Signs of a broken washing machine bearing

Despite the high reliability of modern household appliances, they can still fail during active use. Often this is due to the bearing assembly, which is very difficult to work with due to the fact that it is difficult for the average person to reach it. That is why you need to know the main signs of wear on a washing machine bearing, so as not to disassemble the device in vain if it suddenly turns out that the bearings are in order. Let's learn how to identify damage at home, without resorting to the help of specialists.

We determine the problem without disassembling the machine

Of course, only a repair service employee can accurately determine the malfunction without disassembling the equipment. If the unit has only recently begun to deteriorate, then even a service center specialist will not be able to identify this without completely disassembling the washing machine. However, there are a number of signs that may indicate a breakdown.

• Extraneous sounds during the working cycle. Pay close attention to strange noises that occur during washing and rinsing. We are talking about a strange clanging on metal, a strong knock, grinding, etc.

Do not try to look for a breakdown during the spin cycle, as the machine in this mode makes extremely loud sounds, behind which it is impossible to recognize the unusual noise.

• Poor quality spin. If the bearings are damaged, the drum will not be able to reach maximum speed during the final stage of the operating cycle. Due to the reduced number of revolutions per minute, the spin quality will suffer.
• The appearance of an imbalance. Also, due to such a breakdown, the balancing of the SM will be disrupted.If the bearing assembly is truly faulty, the machine will begin to swing in different directions. This is not always easy to notice, because if the node has just begun to fail, then the imbalance may be almost invisible to the naked eye.
• Damage to the cuff. Finally, it is worth examining the edges of the cuff, because if they are worn away, then this is further evidence that there may be a problem with the bearing assembly.

There is another method of checking the “home assistant” without a complete analysis. To do this, you must first disconnect the device from the electricity, open the hatch, put your hand into the drum and place three fingers on its upper edge. Next, you need to swing the drum so that it swings with the tank on the springs, but there is no play between them. If during these manipulations you feel a backlash, then the unit has already begun to fail.

Finally, you can try to spin the drum as hard as you can so that it starts to rotate relatively freely with a slight hum. In a situation where, instead of a weak hum, a beating is felt or even an unpleasant clanging is heard, then the bearings need urgent replacement. This could happen due to a manufacturing defect or ordinary wear and tear that arose during the active use of the washing machine.

Remove the back wall of the case

If there are no obvious signs of breakdown, then you can try to determine the fault using partial disassembly of the SM. This will save time and help you find evidence that the bearing actually needs to be replaced. How to check an element relatively quickly?

• Disconnect the unit from the power supply, water supply and sewerage.
• Move it away from the wall to allow easy access to the back wall.
• Remove the back panel of the machine.
• Carefully inspect the back wall of the tank.

To accurately determine the breakdown, it is permissible to remove the drive belt.

If the bearing assembly begins to deteriorate, then lubricant leakage and corrosion will almost always occur. Consequently, if the rear wall of the tank is covered with rusty streaks and obvious traces of lubricant, then the bearings need urgent replacement. It is not recommended to use household appliances in this condition, so do not rush to return them to their place.

Assess the complexity of the repair

Most often, users immediately call a repair service after they suspect a bearing failure. This makes sense, because experts will be better able to handle repair work, but sometimes you can do it yourself, which will save time and the family budget. First you need to study the specific situation, because depending on the model of the washing machine, replacement can be either relatively easy or extremely difficult.

If your “home assistant” has a non-separable tank, as in Indesit brand products, then it is better to entrust the repair to a service center.

When bearings break in a washing machine with a non-separable tank, you have to either get rid of the damaged household appliances or replace the entire tank-drum assembly. Of course, you can try to saw the tank, replace the failed parts, and then try to assemble the tank using clamps and glue, but such repairs often lead to the tank starting to leak heavily during the operating cycle. In this case, you will have to pay for additional repairs, and the initial cost of replacing the unit with the drum cut can reach half the price of a new Indesit washing machine.Therefore, many housewives refuse such a procedure and simply buy new household appliances.

There is also a flip side to the coin - if you use a “home assistant” with a vertical loading type. It’s easy to handle this type of equipment yourself, because you just need to remove the side walls, unscrew the pulley screw, remove the drive belt, remove the pulley, unscrew the calipers, screw in new ones in their place, and then reassemble the device. In total, such repairs take about 15 minutes if a professional takes on the job, and about 45 minutes if we are talking about a person with no experience in repairing washing machines.

That’s why you should never rush into either home repairs or calling a service center specialist. First, you should identify the malfunction, competently assess the complexity of its elimination, and only then make a decision to repair it or not.

Reader comments

• Share your opinion - leave a comment