Hotpoint TCM580BP(UK) (IND:95889640100)- Drum Position

Hi All

This one has me scratching my head a bit – first the background.

The machine has been supplied at a reduced price to the customer as a new machine by a charity as she has a very disabled child. According to the inside of the lid the machine was manufactured in November 2015 and has had the safety modification carried out. apparently the machine has not worked properly since the customer has had it, the charity were contacted within a couple of days of supplying it but due to the child having to go in and out of hospital nothing got done about it, it has been 3 or 4 months since it was supplied and now the charity are refusing to do anything about it, the customer has also contacted Hotpoint who also appear to doing nothing about it. This is why I have been called in.

Upon examining the machine I found that the drum is quite tight to turn (more than normal) and when it is being turned by the motor it sounds like the speed is going up and down (even with nothing in the drum), I also found that the overheat TOC had operated.I have had a good look round the machine and can confirm that there are no signs of water ingress or lint, nor is there any signs of damaged panels or twisted chassis, as far as I can see everything has been assembled correctly except for the drum.
It looks as if the drum is set too far back, there is a 5mm gap between the front edge of the drum and the lint seal, there is also a slight mark on the drum to indicate that at one time the belt may have run 5mm further back than it is now (it is practically running on top of the paddle screws). When I checked the rear bearing it looks to be good, the securing pin is sat in it’s castellation on the castle nut and the castle nut is sat hard against the tear drop bearing. I cannot see any signs of damage anywhere and can’t see how the drum would shrink.

Has anyone come across this before?

Should the drum have been changed as part of the mod?

Are there slightly different length drums and if so could it be the wrong one?

Jem