Non Vehicle DIY Mods

[KC Masterpiece]

We have a very handy user base here, so lets see your non vehicle mods!

This last weekend we got an error code for a clogged filter. Well our washing machine did not appear to have a user serviceable filter... or did it.....

I opened up the back. Easy enough, 15 min. Then I saw that the pump and filter are at the front of the machine....

Maytags service procedure involves removing the top of the machine to start. Then the control panel, the front load door, the gasket and spring retainer, then the entire front of the machine. Not only is this a stupid design, but we have front loading machines with a nice shelf for folding clothes attached to the top with VHB tape, so its impractical to disassemble the machine for service. With dogs we also need to clean the filter more often, it was absolutely full of pet hair.

Enter Mr. Dremel who solved the problem! Now we have super easy access to clean this thing monthly. A friend is going to 3D print a cover for it so it looks good. I also need to grab about 6" of hose so I can extend the washer pump drain hose directly into the floor drain.





Finished up with a beer and an episode of Home Improvement.

And pro tip, consult your wife before you start cutting holes in appliances.

 

[Rzeppa]

I had a pump go out on our washer. I watched a youtube video on how to get at it, had me take the entire cover off (which also involved taking the dryer off the top since it sits on top of the washer. Once I had the cover off the washer, I discovered all I had to do was take a panel off the bottom front and taking the entire cover off the top was completely unnecessary. That wasn't the first time a youtube how-to video that I watched to learn how to do something was wrong, wrong, wrong! I have completely banned myself from using youtube videos for how-to stuff.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

Jeff I kept thinking there was an easier way for this one but no dice. Its a really dumb design. I actually got the inspiration to cut from a reddit thread where a dozen others had done the same thing.

 

[60wag]

I've got a similar washer and wanted to clear the filter to see if it had anything to do with a dank smell coming form the washer. I found the Youtube videos of cutting the access for the filter. WTF? I ended up running a cleaning cycle on the washer that seemed to help the smell. Didn't need to actually access the filter but still can't believe that stupid design actually went into production.

We recently ordered another washer for our house in Canada. Its an LG and has an actual filter access door at the bottom of the front panel. I guess the cost reduction hasn't made it to that line yet.

 

[On the RX]

Cabinet guy said we had two options for the top drawer under our gas range. We could not keep it as a drawer due to the gas regulator sticking into the space the drawer would need to close. So his options were a flip out with little wood pocket to hold a few small items or a simple dummy drawer that was glued a and screwed to the cabinet face. This seems silly so I said just mount the drawer and I would deal with it. My mod lost us a few inches, and if I had the time and tools I would have just boxed out a small area and gained a little more space. Instead, I hit the easy button and moved the back of the drawer closer to the front with just enough room to stop before it made contact. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!


I still need to slightly modify the 2x4 pieces i added foe the back of the drawer to grab the slides, but I'm 98% there.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I recently had to replace the heating element in my dryer. Full disassembly of the control panel, the top cover, the front facia, etc. just to get to the stupid thing. And then, only to realize that it COULD have been easily located just a few inches further towards the back of the machine where a service door COULD have been located in order to easily access and replace said heating element..... But no.... they had to make it a pain in the ass. With five different types of screws, all requiring special driver bits... but all the screw lengths and thread pitches where the exact same...
Like, seriously? How about you save some money in production by using the same damn screw for EVERYTHING and then put that savings into an access door for the heating element and call it even. That would require common sense though.


I've had to modify a few appliances. I've done battle with several washing machine latch sensor switches over the years.
My current washing machine had a tiny part in the latch break and lock the machine shut. I finally persuaded it to open again and commenced to disassembling it. Stamped in the plastic on the outside of the switch module was "Do not open, no serviceable parts inside." Yeah, the hell there isn't.
I pried it open and found that a very small pivot pin, critical to the operation of the latch, was made of plastic. It had snapped off and wasn't allowing the switch lock mechanism to function any longer.
New part cost: $200.
Yeah right.
I drilled a tiny hole where the pin was supposed to be and cut the metal pin off of a thumb tack. I pressed and glued the thumb tack pin in place. reassembled everything, and problem solved. Now it will never break, at least like THAT, ever again.
It's infuriating that we can't have quality equipment any longer, in order to maximize profit margins for shareholders of mega corporations.
But it does make for some interesting problem solving and creative solution puzzles for those of us who refuse to play the corporate disposable product game.

Back when I was living in apartments, right after my wife and I got married, the maintenance personnel were always leaving quite a bit to be desired. So I would just repair and "modify to function" things in my apartment myself. It was always pretty cheap and I got it done far faster and more effectively than the maintenance guys ever could. So I considered it worth it. I always left my apartments flawless and everything functional and always got my deposits back.

The term "modify to function" has always been one of my favorites.
Most appliances these days have so many "safety features" that the functionality of said appliance is irritatingly hindered. So modifying to function allows for the common sense functionality of the device, while it still thinks it's being "safe".
Always makes me so happy to outsmart the engineers who design these stupid things.
Unfortunately, with the rise of far more complicated and computer driven appliances, it is becoming more difficult.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

I love the term "modify to function". Adding that to the vocabulary.