Noisy washing machine - bearings or something trapped in drum? Please help!

lucysmumwork

Hi I am hoping an engineer is on tonight and could give me some pointers with regards to my washing machine. It is an ELECTRA 1200 SHOWERMATIC ECO WASHER. I know this seems an obscure make, it was given to me by a friend eighteen months ago when my 13 month old Zanussi broke down and couldnt be repaired (long story...!!)

Anyway, this is an excellent washing machine for how old it is but lately it has made loud noises when spinning. Sometimes crunching/grinding, sometimes like a marble spining in there. My husband has taken it apart once or twice, took bits out, put them back in etc and all seemed ok. The first time it happened I stopped the machine, got everything out (this was what happened to Zanussi so I totally panicked!) and I did find a 5p in the drum but it still does it. Only I put the washing on and I am sooo caeful though I suppose a penny could have slipped past me. The thing is it doesnt happen every time I use it. I just wondered can anyone else help? My husband is not that way inclined and doesnt know how to check for things though with instruction Im a sure he could check if its bearings or a lost penny or something like that.

Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am loathe to buy a new machine especially after our last experience because this may be ancient but it is good and solid and sturdy and we paid £280 for the last one and it lasted a year.

Cheers in advance

ormus

a good test for bearing trouble is to grab hold of the drum, just inside the door, and wiggle it up and down. there should be no play between the inner drum and the outer casing.

Canucklehead

Hi

Have you lost any wires from an item of personal underwear?

Corgi Guy

chuckles1066

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

Have you lost any wires from an item of personal underwear?

Corgi Guy

You beat me to it!

I was going to suggest bra underwiring, it's very common.

Bigbaldgit

Had exactly the same problem over new year.

Thought it was bearings and resigned to buying a new machine as bearing replacement very expensive. Then took machine into garden for a kicking, but put it up on patio table for a play first.

I took the back panel off and fiddled. After a while I removed the rubber hose that fits onto the base of the drum to drain the water and lo and behold, the metal jobbie from my old lady's boulder holder was wedged in there all bent and mangled.

Put it back together and greased a few bits for good luck and it's now quieter than ever. Can't do much about my old womans lop sided flopper stopper though, but the moral of the story is that girls shouldn't wear bras.....mmm (sorry).

By the way way, our machine is a Siemens Autowasher, but I guess they are all basically the same inside.

Good luck

boredofbeingathome

Bigbaldgit wrote: »

Had exactly the same problem over new year.

Thought it was bearings and resigned to buying a new machine as bearing replacement very expensive. Then took machine into garden for a kicking, but put it up on patio table for a play first.

I took the back panel off and fiddled. After a while I removed the rubber hose that fits onto the base of the drum to drain the water and lo and behold, the metal jobbie from my old lady's boulder holder was wedged in there all bent and mangled.

Put it back together and greased a few bits for good luck and it's now quieter than ever. Can't do much about my old womans lop sided flopper stopper though, but the moral of the story is that girls shouldn't wear bras.....mmm (sorry).

By the way way, our machine is a Siemens Autowasher, but I guess they are all basically the same inside.

Good luck

:rotfl: Couldn't stop laughing at this-sorry your wife is now lopsided:rolleyes:

Pennylane

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

Have you lost any wires from an item of personal underwear?

Corgi Guy

My first thought too! DH gets called out to at least one of these every month.

lucysmumwork

Thanks guys for all your replies - wil give these suggestions a go def. Ive not lost any underwiring, havent worn them since first pregnancy three years ago and now pregnant again it will be a while before Im out of 'support' vests..!!

Anyway will give these a go thanks and let you know. I have tried playing with the drum and it doesnt move abnormally and doesnt make a noise when you move it by hand, so maybe is something stuck in the back somewhere.

Thanks!

Waicyn

Hi there,

Hope you got your problem solved. I looked up the make of the model and your posting came up so I hope you don't mind me asking you a question about this make as it is quite an old model so there isn't much info on it on the internet. I have the exact same model & wanted to find out if the washing is meant to be cold after a wash as mine stays cold whatever temperature it is set at or is it meant to be warm at a certain temperature. The reason I ask is so that I know whether its working or not & whether to contact the landlady to fix it or not. Also I don't have a booklet or the manufacturer's contact details.

Thanks very much,

Waicyn

davethetaller

Waicyn wrote: »

Hi there,

Hope you got your problem solved. I looked up the make of the model and your posting came up so I hope you don't mind me asking you a question about this make as it is quite an old model so there isn't much info on it on the internet. I have the exact same model & wanted to find out if the washing is meant to be cold after a wash as mine stays cold whatever temperature it is set at or is it meant to be warm at a certain temperature. The reason I ask is so that I know whether its working or not & whether to contact the landlady to fix it or not. Also I don't have a booklet or the manufacturer's contact details.

Thanks very much,

Waicyn

All machines will feel cold at the end of the wash cycle, having completed 3 or so rinses in cold water, followed by the spin.

To test if the heater is working, simply put the palm of your hand on the glass door, 15 or 20 minutes, after you start the machine. If it is cold to the touch, the heater is not working. I do not know if the heater works on a pre wash cycle, just try it on a main cycle at 40 degrees. Hope that helps.