Kelly's Korner - 6 Reasons Part Numbers Change

Hey, All,

"Numbers, they are a-changin'..." to paraphrase Bob Dylan, represents an often frustrating and little understood phenomena in the appliance parts business.  It is especially frustrating when you have a popular part and have the number memorized and then it changes on you and you have a new one to learn.  Believe me, we have all been there more times than we can count!  Would you believe that part number 12784415 has 26 part numbers associated with it and is getting ready to change again?

Following is a short list as to why these numbers may change:

1. Part has been redesigned to correct an issue.
2. They are getting part from another vendor.
3. Company has been bought by another company and they are changing part numbers to sync with the new company's system.
4.  New computer programs are requiring a change.
5.  What has come in a kit is now being offered as separate parts.
6.  What was a single part is now part of a kit.

I know it can be frustrating, but there is a method to their madness. If anytime you are having difficulties with a part number, please call us here at W L May and we will get you the most current version. We have computer access to the major manufacturers and can access any new information almost instantly.  This includes parts that are no longer available through the manufacturer, need to be sent in for rebuild, and parts that are in the process of being changed.  We also have the ability, in many cases, to take a part number you have and find previous part numbers (example - research gives you the newest part number but you may have an older part number in your stock that will work).


W L May is your advocate/go-between with the manufacturers - please use us!

Have a great week!

Kelly's Korner - Two more items for your Superhero Book

Hey, All,

Hope all you moms out there had a great Mother's Day!  I sure did!


My sister, Barbara, and her kids, Samantha and James - it's not only Mother's Day for her but her birthday!  Super mom and sister!



Not much happening on the appliance front at the moment so I thought I would go through my Super Hero Book and share a couple more things.

First one, Electrolux/Frigidaire has an icemaker in some of their refrigerators that are decidedly different than any others I've every seen.  I've had several calls looking for complete replacements on them and there is no such beast.  BUT, they have come out with a repair kit - 5303918495 - that replaces the main control board, bail arm and motor, ice mold and a bunch of other little parts that seem to be the main culprits in the breakdown of this icemaker.

Sometimes, when looking for the  control "jazz" board on some Whirlpool/Maytag/Amana refrigerators, the research will give you a part number of 12002756.  This is not only the board but a bunch of insulation and a new evaporator fan motor and blade.  Now if all you need is the board, the current number for that is 12784415, although there is even a newer version of this board - W10503278.

I hope you are keeping up on your Superhero Book - mine has been a lifesaver more times than I can count and every one of my customer has benefitted from it.  Be a Superhero to your customers, too!

Have a great week!

Thoughtful Thursday: GE Numbering Systems

GE is an unusual company-but not in a bad way. Founded by Thomas Edison, GE has a long tradition of doing things their own way. I remember once being told by an old-timer in the industry: "There is the right way, the wrong way, and the GE way." The system they use for numbering parts is unique to them as well, but it is quite rational. That would be another part of the Edison legacy.

GE is consistent with the style of part number they use. Their numbers use a combination of letters and numbers with the letters being more prevalent than most other brands. For example, all GE appliance parts will start with the letter "W", unless those parts are packaged for display as a retail item. Those retail items start with the letters "PM" for Parts Master, their retail product program. The second letter used indicates the type of appliance the part is used on. So, on a GE model:

• WB is used for cooking equipment such as ranges, microwaves and range hoods. B for baking.
• WR is used for refrigerators and freezers. R for refrigeration.
• WD is used for dishwashers. D for dishwashers.
• WC is used for Trash Compacters. C for compacter.
• WH is used for washers. H is for home laundry.
• WE is used for dryers. E for electric dryer. This prefix is used on gas dryers as well.

As you can see, it is pretty easy to determine what type of machine a part is for just by seeing the first few letters in the part number. But GE didn't stop there. The numbers that come after the letters often hold meanings as well, although there are some exceptions found as you get past the letters.

Here are some common numbering standards:
For ranges:

• WB21 is used for switches.
• WB27 is used for controls
• WB30 is used for surface elements.
• WB31 Is used for drip pans and rings and burner grates.
• WB44 is used for bake and broil elements

For refrigerators:

• WR9 is used for controls, both temperature and defrost 
• WR30 is used for ice makers and related pieces (such as the ice bin).
• WR50 and WR51 are used for defrost heaters and thermostats. 
• WR55 is used for electronics such as boards, touchpads and sensors. 
• WR60 is used for motors.
• WR87 is used for compressors.

For dishwashers:

• WD26 is used for motors and pumps.

For washing machines:

• WH1 is used for belts.
• WH13 is used for valves.
• WH23 is used for pumps.
• WH38 is used for transmissions.

For dryers:

• WE11 is used for elements.
• WE18 is used for lint screens.

As you can see there is a certain elegance to their numbering system. I am probably overlooking a few of their common prefixes, so please let me know in the comments what I missed.

There are also a few tricks that seem to come up regularly to people who are researching GE parts.

1. The first has to do with the model number. There are a fair number of GE models that end with the sequence letter-zero (or sometimes astersisk)-letter-number-letter-letter. These can be particularly tricky as GE has an unwritten rule that the zero or asterisk is dropped in this type of model number, To complicate matter further, they will sometimes drop the last 2 letters off as well. A good way to deal with this, if you are using the Illustrated Parts Lookup is to key in the 1st half of the number. You will get a list of all models that start with what you typed. Knowing what I just told you about GE model numbers, it should at that point be fairly easy to pick your model off of the list.
2. The second has to do with part numbers and another unwritten GE rule. Older models of GE used a strict format of 2 letters-2 numbers-the letter x-4 numbers, When the the number was shorter they would insert zeroes to stick to their format. For example, WR9x489 would likely be listed as WR09x0489. The researcher is just expected to "know" to drop those zeroes out of the number. That was confusing but consistent until a few years ago, when GE decided to NOT have the zeros drop out of the part number. How can you tell? The rule of thumb to use is if there are 5 numbers after the connecting letter (Ususally "X" but sometimes "T","M"or another letter) then you leave all zeroes intact. If there are not 5 numbers after the connecting letter, then it is an older number and the zeroes drop as mentioned about.

That's all there is to it! Clear as mud, I know. The great thing is that if you need a hand, we've got you covered. There is a lot of experience working with GE's among our staff, so do not hesitate to give us a call if you have difficulties.

Kelly's Korner - Superhero Book Add-ons

Hey, All,

Was going through my book and thought I'd list some more random part numbers that may help:

Electrolux:
Garage heater kit:  5304458930
Diode for primary water valve in SxS refrigerators:  5303918287
Corner gaskets for dishwashers:  154701001

GE:
5/16" tubing for waterlines:  WR17X2891
5/16" push on waterline connectors (John Guest):  WR02X10471
Heater for fill tube in dispenser:  WR49X10173
Fill tube heater for icemaker:  WR51X369

Whirlpool/Maytag:
Heater for icemaker tube:  4389174
60" x 5/16" waterline:  2256126
Dishwasher coupler repair kit:  285170
Dispenser ice door repair kit for SxS refrigerators:  8201756
Shelf support kit for refrigerators:  4388540

It is never too late to start your own Superhero Book!

Have a great week!

Kelly's Korner - Superhero Book

Hey, All!

So how are you all doing on your Superhero Book?  Are you adding to it when you find something that you've never seen before?  It is real easy to think that you'll do it later, but I find that if I don't write it down or print it out now, it doesn't get done, then I kick myself when I need it later.  Don't procrastinate!

This came to mind the other day when I was looking for a kit that I KNOW Whirlpool puts out for refrigerator shelf support repair (4388540) and I couldn't find it because I HAD NOT WRITTEN IT DOWN!!!  I only like doing things twice if they are fun - finding information twice because of my laziness is not fun.

Of course, on the opposite side, a tech called me looking for a dispenser heater kit for a GE refrigerator, and before he could even finish explaining what he needed, I had the part number (WR49X10173) because I HAD WRITTEN IT DOWN!!!  Blew him away and I sat here and giggled.

There are sooo many things that the manufacturers come up with AFTER the appliances are in a consumer's home to fix issues that come up.  And they are usually not on whatever research material you are looking at.  We here at W L May are really good at ferreting out this information, so don't hesitate to give us a holler to find what you need.

Have a great week!  (Happy Birthday, Mom!)

PS:  As I'm sitting here writing this the ol' Book came in handy again - splash shield kit for Frigidaire Dishwashers (corner gaskets at bottom of door gasket)  154701001.  Three more part number for your Book!  K

KELLY'S KORNER - GE PART NUMBERS

Hey, All,

Search back in the deep recesses of your mind to your school days and them darn spelling lists.  So many rules to remember like " 'i' before 'e', except after 'c', or when used in 'neighbor' or 'weigh' " - and there are exceptions to this!  Well, many people have questioned me on GE model and part numbers so I am going to try to help everyone out.

GE likes to put in "0's" in both the model number and the part numbers, but sometimes you have to drop them in order for them to come up. Example:

This is what's on the model number tag: JBS02004WH
This is what shows up on your research program: JBS02*04

Why? I don't know, but if you are having difficulties, start backing off the numbers/letters - JBS02 - this should bring up a list of all model numbers that start like this - go down the list until you find the model number that works. The WH is just the color code for a white model and they just drop this off alot of times.

So now you've found the correct model and you need a surface unit knob -WB03X0464 - but this doesn't come up as a good part number. Drop the leading zeros - WB3X464 - and then it should come up.

The exception for this is like WB03K10218 - you would not drop any zeros on this. It is confusing, I know but, as always, we here at W L May are here to help you clear the confusion!

The first two letters of the part number will tell you what kind of appliance the part goes to (there are exceptions:  some knobs are used on both washers and dryers, etc)

WD - dishwashers
WB - any kind of cooking appliance; ovens, ranges, microwaves, microhoods, vent hoods, etc.  I remind myself that the "B" is for baking.
WH - washers
WE - dryers (gas and electric)
WR - refrigerators
(there are others but these are the basics)

Hope this clears a bit of the confusion!

Have a great week!