends, Fixitnow.com just went one bettah. Now you can find the appliance repair information you need faster and in high-swank style. Daf right, Homes, we pimpin’ now!

I finally did that server migration I’ve been angsting about for over a month and I thought, “Hello? Why is there an echo in here?” Whoops, sorry, wrong thought. Anyway, what better time for a website makeover than when you move into a new server? I couldn’t think of one so I grabbed a couple cases of Smuttynose Star Island Single and went to work. When I woke up on the floor next to my compooter, my bloodshot eye (the other one was still swollen shut) did behold the glory of the new look. Please allow me to give you a quick tour.

In re-building Fixitnow.com, we’ve incorporated all the latest available technology… and even some technology that’s not yet available. For example, this website is now constructed with a fully-anodized, uni-welded titanium frame to achieve superior strength and durability while keeping page weight to a minimum. For your safety while navigating the site, you’ll find a fully-inflatable and self-illuminating navigation menu at the top of the screen. And, for the comfort of other browsers here at the site, please notice that Fixitnow.com is a smoke-free website.

Taking a cue from the blockbuster movie, Avatar, we realized that 3D websites are gonna be the next big thing on the web. Since the Samurai is always on the bleeding edge of technology, Fixitnow.com is now the first and only site on the web to offer a 3D browsing experience. Yes, my friends, now experience the total Samurai awesomeness of Fixitnow.com in 3D using the VistaView 3D NavGoggles! Unfortunately the goggles haven’t been made yet, or even invented as far as I know, but when they are…!

Here at Fixitnow.com, we’re always looking for new ways of making the site accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their physical challenge. So, today I’m proud to announce that Fixitnow.com is now Braille captioned for the vision impaired. If you’re not seeing the Braille captions, just thank the pot-bellied, bald-headed Buddha that you ain’t blind!

We hope you enjoy your enhanced repair experience here at the new, improved Fixitnow.com Samurai Appliance Repair Man.

Venting a Dryer Into a Crawlspace Under a House

2010-02-23T15:31:14Z

Angi wrote:

Hi, Thanks for you timely response.
I you have a well vented crawl space under your house, why can’t you vent your dryer underneath your house.

Oh, but you can! If you don’t mind mold, mildew, rotted floor joists, caved in floors, and chronic illnesses from all the gookus in dryer exhaust. Also, the US EPA has identified the fragrances in fabric softeners as particularly potent source of allergens for many people.

I dunno, dryer manufacturers come up with these silly venting requirements because they have this crazy notion that most people don’t like this stuff. Go figure!

Samurai at the Appliance Service Training Institute (ASTI) Conference This Week

2010-02-17T22:51:30Z

The Samurai is down in Orlando, FL, this week at the Disney Coronado Resort getting some inside scoop on the latest appliance models. It’s the Appliance Service Training Institute’s (ASTI) annual conference and training pow-wow. If you’re morbidly curious about the kind of stuff we Master Appliantologists talk about when we get together, check in periodically with the Samurai’s Posterous Site where I’m posting audio reports and photos live from the conference!

Appliance Repair Haiku: Shiny, Round Morsels of Precious Appliance Wisdom

2010-02-15T13:58:32Z

Like pearls of great price,
Samurai Repair Man writes
haikus you can use.

Getting Inside a Maytag Atlantis or Performa Washer

2010-02-13T12:19:17Z

Sooner or later, you’re gonna need to get into the guts of your Maytag Atlantis or Performa washer to do stuff like replace the pump, adjust the motor tension, and replace the transmission, among the more common repairs on these beasts. One question that comes up frequently in the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums is, “How do I get inside this thing.” Piece of pie, tovarish! Behold:

First, pop the top:

1. Unplug the washer.
2. Using a stiff putty knife, press the locking clip in the seam between the “hood” and front panel, as shown below. There’s a clip on each side. Raise the top panel up and out of the way. You may want to tape the the lid to the top panel so it doesn’t slam into the wall, thus evoking explicit language.

Now you’ll see two screws, one on each side. Remove ‘em and pull the top of the front panel out toward you. Then just lift the panel off the bottom hinges and there you be.

Ain’t nuttin’ to it. Now whup up on that bad boy!

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

Samurai Sinch: Fixitnow.com Appliance Repair Radio, Episode 18

2010-02-13T01:09:07Z

A Valentine’s Day Greeting from Samurai Appliance Repair Man and Mrs. Samurai

2010-02-12T16:53:38Z

Celebrating Over 20 Years as Soulmates
Samurai Appliance Repair Man & Mrs. Samurai
Fixitnow.com

Used Appliance Parts Exchange in the Appliance Parts Junkyard

2010-02-12T11:56:14Z

Howard wrote:

Dear Learned and Enlightened ONE,

I am in-process of replacing a 12 yr Maytag Neptune Washing M/C P/N MAH3000AWW due to a bad Main Control board (too $$ to fix even considering purchasing from repairclinic). Is there any value donating the known still functioning parts ie Inlet Valve Ass’y, Motor & Control board? I would ask money to reimburse S&H costs though.
Is there a forum to do so or not worth the effort?

Thank You for your opinion and entertaining dialogues.

Cheers

We have just the place you’re looking for! It’s the Appliance Parts Junkyard at the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums. Just register in the forum (it’s free) and then post your goodies for all the world to see in the Appliance Parts Junkyard. It’s all totally free and it doesn’t cost anything, either. Hey, did I just repeat myself repeat myself?

If you’re looking for NEW appliance parts, come hither.

Fixitnow.com Appliance Repair Radio, Episode 18: We’re Baaack!

2010-02-11T03:21:20Z

Many of you have emailed the Samurai axing, “Samurai, O Samurai, when will you and Mrs. Samurai make another edition of your award-winning podcast?” You chirped and we listened. After an extended hiatus, we’re baaack!

Some of the topics covered in this issue:

Appliance brands: how to choose ‘em?
New, extended version of the much-loved Home Wiring DVD.
DIY Appliance repair resources at Fixitnow.com.
Appliance Service Training Institute conference coming up next week.

Listen now!

Dryer Belt Installation Diagrams for Common Dryer Makes and Models

2010-02-13T12:20:26Z

Broken dryer belt;
bewildered by whirligigs.
‘Round and ’round she goes.

To learn more about your dryer, or to order parts, click here.

Dishwasher Drain Hose Adaptor: A Haiku of Praise

2010-02-13T12:20:58Z

Dishwasher installed…
except drain hose doesn’t fit.
Saved by adaptor!

To learn more about your dishwasher, or to order parts, click here.

The Golden Buttcrack Award

2010-02-12T15:31:52Z

The coveted Golden Buttcrack Award was started by disciples of Saint Applianopoulous, the patron saint of appliance techs. The Award’s name was chosen to honor the destinktive warrior’s stance that St. Applianopoulous would strike as he battled insolent appliances:

The Golden Buttcrack Award is conferred upon those Appliantology Masters who have distinguished themselves by giving exceptional appliance repair help to the heaving swarms of grasshoppers chirping for Appliantological wisdom in the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums. Less than 10 Grand Masters of Appliantology have earned this coveted distinktion. The Golden Buttcrack Masters are:

RegUS_Patoff
appl.tech.29501
kdog
NSCU_laundry_tech
Trying to help
Pegi
Denrayr
Willie (aka, Budget Appliance Repair)

You can bask in the glory of the Golden Buttcrack gallery ratcheer.

Troubleshooting Flowchart for a Maytag Neptune Washer that Overfills

2010-02-13T12:21:14Z

Maytag d’Neptune
overflowing at the bow.
Sail chartered waters.

(click for larger view)

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

Samurai Appliance Repair Forum Orphan Prevention Program

2010-02-07T21:48:02Z

Greetings,

After joining your forum under the recommendation of a friend, I was shocked to find that you have to ‘pay’ in order to ask simple questions (I.E: Make a new thread) and to simply get answers that are directed at one’s self in order to repair a rowdy appliance.

-Tom

Hello Tom, and all the grasshoppers out there who are “shocked” that we ask for payment to post in the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums. I would like to ’splain why this is so, since most of you are probably unaware of the ins and outs of running a Mama-san and Papa-san business on the web. (And, in case you are wondering, this is our main, full-time business that keeps us and our 3 kiddos supplied with a humble thatched roof over our heads and sushi on the table.)

The main reason we charge to post a question on the forum might surprise you. It’s not because the forum represents the collective wisdom and time of a couple dozen battle-hardened appliance techs, whose previously written pearls are displayed for all to see, free of charge, since payment is only requested if you would like to have your particular problem personally attended to by one or more of these professionals. (Although seeing it written out like that makes me think that this alone would be a darn good reason to charge a measly 5 bucks!) No – the main reason that we charge a small fee is for the orphans. (Think of the children!) The orphans are the dozens of posts we used to get every week, back when posting was free, by heartless scoundrels who would post their questions at the forum, only to abandon them there. In other words, a tech would take the time to engage the grasshopper, give some initial advice, and ask for clarifying questions (most topics require a series of interchanges between grasshopper and tech to come to a glorious and satisfying conclusion). But, the rogue would never return, and the topic would just lay there – abandoned, forlorn, and unfulfilled. Worse yet, we discovered that many of these miscreants had similarly posted these same questions on other forums throughout the web, scattering them without any thought to their care and feeding.

Why was this a big deal? Because it would clutter the forum with unresolved questions, distract the techs from helping people who were engaged and attentive to their topics, and generally dishearten those of us who were working so hard to leave no topic behind. Now, with this small commitment that we ask of people, the forum is rocking with engaging back-and-forth interactions between grasshopper and expert resulting in a treasure-trove of satisfyingly complete repair stories.

The Samurai and I do feel for our grasshoppers who don’t have it easy these days. While $5 isn’t worth a whole lot anymore, it can still mean a lot to those who are suffering from the effects of our bankster-run economy. Last year the Samurai and I heard your chirps of distress and provided a no-cost way to earn posting privileges at the forum: the Appliantologist Merit Exam. We’ll keep looking for other alternatives to charging for forum posting that would still prevent the sad orphan topics that used to be left on our door step.

Thanks for visiting Fixitnow.com!
~ Mrs. Samurai

LG Front Loading Washer Leaks Water Out the Front Door While in Use

2010-01-28T20:35:51Z

LG: Life’s (not) Good:
water dribbles out front door.
Need boot and spring clamp.

LG Washer Service Manual

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

Maytag Atlantis or Performa Washer Squeals or Bangs at the End of the Spin Cycle as the Tub Stops

2010-02-04T16:34:21Z

Maytag Atlantis
screeches and bangs when tub stops.
Time for a brake job.

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

An Inside Look at How Dishwashers Work

2010-02-13T12:21:35Z

This is what we professional appliantologists call an “organic dishwasher.” Very eco-friendly, too– uses no water!

To learn more about your dishwasher, or to order parts, click here.

How to Install a Dishwasher

2010-02-02T16:45:50Z

Got new dishwasher,
oh joy! But how to install?
Budda bing, budda…

To learn more about your dishwasher, or to order parts, click here.

Dacor ERD36 Range Troubleshooting, Disassembly, and Other Repair Goodies

2010-02-01T14:28:13Z

Got you one of them fancy Dacor ERD ranges with an F1 error code? Or maybe some other type of problem? Well, urine luck, budrow, ‘cuz Dacor is one of the enlightened manufacturers who makes all their service information freely available to everyone on the Web! And, special bonus, Dacor products are made ratcheer in Ameedica. Lots of repair goodies for the Dacor ERD36 range are linked in the Scribd doc below:

Yessir, the Samurai likes Dacor. Yeah, Dacor products are high-end and sell for big bucks. But we professional appliantologists like appliances we can fix. And you can’t fix broken appliances if the manufacturer restricts access to their service information to either the big service companies, like Sears and A&E (owned by Sears), or to independent servicers who’ve signed a sucker’s contract with the manufacturer saying that they’ll do their warranty work for slave’s wages; GE and Viking are the worst offenders in this regard. So, if you’re wantin’ high-dollah, high-end appliances for your kitchen, Dacor is the brand to go with.

To learn more about your range/stove/oven, or to order parts, click here.

An Application of the Kinetic Impact Method to Clearing a Frozen Icemaker Fill Tube

2010-02-13T12:21:47Z

Ice bucket empty;
inner Babe Ruth awakens.
Batting a thousand.

To learn more about your ice maker, or to order parts, click here.

To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.