Bosch WFF 2001: drum not turning – brushes OK

Our 8-year-old Bosch WFF 2001 has just developed a problem. A couple of evenings ago it tripped its circuit breaker and now, although the wash programme still appears to run its course, the drum does not rotate. Whenever it’s meant to turn, I can hear the motor hum for a second or so and then stop.

The carbon brushes were replaced a couple of months ago, so this afternoon I took the motor out again (power off, of course!) to check one of them hadn’t stuck. They both appeared to be quite free and making good contact, and I cleaned the motor and all the connectors before refitting it. However, the motor still didn’t rotate after doing this.

So, with the belt off, I watched what the motor was actually doing, using the start of a spin programme. At the point the drum should have turned, the rotor rattled a few degrees in either direction and then whizzed round in one direction in a short burst, before freewheeling to a halt.

I’d be very grateful if anyone could suggest whether this is likely to be a problem with the motor itself, the controller or something else, perhaps, so I don’t embark on an expensive wild goose chase!

Thanks,
Mike