Man Vs. Machine
I have a new washing machine.
I'd been trying to repair the old one for a week or so. The main problem was the water valve: it wouldn't fill the drum with water when requested to. I'd resorted to filling a bucket from the tap and dumping water in, one pail at a time, which was slightly inconvenient, but I hated spending money on a new machine when the old one was still working, more or less. I decided to replace the valve myself, but halfway through the job, I realized that this model required the entire outer metal casing to be removed before the defective valve can be taken out. Since the drainage hose was held together with duct tape, and the timer switch was starting to malfunction, I decided to give up, leave the machine partially dismantled, and buy a new one.
BD & I headed to the discount appliance place. While he was examining the interior of all the refrigerators and freezers on display, for reasons never made clear to me, and finding out what his voice sounded like with his head inside a dryer, I found a top-loading washer for 50% off, due to a small scratch in the paint. Not bad.
All that remains is to disable the lid mechanism, the thing which makes the washer stop when the lid is lifted. This is supposed to be a safety feature, which seems ridiculous to me. Anyone who could be badly injured by a washing machine agitator shouldn't be walking around unsupervised, much less washing his own clothes. Besides, I like to be able to lift the lid when the washer's running. For one thing, it lets me estimate when the machine can accept one more item, and when it will seize up completely if I add so much as a sock to the load.
Usually, it's the easiest thing in the world. The mechanism consists of a small spike attached to the underside of the lid. This presses down a slightly recessed switch when the lid is lowered, allowing the washer to run. All I have to do is insert something -- most recently, a broken chopstick -- into the switch, and the washer will run even when the lid is open.
This new one, however, is tricky and designed to thwart any attempt at sabotage. First, the switch is placed deep inside a narrow crevice. Second, it's designed so that, when the switch is pressed down, a sort of sliding door closes and blocks the crevice, making it difficult to jury-rig. Third, and most annoyingly, the lid actually locks in place during the spin cycle. I assume this is another 'safety' feature, intended to save me from myself should I ever get the urge to jump inside and ride the thing like a carousel. The lock seems to include a timer, because it also remains locked for about 2 minutes after the cycle is complete, leaving me standing there waiting for the washer to let me open the lid and take the clean stuff out. When an appliance starts telling me when I may and may not access my own wet clothing, it's time to take a stand. I know I can find a way. Wish me luck.
I'd been trying to repair the old one for a week or so. The main problem was the water valve: it wouldn't fill the drum with water when requested to. I'd resorted to filling a bucket from the tap and dumping water in, one pail at a time, which was slightly inconvenient, but I hated spending money on a new machine when the old one was still working, more or less. I decided to replace the valve myself, but halfway through the job, I realized that this model required the entire outer metal casing to be removed before the defective valve can be taken out. Since the drainage hose was held together with duct tape, and the timer switch was starting to malfunction, I decided to give up, leave the machine partially dismantled, and buy a new one.
BD & I headed to the discount appliance place. While he was examining the interior of all the refrigerators and freezers on display, for reasons never made clear to me, and finding out what his voice sounded like with his head inside a dryer, I found a top-loading washer for 50% off, due to a small scratch in the paint. Not bad.
All that remains is to disable the lid mechanism, the thing which makes the washer stop when the lid is lifted. This is supposed to be a safety feature, which seems ridiculous to me. Anyone who could be badly injured by a washing machine agitator shouldn't be walking around unsupervised, much less washing his own clothes. Besides, I like to be able to lift the lid when the washer's running. For one thing, it lets me estimate when the machine can accept one more item, and when it will seize up completely if I add so much as a sock to the load.
Usually, it's the easiest thing in the world. The mechanism consists of a small spike attached to the underside of the lid. This presses down a slightly recessed switch when the lid is lowered, allowing the washer to run. All I have to do is insert something -- most recently, a broken chopstick -- into the switch, and the washer will run even when the lid is open.
This new one, however, is tricky and designed to thwart any attempt at sabotage. First, the switch is placed deep inside a narrow crevice. Second, it's designed so that, when the switch is pressed down, a sort of sliding door closes and blocks the crevice, making it difficult to jury-rig. Third, and most annoyingly, the lid actually locks in place during the spin cycle. I assume this is another 'safety' feature, intended to save me from myself should I ever get the urge to jump inside and ride the thing like a carousel. The lock seems to include a timer, because it also remains locked for about 2 minutes after the cycle is complete, leaving me standing there waiting for the washer to let me open the lid and take the clean stuff out. When an appliance starts telling me when I may and may not access my own wet clothing, it's time to take a stand. I know I can find a way. Wish me luck.