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!

Monday Motivation

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Friday Morning Videos: Robert DIY Changes A Direct Drive Coupler

Here is a video on how to replace a direct drive coupler on Whirlpool/Kenmore washers. Basic stuff to you pros working in the field, we know. We hope this video will be helpful for sharing with any do-it-yourself folks you may be trying to help, or perhaps for showing to a rookie appliance repair person who is in training.

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Throwback Thursday: News Recap May 15, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. A lot has been happening so without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:

• Freep posted a good article that outlined some common laundry myths. Horrible headline though. LINK
• Channel 3000 offered their tips for cleaning a dishwasher. LINK
• Detroit Free Press ran down a list of things you are better off NOT using your refrigerator for. LINK
• AZ Central made their contribution to our ongoing series of repair vs replace articles. LINK
• Joe Gagnon writes a regular article that deals with appliances and their repairs. In this article he addressed some concerns from his readers and also came up with the one of the best appliance headlines I have seen in a while. LINK
• A piece from the BBC made a few points that only apply in the UK, but the rest of it was an interesting explanation of the some of the trade offs consumers make when they buy the lowest priced models of appliances. LINK
• Huffington Post offered some laundry tips. LINK
• My Fox Philly offered some washing machine usage advise. LINK

Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:

• The Exponent reports a partnership between Whirlpool and Perdue University developing sustainable practices. LINK

We found several articles that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:

• NBC had video out of China of rescue workers using a chainsaw to free a young boy who was trapped in a washing machine. LINK
• Paleofuture talked about the slow adoption of dishwashers by consumers. LINK
• Engineering students from the University of Minnesota lent a hand to the Virginia Heritage Museum by repairing their 100 year old electric wringer washer. LINK
• The Roosevelts posted some creative and funny refrigerator art. LINK
• Regardless of your political opinion, this simple solution to feeding the needy seems like a pretty good idea. LINK
• An Oakland artist builds home for the homeless, using scrap pallettes and discarded building materials-that includes some appliance parts.... LINK
• Faced with a kitchen remodel, this report looked into the state of modern appliances. LINK
• BBC posted an article that features a wide variety of older appliances still in use, with pictures. I'll bet there are a few brands shown here you haven't heard of! LINK
• KSDK reported on exploding refrigerators increasing in areas with legalized Marijuana. LINK
• Fast Company reported on high end washer "subscriptions" in the Netherlands. LINK
• The Appendix that talks about the development of refrigeration and its effects on modern society. LINK

Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:

• Mashable examined state of smart home appliances and where they see things going. LINK
• Deccan Chronicle outlines some new discoveries about magnetism that could affect refrigerators of the future. LINK

We close with a few stories that are just for fun:

• The Meat and Potatoes of Life tackled some spring cleaning-in the refrigerator. LINK
• This article may offer a bit of a smile to those who have had to deal with unreasonable customers. LINK
• Blooms and Bubbles reminded us that some women just love appliance guys! LINK 

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

6 Top Selling Electrolux Dryer Parts

One of our more common questions we get asked at W.L. May Company is "what items are popular sellers?" When clients ask that question it is because they would like to stock those items to be ready for any eventuality. It can be difficult to recommend a standard stock list that would be the same for every client. Many factors can change the needed stock for a given company. Such things as the climate, gas and electrical infrastructure in the community, energy rates, and income levels and local dealers all can have a bearing on what is needed to fill a well stocked service vehicle or parts department. Because of all the different things that can change stocking needs, I can't exactly offer you a complete list that would work for every company. Some parts, however are universally common and generally our best sellers. Today we crack open the books and share with you six of our top Electrolux dryer parts. In the future we will revisit this subject for some other top sellers in other categories. These parts are not "must stock" items (after all it IS a free country, you can stock what you want), but they are "strongly encouraged" items that should help increase your first call completes, add-on sales, and ultimately make you more efficient and profitable as a service or parts company.

• 5303281153-Rear Bearing Kit-Often called the "Trailer Hitch" bearing, because it looks like the ball and socket you might see on a boat trailer hitch. It is a long running part that was a bread-and-butter stockable part when I entered the appliance trade 22 years ago.

5303281153

• 5303937139-Front Felt/Glide Assembly-Commonly used upper felt seal for dryer drum. Comes with glides mounted to the felt and adhesive needed for install.

5303937139

• 5300622032-Dryer Element Restring Coil-This is a coil that is used to restring the element on Frigidaire dryers prior to 1996 that use the large heater that mounts behind the drum. It has 1/4" terminals and is 18 inches long. This coil is sent without a terminal block or insulators. If those are needed, you would need to replace the entire element assembly. 

5300622032

• 131825900-Rear Bearing-This is the receiver part of the 5303281153 rear bearing assembly described above.

131825900

• 134503600-Drum Belt-This is  87 3/4 inch belt used on many newer Frigidaire made dryers.

134503600

• 5300622034-Dryer Element Restring Coil-Very similar to 5300622032, this is a coil that is used to restring the element on Frigidaire dryers after 1996 that use the large heater that mounts behind the drum. It has 5/16" terminals and is 18 inches long. This coil is sent without a terminal block or insulators. If those are needed, you would need to replace the entire element assembly

5300622034

We hope you find this list helpful in determining your stock needs, Watch for future posts when we discuss other brands and product types. Happy Servicing!

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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!

Motivation Monday

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter F. Drucker

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