In a washing machine, the tank and drum are connected by a special element - a cross. Thanks to its blades and base fitting, it securely fastens the assembly and provides the required torque. But due to heavy load, the soft metal of the part becomes deformed over time and needs to be repaired. We suggest you find out whether it is possible to repair the drum cross of an LG washing machine and what is needed for this. Here is the procedure and some recommendations.
In what cases is the cross not hopeless?
By repairing the cross we mean restoring the surface of the shaft. We are talking about the axle next to the bearings and the bushing, hidden by the oil seal. With prolonged use, traces of wear appear here: “grooves” - linear holes in the metal. They can be eliminated by returning the part to good condition.
Play during drum rotation, imbalance, increased vibration and knocking during washing may indicate problems with the washing machine cross.
The presence of grooves seriously affects the functioning of the washing machine. Due to an uneven shaft, the washing tank “goes astray” from its trajectory, which leads to an imbalance with subsequent mechanical damage to the structure. Traces of wear appear on metal for a number of reasons.
The bearing unit is faulty. When the bearings break, play occurs: the shaft rotates too freely. As a result, the oil seal wears out faster, and instead of a rubber band, a metal insert-holder rubs against the surface of the bushing. Due to friction against the metal, the axle is deformed, deep grooves and scratches appear.
The bushing under the oil seal is damaged.Such damage has virtually no effect on the shaft's movement, as it appears as surface grooves. But if there is no repair, the situation worsens until the part is irreparably damaged.
The main bearing is worn out. This refers to the ring located closer to the oil seal on the cross shaft itself. If the rim is heavily worn, the structure periodically “wedges”, which is fraught with the appearance of grooves and chips.
Not all crosspieces can be restored with your own hands - only grooves and small chips on the shaft can be repaired. If the blades are burst, bent or broken, then repair will not help. Local repairs will not provide the structure with adequate strength, but will only delay the solution to the problem. To prevent the situation from recurring, it is necessary to change the part completely.
Description of repair part
Not everyone can completely repair a crosspiece at home. If disassembling a washing machine and dismantling a part is within the power of everyone, then only a few can cope with removing traces of wear from the shaft. To restore blades with an axis, you need experience working with metal and a lathe.
It is always better to stop halfway: remove the cross from the washing machine and take it to a turner for further repair. Then you can save on a specialist and have no doubt about the quality of the restoration.
To remove the crosspiece, you will have to almost completely disassemble the washing machine. You need to follow the following instructions:
disconnect the washing machine from the power supply and water supply;
unhook the technical hatch door from the body;
drain the remaining water from the tank by unscrewing the garbage filter (or using the emergency drain hose);
push the machine to the center of the room, providing free access to any side of the case;
remove the top cover (unscrew the fasteners and push away from you, lifting);
remove the detergent tray;
remove the dashboard from the body (loosen the bolts and unclip the latches);
loosen the outer clamp on the hatch cuff and insert the elastic into the drum;
disconnect the front panel from the body;
disconnect all connected elements from the washing tank (drain pipe, level sensor, motor, heating element);
remove counterweights, springs and shock absorbers from LG;
pull out the tank by removing it from the side hooks;
“halve” the tank (by unscrewing the screws or sawing the container with a hacksaw);
get the drum;
dismantle the crosspiece (just unscrew the screws or drill out the fasteners).
The dismantled cross must be taken to a turner. The main thing is that the specialist has a suitable machine designed to work with small spare parts from a washing machine. This should be clarified in advance.
Before disassembling the washing machine, you need to turn off the power to the machine and disconnect it from the water supply!
The amount of work to be done depends on the nature of the damage. To eliminate the grooves under the bearings, you will have to weld the groove, and then remove the excess metal on the machine. Then the surface of the shaft is leveled to maintain the alignment of all structural elements. More specifically, the restoration of the crosspiece includes the following stages:
welding the shaft in damaged areas (welding is used);
sharpening the surface, smoothing protruding parts;
pressing a new bushing;
groove the bushing (to position the axles on the same line).
When restoring a crosspiece, it is important to use high-quality materials. First of all, this concerns the bushing - it must be machined from non-ferrous metal or stainless steel.Otherwise, the aggressive environment in the machine, high temperatures and high humidity, will ruin the hardware. Literally after 2-5 washes the part will begin to rust and cause play.
The restored crosspiece returns to the drum. It is better not to rush into assembling the machine, but at the same time check the condition of the bearings and seals. If the assembly is loose and the seal is damaged, it is better to immediately replace the parts with new ones.
In a washing machine, the tank and drum are connected by a special element - a cross. Thanks to its blades and base fitting, it securely fastens the assembly and provides the required torque. But due to heavy load, the soft metal of the part becomes deformed over time and needs to be repaired. We suggest you find out whether it is possible to repair the drum cross of an LG washing machine and what is needed for this. Here is the procedure and some recommendations.
Add a comment