WMA Drum Screws breaking?

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • #19103
    Martin
    Participant

    In April 2005 I called on a customer to clear the sump on her WMA. At the time the drum bearings were shot so I advised her to get the drum replaced by hotpoint as it was only 3′ ish years old.

    Got another call today, her machine now leaks and I find that 3 of the two halves drum attaching screws are broken and lying in the sub frame. Clearly the Hotpoint engineer over-tightened the screws when he fitted the rear half tub?

    I have never had any dealings with WMA bearings or tubs for that matter. But in order to replace those broken screws, they will need drilling out and a nut and bolt fitting in their place. But, there is too little fixing in the rear tub moulding to do this successfully. So once again it needs a replacement rear half fitting. 🙁

    Sadly it now is over 5 years old, and the prohibitive cost of the repair has rendered the machine destined for the scrap-heap. 😥

    My questions to you WMA whizz kids is : – How come the screw heads broke? Have they simply been over-tightened or are the screws made out of toffee? Do you replace all the screws when carrying out a repair on a tub? 😕

    #181751
    Goatboy
    Participant

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    Martin wrote:Do you replace all the screws when carrying out a repair on a tub? 😕

    Never have done! Never had a problem like that either :con:

    I like those WMA tub screws, even though they are torxs. I’ve got loads from scrapped machines, and I use them for all sorts of DIY jobs around the house. I’ve never snapped one!

    Maybe it was a Silverback Hotpoint engineer? Or a very powerful power-tool?

    #181752
    Goatboy
    Participant

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    Martin wrote:Sadly it now is over 5 years old, and the prohibitive cost of the repair has rendered the machine destined for the scrap-heap. 😥

    So, you sold the customer an ISE? 😛

    #181753
    Martin
    Participant

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    Goatboy wrote:So, you sold the customer an ISE? 😛

    I sold the idea to her yes, and left her with a pretty photo of one and a copy of the tech-spec. 😉

    #181754
    iadom
    Moderator

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    I always say, a good engineer does not need a torque wrench, you just develop a natural feel.

    Done loads and never had a problem. (yet) 😉

    #181755
    Goatboy
    Participant

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    Do you tighten all them screws by hand? 😯

    #181756
    iadom
    Moderator

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    Goatboy wrote:Do you tighten all them screws by hand? 😯

    Yep, always build the drums up at home, have to keep the squash arm exercised, no namby pamby electric drivers for me. 😆

    #181757
    bzz67
    Participant

    Re: WMA Drum Screws breaking?

    the best way i have found to remove a broken screw `like the ones that snap on modern hoover counter weights`, is to cut a slot in the end of the thread with a drimmel,dont worry if you cut the plastic tub a little.then you can use a flat srewdriver to wind the srew though.
    i have never seen snapped screws on a wma but i always use a cordless drill with a torque setting to tighten them.
    if you split the tub halves don’t forget to replace the tub seal.

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