How to tell if my bearings are going?

avantra

Our 6kg Hotpoint washer from 2002 is still going strong but sound like a Harier jumpjet on the spinning cycle (she is quiet noisy on most cycles). This is not a new thing and was doing this for the last four years.


My technical know it all father in law said to me the other day that if the machine sounds like this it's probably due to the bearings on their last legs.

Is this true, can anyone comment? The washer is and was super reliable and never needed a fix or service call out.

LoopyLil_2

avantra, I have a hotpoint washing machine and it's bearings are going. It is really noisy when it is spinning, a lot noisier than it used to be and it is getting worse. I can't hear myself think when it is on a mega spin. I notice too when I turn the drum when it is empty it is making like a weird noise. Hotpoint man is coming next week to sort it.

I would guess your dad is correct with his diagnosis.

patman99

Hotpoint man will charge like a wounded rhino.
If you look on the net, bearings are less than £25. Buy the part and get an independent to fit it.

muckybutt

A few ways to check for worn / damaged bearings...
1) If you can disconnect the power and water hoses, pull the machine out and take the back panel off, you will see a large wheel, the centre of the wheel is where the bearings are, if you can see rusty water marks on there or the floor below then bearings are shot ! advice would be get them renewed asap as water from leaking bearings can leak onto motor nad blow that as well.

2) Another way to check for bearings is, open the front door on the machine with it empty turn the drum, you should get no noise except that of the belt driving the motor, if you can feel it grating or hear a rough clunky noise thet thats bearings.

3) Again with the door open and with the machine empty place your fingers on the rim of the metal drum, try to pull the drum towards you and upwards, if the metal drum seems loose and you can wobble it then again its bearings.

Rather than go through Hotpoint and pay through the nose get an independant washing machine repair man to do the work, bearings can take between 1-2 hours to do depending on how burgered they are.

onejontwo

I had exactly the same problem a few years ago (apparently Hotpoint are well known for drum bearing failure) anyway ours was still under the 5 year parts only warranty so we enquired and were told that to replace the bearings would be in the region of £180!! even with the parts under warranty!!
However as the machine was around 4 years old we told him where to go and ended up buying a non Hotpoint machine from John Lewis at a very reasonable £270 with a 3 year labour and 5 year parts warranty.

anotherbaldrick

I think my bearings have gone ! I get this clunking noise as I walk.