How to replace the crosspiece of a Candy washing machine

Many users have no idea what the crosspiece is for and where it is located in the washing machine. This part attaches the drum to the shaft. It experiences increased stress and becomes deformed over time. Repair in this case is impossible; components will need to be replaced.

We will explain how to replace the crosspiece of a Candy washing machine. What equipment will be needed during the process? What are the difficulties of the upcoming renovation?

The first stage of disassembling the machine

Please understand that in order to replace the crosspiece, you will need to almost completely disassemble the washing machine.. First, the external elements are removed: the top cover of the housing, the front wall, the control panel, and the powder receptacle. At this stage, a screwdriver or screwdriver will suffice.

Before disassembling, be sure to turn off the power to the automatic machine by unplugging the power cord from the outlet.

The work ahead is labor-intensive, but interesting. It is necessary to remove the tank from the washing machine, and before that, disconnect all wires, pipes and parts from it. So, at the first stage:

• turn off the power to the automatic machine;
• turn off the water supply to the washing machine by turning the shut-off valve on the pipe;
• disconnect the inlet hose from the SMA body, it is screwed on from the back, in the upper corner;
• unhook the drain hose - it is fixed, on the contrary, from below;
• remove the lower front trim panel;
• place a low container under the machine in the area where the garbage filter is located;
• carefully unscrew the drain filter (when you remove the “trash can”, water will flow out of the hole);
• move the machine away from the wall and furniture so that you can approach it from all sides;
• Unscrew the screws securing the washer cover;
• remove the top panel and put it aside;
• pull out the powder tray;
• remove the bolts holding the dashboard;
• take a photo of how the wires connecting the device and the electronic module are connected;
• reset contacts from the control panel;
• move the tidy to the side;
• open the SMA drum door wide;
• use a screwdriver to hook the cuff clamp fastening;
• Having coped with the fastening, remove the metal ring from the washer;
• tuck the edges of the cuff into the drum;
• Unscrew the bolts holding the front wall of the device;
• disconnect the UBL contacts;
• remove the front panel of the machine;
• remove the iron bar on top of the machine;
• remove the bolt holding the pressure switch, remove the level sensor;
• unscrew the screws of the filler valve, unhook the chips from it;
• remove the powder receiver hopper from the housing along with the filling valve and hoses.

When resetting the contacts and unhooking the pipes, it is better to photograph their initial position so as not to get confused during reassembly.

In this order, one by one, the external elements of the Kandy machine are removed. When you first start disassembling the washing machine, it is better to first study the instructions for the “home assistant”. This way you will be able to find out how the device works and where certain components are located.

At the second stage, remove unnecessary parts and pull out the tank

Now, after dismantling the front and top panels, access to the tank and all parts connected to it will open. It is necessary to remove in turn all the elements that interfere with the removal of the unit. Counterweights, an electric motor, a pump, pipes, heating element contacts, and shock absorbers are detached from the plastic container.

First, work on the top counterweight.The block ensures the stability of the Candy washing machine. The concrete stone should be removed by unscrewing the fasteners holding it.

Below there is another counterweight. It will also have to be removed. The bolts securing the concrete blocks are turned out with a wrench, on which a suitable head is placed. Then it is necessary to remove the remaining parts that prevent the removal of the tank-drum assembly.

What to do next:

• remove the drive belt from the pulley;
• remove the inner crimp clamp of the cuff and pull off the elastic band itself from the tank;
• unhook the heating element contacts from the plastic container (these are two power wires and grounding);
• reset the thermostat chip;
• pull out the heater by removing the nut holding it;
• disconnect the pressure switch fitting from the tank;
• unhook all the wires connected to the tank and the remaining pipes;
• reset the motor chip and disconnect the block that goes to the engine;
• deal with the bolts securing the shock absorbers.

To dismantle the lower shock absorber mounts, you will need a 13mm socket. The bolts will need to be unscrewed from all sides. The tank is held in place by four springs on top - these will also need to be unhooked. Afterwards, nothing will interfere with the removal of the node.

Pulling the tank out alone is difficult. It's better to call an assistant. The plastic container is pulled out through the top of the washer.

Next, the tank needs to be laid on a flat floor with the pulley facing up. Now you need to disconnect the engine. Unscrew the two screws and remove the motor. Then the dampers are released.

Now you need to gain access to the inside of the plastic container. The tanks of most Kandy washing machines are non-separable. Therefore, here you will have to show ingenuity, skill and perseverance.

How to take apart something that cannot be taken apart?

One of the most difficult stages is disassembling the tank.The Kandy manufacturer does not provide for this possibility, so cast containers are sawed by craftsmen directly along the factory seam. To do this you will need a hacksaw or grinder.

Before sawing the tank, mark 6-7 points around the perimeter of the central rib and drill holes. This is necessary so that the container can be bolted together during reassembly. It is important not to forget about this procedure.

After sawing the tank along the seam, set aside the upper part of the structure. You will have to work further with the lower half. The task will be to pull out the drum from the plastic, behind which the cross is located.

In advanced cases, the cross is damaged so badly that the drum can be easily removed from the tank, and the shaft itself remains in the plastic part. Although in both this situation and the standard one, the algorithm of actions will be similar:

• unscrew the screw that holds the drum pulley;
• remove the pulley and put it aside;
• press the bolt inward.

Now it will be possible to remove the deformed cross. To do this, remove the three bolts securing it. If the fasteners show signs of wear, pre-treat them with WD-40 all-purpose cleaner.

A new crosspiece is purchased for a specific SMA Candy model. Before installing the purchased part, clean the seat from dirt, rust and plaque.

In order not to repeat complex disassembly in the near future, it is better to immediately check the condition of the bearings. If they are damaged, you need to install new rings and an oil seal. The main symptoms indicating wear of the bearing assembly are a strong knocking and grinding sound of the machine during the spin cycle, and play in the drum.

The new cross is secured in place with three bolts. Then the drum returns to the tank, and the pulley is fixed.The next task is to assemble the plastic tank. How it's done:

• sand the edges of the halves;
• place silicone moisture-resistant sealant along the “seam” of the lower part;
• place the top half of the tank on the bottom;
• leave the structure for a couple of hours for the sealant to harden;
• screw the halves together using the holes you drilled earlier.

Careful attention should be paid to reassembling the tank - the container must remain sealed.

Then the tank returns to the body of the automatic machine. It clings to springs, and shock absorbers are installed underneath. Now you can connect all the parts, pipes, chips and wires to the plastic container. At the end, the front and top panels and tidy are fixed.

Before you rejoice at the completion of the repair, run a test cycle without any laundry in the drum. He will help ensure that everything was done correctly. Observe whether the machine is leaking or whether there are any extraneous noises.

The crosspiece does not break suddenly. The part fails gradually, and the “symptoms” of the malfunction appear several months before “day X”. The machine begins to hum and make noise when working.

Destruction of the crosspiece can be caused by:

• hard water, which causes scale formation on internal parts;
• low-quality powder used for washing clothes;
• failure by the user to comply with the recommended loading weight;
• drum imbalance;
• worn bearings.

Therefore, you need to monitor water hardness and use softeners. It is also important to prevent overloading the washing machine and unbalancing the drum. Be sure to use only high-quality laundry detergents. Replacing the crosspiece is not easy, and this way labor-intensive repairs can be avoided.

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