Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

[Moosewain]

Morning.

I am about to change the bearing set on a Hotpoint FEW 12. Thanks to the people on this site, I am aware that there is a choice of 2 bearing sizes due to modification of the machine over the years. Is there anyone who can give me practical advice on how to tackle the job in an efficient manner? Which other spares it would be advisable to have to hand (Drum seal/shaft bush etc.) and which way the drum comes out of the machine? Any pitfalls to look out for?

I am a fairly proficient mechanic and have a comprehensive tool kit to hand.

Thanks, in advance, to anybody that can help

[kwatt]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

Hi,

General washing machine bearing replacement guide

That’s very generalised as a guide but a good place to start to get an understanding.

HTH

K.

[iadom]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

You need to make sure that the machine has a screwed drum, not the later welded one.

If it is the latter then there is no bearing repair, only complete drum change.

If it has a black plastic pulley then it will almost certainly have the smaller 30mm bearings and shaft.

If it does have a screwed drum and black plastic pulley then the best advice is to strip it down first. Try and get the bearings out and carefully check the condition of the drum shaft.

If the shaft is damaged or the bearing will not come out of the drum rear half without damaging it then you would need a new rear drum half with 35mm bearings and a 35mm drum support/shaft and a drum seal.

Both 30mm & 35mm bearing kits are available as spares but the 30mm shaft and the 30mm rear drum half are not.

Personally I would advise you to take advantage of your five year parts guarantee and let the Indesit Company do the complete job for £99.85. If you get half way through and find you need more than just bearings you will have negated your parts guarantee and be left with serious expense.

The whole drum assembly lifts out through the front BTW. 😉

Jim.

[gandh1]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

Iadom is right. Remember DIY wm bearing replacements are never as good a job as a factory assembled one as there will always be wear across the complete running gear, no matter how small, and will always shorten the life of any new part thats then fitted. It might be a cheaper short term shortcut, but if you can do it under the 5yr parts warranty do that as you will almost certainly have a whole new drum unit plopped in as hp engineers are busy people and under pressure to sort the callouts as quick as possible. You also then get a years warranty on the workmanship too. Depending on the level of wear you can end up finding ground out stats and elements have the potential to be be damaged too. The little things then all add up and you find its nearly cost you £100 in parts :s

[Moosewain]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

Thanks for all the good advice. Unfortunately I moved to France a couple of years ago and although the machine is still in it’s 5 year plan, I noticed in the small print that it is obviously only valid in the UK (mortified by that!) SO, it’s off to the workshop, fingers crossed.

[helo_75]

dont kid yourself gandh1

hotpoint engineers now fit bearing kits, and need special permission to order even tub rear halves

[LJDomestics]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

gandh1 wrote:Iadom is right. Remember DIY wm bearing replacements are never as good a job as a factory assembled one as there will always be wear across the complete running gear, no matter how small, and will always shorten the life of any new part thats then fitted. It might be a cheaper short term shortcut, but if you can do it under the 5yr parts warranty do that as you will almost certainly have a whole new drum unit plopped in as hp engineers are busy people and under pressure to sort the callouts as quick as possible. You also then get a years warranty on the workmanship too. Depending on the level of wear you can end up finding ground out stats and elements have the potential to be be damaged too. The little things then all add up and you find its nearly cost you £100 in parts :s

Im right now as we speak half way through fitting a new bearing kit and spider unit to a wm83.. new heater element.. new door gasket.. a 12 month parts and labour guarantee will be added once returned.. £99

thats a whopping £4 more than it would cost to have hotpoint go.. KNOCK KNOCK on the door. 😉

[LJDomestics]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

failed to mention a new front plate tub gasket.. and once done will check the brushes..if well worn will replace also… no extra charge. 😆

Obviously there wont be no guarantee on the gasket.. unless it fell off!

[gandh1]

helo_75 wrote:dont kid yourself gandh1

hotpoint engineers now fit bearing kits, and need special permission to order even tub rear halves

hmm ok didnt realise all i knew is my friendly ex-hotpoint engineer from a couple of years ago wouldnt fit anything other than a drum assembly as it would otherwise ruin his schedule for all his other call outs booked in for him on that day 😀

forgot things are tight at indesit – serves them right for giving comet and currys stupid prices for new washers that indies cant get close to 😛

[knuckles]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

Hello I hope someone can help.

I have a FEW12P and the bearings are going. Horrible grinding sounds.
I have taken the drum out and I think I have 35mm shaft. I am aware this machine can come in 30mm or 35mm shaft and one of which you cant really replace the bearings, you can only buy a whole new rear drum including the bearings, whilst the other diameter shaft you should be ale to change the bearings no problem.

Please take a look at my pictures below.

Drum part number???

close up of outside of bearings and shaft

whole drum

Do I have to buy the rear half drum or should I be able to change the bearings myself?

If so I am not sure how to remove the bearings or remove the metal drum (I have removed the front half of the outer plastic drum) from the rear plastic outer drum.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

If it takes a replacement rear half drum (£60 -£100?) I’ll probably forget it and buy a new machine!

many thanks…..

[iadom]

Re: Dismantling a Hotpoint FEW 12

You can change both the 30mm and the 35mm bearings if you are lucky. 😉 What you cannot replace is the 30mm drum shaft or 30mm drum rear half, you have to use the much stronger, far more reliable 35mm parts.

Those are the 30mm bearings, 😥 new rear half and drum support unless you can get the old bearings out without damaging the outer drum drum and drum support shaft.

Easy way to tell, if the drum pulley is plastic then you have 30mm bearings & shaft.

A big hammer and brute force is the only way, be sure to protect the end of the drum shaft before you give it some welly.

Jim.

PS. Not the drum part number, possilby a moulding number.

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