Washing machine only spins on fastest spin setting

[Benjaminski]

My Hotpoint WT540 washing machine only spins on the fastest cycle, even when a slower setting is selected on the dial. Can this be fixed easily?

[Whitegoodshelp]

Hi. Does the drum turn normally during wash and spin?

[Benjaminski]

Yes, it appears to be working normally, no stage noises, bangs or clanks, but it only ever spins on the fastest setting.

[Whitegoodshelp]

That’s a weird fault. I was just checking that the motor ran ok otherwise as some faults cause motor to only spin even on wash.
 

Can’t think how that could happen. Spin speeds are controlled by the software according to which wash cycle is set. No fault that I know of could cause fast spin on delicates cycle for example. 

[andyr12345]

it must be a brush type motor on that model. Would you then have different windings in the motor itself for the different speeds (1 winding for the wash and another winding or windings for different speeds up to spin speed) is that how it could work? 

if so maybe some winding burnt out or at the connector not connecting properly at the connection at the motor or the connection on the motor PCB possibly?

[Whitegoodshelp]

Possibly Andy. I’m not sure how they do it these days, but even motors with brushes used to achieve full spin by using half the field coil.
 

The hoover 1100 carbon brush motor used to have 3 wires on the field coil, and depending which two they put the power through you got different spin speed. But at the same time the speed was also controlled by the module and variable power. 
 

Brushless motors tended to have 2 coils but they must still use electronics to control speeds, or they wouldn’t be able to slow start, ramp up and down from spin, wash gentle action, faster action, and various different spin speeds. 
 

I’ve heard of not doing the fastest spin but never - only doing fastest spin, apart from when all motor control is lost and motor will do only spin speed. 

[Benjaminski]

Thanks for the help.

Is there a central control board on this model and could it be that something has fried on it, thus not recognising any spin speed options and defaulting to the fastest speed? 

Whatever the issue, is there any likelihood of being able to fix it easily, or would it be simpler just to replace the washing machine......thoughts?

Edited April 27, 2023 by Benjaminski
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[Whitegoodshelp]

Yes there is a main PCB. There is no easy fix. A complete new PCB may fix the problem but it is a gamble, it may not make any difference. It's a very unusual fault and therefore completely unsuited to DIY repairs.