Help! washing machine making a racket!

looby75

Hoping someone can give me some advice.

My washing machine has just started making a really loud knocking noise when it spins, scared the life out of me and the kids!

I stopped it and emptied it and that's when I noticed that the drum rocks back and forwards now where as it used to be fixed in place.

The machine is 7 years old, is it about ready for the tip or will it be possible and/or economical to get it fixed?

DaisyFlower

Thats what happened to mine last month. I just thought something had caught like a button etc and used it again the next day. Cue a horrid burning smell and no washer ... oops.

I didnt try and get it fixed as from previous experience, the callout, parts and labour were not far off a new washer so i went for the new one with a guarantee.

asfr01

Oh goodness. This happened to ours not too long ago either, and instead of the hassle of repairs, we just bought a new one.

There are some pretty good deals out there too. Think we paid £179 for a new one from John Lewis!

ormus

its probably the rear drum bearing. they cost about 10/20 quid and a fairly easy diy job.
if you have to get a man in to do it, then a new machine at 150/200 quid sounds better.
ie,http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~IND-WIXL123.htm

andrew-b

Could be as simple as needing a new drive belt. A stretched drive belt will exhibit similar symptoms as the tension of the belt also stabilises the drum as it rotates. Similar thing happened to us. Ours started making much more noise and then eventually stopped altogether when the belt fell off. It turned out that the original belt had like a fabric backing which had frayed and become caught up round the drive spindle causing the belt to stretch and the drum to wobble around excessively explaining the noise. Cost about £5 for a new belt and fitted it myself . Very straightforward to do. You just need to undo the screws holding the casing on. The hardest bit is getting the belt on again but there is a simple trick to it - you hook the belt over the drive spindle then tie it to the edge of the drum with string (or similar) and simply twist the drum by hand...belt slips on and then remove the string. Make sure you disconnect power and water supply before you remove the casing from the washing machine though.

Could also be the bearings as already suggested...again cheap to replace (around £15 from a quick look) though not as simple as a new belt.

Hope that helps

Andy

TimBuckTeeth

If the drum is banging against the case then it could broken/worn damping struts. They are attached to the bottom of the drum tub.

looby75

Thanks everyone....I think I'll get my father in law to look at the belt/bearings before I give up in it for good (he's really good at fixing stuff. It's still working normally until the spin cycle so hopefully it's fixable.