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Hello again all,
This is the second topic I’ve started here, the first was was dealt with last year (more details http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/forumsphpbb3/washing-machine-forum/oko-lavamat-610-electronic-fills-empties-spins-doesn-wash-t77827.html#p379342).
I tried a search for this new problem, but there was nothing relevant that I could see. Not surprising, I suppose, this one can’t be common. 🙁
I have an old machine (AEG Oko Lavamat 610 Electronic, E-Nr. 605 637 203) which has started to have difficulty filling with water.
The problem is definitely the solenoid valves. The machine has three cold water valves in a single assembly and one hot water valve in a separate assembly. The present problem is with the cold water valves. All three of them are passing only a very small flow of water when they are turned on. I thought there must be a blockage somewhere, but there isn’t.
I completley dismantled the valve assembly and removed the rubber washer assemblies. I had to make a tool to split the valves but they came apart very easily with that. The washer assemblies operate very much like the washers in plastic cystern valves, they have a stepped rubber annular washer which supports a central plastic part on which the solenoid plunger bears. The central plastic part contains a tiny hole to equalise the pressure so that the solenoid plunger (which opens and closes the valve) doesn’t need to apply a large force. Each solenoid plunger is returned to its non-energised positions by a very light stainless steel spring.
When I dismantled the valves the washers seemed to be reluctant to come out of the housings, as if they were sticking to the housing in the area which should break and seal to open and close the valve. So just by releasing the ‘stiction’ I might have fixed them, I don’t know yet.
Now I don’t want to reassemble the valves to test them because when I dismantled them I discovered that one of the three springs was missing!
Although I was unfamiliar with the construction of the valves there is no possibility that I lost the spring. I was very careful to do the work on a clean surface watching for parts dropping out as they often do when you’re dismantling something unfamiliar.
Anyway I’m looking for another spring. I have lots of odd springs in the bits box, but nothing this kind of size and weight in stainless. I might as well put new washers in as well if I can get them.
Anyone know a supplier?
Thanks,
Ged.Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Just found an image of the valve here:
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Best solution :
Unsolder the PCB from the 3 coils. Lift each coil from each valve. Buy a universal triple valve. Remove the valve coils. Fit the old desoldered coils to the new valve. Resolder the PCB……..sorted! 😉
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Thanks very much for the reply Martin,
Martin wrote:Unsolder the PCB from the 3 coils. Lift each coil from each valve.
Done all that already, that’s how I found the spring was missing. 🙂
Buy a universal triple valve. Remove the valve coils. Fit the old desoldered coils to the new valve. Resolder the PCB……..
No problem with doing the soldering, but where can I get a “universal triple valve” that’s the same shape as the one in the AEG? The old PCB won’t go back on if the valves aren’t in the same relative places, and all the available triple valves I’ve seen are a completely different shape from the one in the AEG. At best I’d have to make a loom or something, at worst the thing won’t go in the machine at all as there isn’t much room around the valve assembly — especially above it, it’s near the top of the machine.
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
jubilee wrote:No problem with doing the soldering, but where can I get a “universal triple valve” that’s the same shape as the one in the AEG?
Just search ’90deg triple valve’ on Google or click HERE as an example. 😀
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Martin wrote:Just search ’90deg triple valve’ on Google or click HERE as an example. 😀
Damn, that’s just what I’m looking for! Thank you very much.
Can I buy one through this site, to make the thanks more tangible?
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Doubt it, I did look earlier without success. 🙁
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
Hello again,
Just a follow-up to finish off the thread.
When I stripped down the new valve and compared the rubber washers in the twelve-year-old valve with those in the new valve, it was immediately obvious where the problem lay. Compared with the new washers, the old ones were very hard and not at all as flexible as the new ones.
So I reassembled the old valve using the washers, plungers and springs from the new valve and tested it. It worked perfectly. I replaced the valve in the machine and it’s now back in service. Using the old valve assembly saved me three hose clips and avoided the need to mess about fixing the new valve to the machine casing, as the hoses were still atached to the old valve assembly with those funny corned-beef-can-metal-strip-and-split-pin clamps, and the mounting bracket arrangement on the new valve is different from the old one.
Thanks again for the help, it must have saved me hours. I don’t know how long it would have taken me to come up with that vital “90 degree” bit in the description of the valve that I needed, I’d looked at literally hundreds before posting here and still not found one!
Now I have some spare solenoids if anyone needs one. 🙂
Re: Valve spring (and washers) for valves in OKO Lavamat 610
A word or two of caution after the triumph of your DIY repair. Always turn OFF the stopcock/s when the machine is not in use. NEVER go out shopping or retire for the night whilst the machine is in use. Keep a close eye on it at all times. 😉
The above advice comes from decades of experience with regard to the fallibility of the washing machine solenoid valve.
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