How to understand that it is necessary to replace the bearing in the washing machine? In the process of washing clothes, she begins to make noise, knock, creak. And over time, these unpleasant sounds will only intensify. If the bearing is not replaced at the time, then it will be much more difficult to do this. Also, if you do not change the bearing in a timely manner, the washing machine may completely break down and will no longer be repairable. The best option when detecting a bearing failure is to immediately replace it with a new one.
It will be very difficult and not fast to replace a bearing on its own. Therefore, before changing it, you need to decide whether you can do all the necessary work with your own hands? If such work is beyond your power, then it is better to call a master. Bearing replacement, including the cost of a new part, will cost you about a third of the cost of a new washing machine. Of course, today there are different prices for household appliances and their repair, and therefore the repair cost we quoted is relative.
So, if you still decide to perform the repair yourself, then let's take a closer look at how to do it.
Repair Preparation
DIY washing machine repair begins with the preparation of the necessary tools and spare parts. Remember, the further life of the machine depends on the quality of the spare parts, for this reason do not get cheap analogues, give preference to original parts.
So you will need:
- A hammer
- Open end wrenches of various sizes
- Pliers
- Metal pin
- Screwdriwer set
- Silicone based sealant
- Water repellent grease or lithol
- Camera
- 2 bearings
- Stuffing box
In order to be guaranteed to get exactly the bearing that you need, the old one must first be removed and the identical one already selected with it. You may need a camera to ease the process of assembling a repaired machine. Before disassembling a particular site, take a picture of it and then you will know exactly how to assemble it after repair. When shooting, pay special attention to the wiring connection.
Before replacing the bearing in the washing machine, make sure that normal lubrication does not solve the problem. It often happens that the washing machine begins to rattle from a thinning layer of lubricant. How to lubricate a bearing in a washing machine? To lubricate this element, it must be freed from the protective covers with a scalpel.Carefully remove the cover. Lubricate the part with a special waterproof lubricant for washing machines. Next, take a new oil seal, also grease it and install. Close the lid. If after these steps the noise is not eliminated, it is necessary to change the bearing.
See also - How and how to lubricate the seal of the washing machine
Stage One - Dismantling the Washing Machine
First you need to remove the cover of the device. This is done quite simply. You should unscrew the two bolts on the rear side panel of the cover and just lift it by sliding it a little back.
Next, you need to pull out the tray for washing powder. Pull the tray towards you and press the special latch, while pulling the powder receptacle towards you. These steps should release the tray, and it will easily come out of the grooves. In some models, such a button is missing, then you just need to pull the tray, pressing it down a little.
To remove the upper dashboard, you must carefully inspect it. Determine where in your model the mounting bolts of this panel are located, and unscrew them all. If after that the panel does not come off easily, it means that you missed one or more bolts. After the panel cover is unscrewed and easily exits, disconnect all wires from the sockets and completely remove the element. Do not forget to photograph all the details during the disassembly process. Next, go to the removal of the bottom panel. The process should not cause difficulties. Using a flat-blade screwdriver, press on the tabs that hold the bar in place and it will be easily released.
See also - Do-it-yourself cuff replacement on the washing machine
Stage two - remove the hatch cuff
The cuff is a special rubber gasket that connects the hatch hole and the laundry drum. It is attached very simply with the help of a spring and a clamp. To release the cuff and gain access to remove the entire front panel, you need to find a clamp. It can be detected visually. To remove it, using a flat screwdriver, pry off the spring and pull out the clamp. After that, carefully detach the cuff from the hole in the hatch and place it in the drum. Now the part we need is completely free, we can begin to dismantle it.
Stage Three - remove the front panel
Having clicked the hatch of the washing machine, you need to unscrew the bolts that hold the panel. After that, you must carefully remove it from the hook. Do not pull hard. The panel is connected by a wire to the hatch lock. Do not damage it. Once you have been able to push this part towards you, disconnect the wire, only then can you fully remove the front wall and release access to the rest of the device.
Stage Four - remove the tank
First you need to get rid of the inner top panel. First of all, you need to inspect the back of the machine and find the screws that secure the water supply valve. Unscrewing these fasteners, you can begin to twist the bolts on the panel. Do not rush to remove it, because you still need to carefully disconnect all the wires and pipes. When everything is disconnected, you can remove the panel itself.
Next, we proceed to disconnect the drain pipe. It connects to the washing machine tank with a clamp. We unwind the clamp and disconnect the drain pipe.
After that, we proceed to disconnect the heating element. In different models, it can be located in front or behind the structure. If your tubular electric heater (TEN) is located at the back, you will need to remove the back wall. Carefully disconnect all inlets going to the heating element. Do not forget to photograph the initial state before this. At this point, the wiring must be completely disconnected. Please note that in some places it can be fixed to parts of the machine using different mounts. Having disconnected all the wires, we pull them out.
Get rid of the balances. This must be done so that the tank is not too heavy. Gently unscrew them. After disconnecting the water level sensor. You can disconnect the shock absorbers.Armed with a wrench, unscrew the bolts holding these parts. For these jobs, it is best to use a nozzle with an extension.
Keep in mind that the tank itself is lightweight, so you do not need to make much effort to remove it. Put one hand into the tank and lift it up. With the other hand, release the container from the springs on which it is attached. After that, you can pull it out.
The final step is to remove the belt, unscrew the engine and shock absorbers. A completely empty reservoir can be disassembled to replace the bearing.
Stage five - disassemble the tank
Once the tank is empty, you may notice that it consists of two halves. These halves are fastened together along the entire perimeter of the joint. The fasteners depend on the brand and model of the washing machine, it can be bolts or special latches. Half you need to separate. We act depending on the type of fasteners. Having removed the front part, one can often observe the presence of garbage and dirty plaque. It is advisable to get rid of dirt before assembly. On the back half you will see a drum. It is he who is our goal.
This stage is the most responsible and requires increased attention and caution. We need to carefully detach the drum. First of all, remove the pulley. Simply unscrew the fasteners holding this part and remove the pulley from the axle. After removing the pulley, unscrew the unscrewed bolt back. At the same time, we spare no effort not to spoil the shaft during further work.
Take the hammer. There is no need to be zealous at this stage, proceed with caution. We are trying to gradually knock out the shaft. If these manipulations are in vain and the shaft remains in place, it is better to replace the bolt in order to avoid damage to it. We continue to knock. As soon as the shaft has caught up with the top of the bolt, we remove the bolt and pull out the drum.
We proceed to a visual inspection of the sleeve and shaft. Often with untimely repairs, these parts can wear out so much that they have to replace the cross. In order to assess the condition of the shaft, it should be wiped with a dry, clean cloth. After that, carefully examine it from all sides for the presence of development. To be completely sure of the integrity of the shaft, put a new bearing on it and determine if there is any play. If you still notice a flaw, without hesitation, change the shaft with a cross.
Next, inspect the bushing. It is located on the shaft and is intended for dressing the gland. The sleeve should also not have signs of strong production and mechanical damage. If you find strongly pronounced transverse grooves, such a part will no longer be able to fulfill its functions. An oil seal put on such a sleeve will not be able to protect the bearing from water, and repairs will need to be done again.
Stage Six - Bearing Replacement
To remove the bearings, you need to remove the oil seal. It is pulled out very simply. Using a flat screwdriver, pry up the oil seal and remove it. Next, pick up a metal pin. With his help, we will knock out these elements. Putting the pin to the bearing, hit it with a hammer. Then we hit the opposite, the blows should be in the form of a cross, on the four sides of the spare part. In such a simple manner you can knock out both bearings.
With these manipulations, keep in mind that the smaller bearing must be knocked out from the inside, and the larger one outside the tank. Also, when performing these works, be extremely careful not to damage the product. It is best to knock out by resting the part on one knee.
At the end of this step, pay attention to the back wall and the places where the bearings sit. These places should be free of dirt or debris. They should not only be cleaned, they should be polished to a high shine. Only in this case you will not have to repair the car again for a long time.
Well, now it's time to unpack the new bearings. We take the one that is smaller and hammer it in place of the removed one. We also apply the metal pin to the opposite sides, and hammer it in with light hammer blows.In order to determine whether an element has sat in its place, carefully listen to the sound at the next impact. When the part stands up as it should, the sound will be more sonorous.
We carry out a similar operation to change a large bearing. Next, go to the installation of a new oil seal. It must be treated with lubricant, only after that the gland can be put in place. Specialists advise using special lubricants designed for washing machines. However, such greases are not always available on the market. If you did not find the grease, you can use lithol grade 24. This material is freely sold in automobile stores.
Stage Seven - Final
Now you can be congratulated, the bulk of the work is completed. You replaced the necessary element, it is time to return everything to its place. The first step is to lubricate and reinstall the sleeve. Next, connect the halves of the container. In order that the tank after assembly does not lose its tightness, it is better to change the o-ring. If you don’t have one, treat the abutting edges with silicone sealant and connect the container.
Further, following the photographs or simply instructions, in the reverse order we assemble the washing machine.
For many of us today, a washing machine is an integral part of housekeeping. The machine does a significant part of the work for us, giving us comfort and extra minutes of relaxation. However, in order to ensure that your machine does not fail at the most inopportune moment, it is recommended to carry out timely regular maintenance. This will be the key to a long and uninterrupted operation of your machine.
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