Washing Machine drum stuck!

declanmcc

Hi!

Our washing machine was on its spin cycle the other night and whilst on that cycle a fuse tripped knocking out all our upstairs and downstairs sockets.

I flicked the trip switch and everything came back on again. However the washing machine appears to have been affected by this in that the drum won't move when I start a wash cycle.

When I say it won't move - what I mean is that it moves about an inch and won't move any further! The cycle doesn't continue and the machine does nothing (power is still on though).

When I open the door I can move the drum by hand. I've had a feel around the perforations in the drum for something like a hair clip or a pin - but have found nothing - I've also found nothing in the rubber around the drum.

Any ideas what this might be? I'd like to get a good idea of what might be happening and get myself well informed before riniging a repairs man!!

Thanks!!

WestonDave

What sort of machine is it? How old?

If you can move the drum by hand - is there a grating sound (indicates bearings shot) or is it quiet and smooth. If its the latter when it starts and moves the inch, can you then hear the motor keep running (belt slipping) or does all sound stop (motor not able to turn the drum - could be duff motor or just brushes). You can if you follow advice available on various spares website change the bearings, brushes and belt yourself - if you need a new motor its probably dead.

When ours tripped the electrics like yours did, it quickly transpired the brushes in the motor had worn down - £15 for replacements (much cheaper than that on the web but I wanted them on the Saturday it broke so got them from a local dealer) and an hours work and the machine is as good as new.